Batboard

I've noticed recently that most of the motorola portables on DRMO are listed as Demil category A (Non-MLI/Non-SLI -- Demilitarization not required) as opposed to the Demil category C that they previously were catagorized as (MLI(SME). Remove and/or demilitarize installed key point(s)as prescribed in DOD 4160.21-M-1. Defense Demilitarization Manual, or lethal parts, components and accessories.)

Does this mean that they no longer de-mil their portables? Would it now be safe to assume that if you acquire portables from DRMO that they are more likely to be functional? Has anyone recently acquired radios from DRMO and what condition were they in as far as fuctionality goes?

NB2E

DRMO demil categories are one thing, while what the original user agency does with the radios are another.

Recently got some GE Rangr stuff through a Gov't Liquidation sale. The CPU chips had been removed, the ribbon cables between the boards were missing, and someone had used a chisel to scrape two IC's off the rear of the personality board. Yet the frequency EEPROM was still in there and programmed with the government channels.

Several people were selling ex-Gov't Liquidation X9000's on eBay which looked nice on the outside, however ALL of the plug-in IC's on the personality board had been stripped.

In many cases, the last user will do their own unofficial "demil" on the radios before they ever get to DRMO, so it's still a gamble.

Well, I appreciate your fervent reply. I guess I'll take my chances, considering the sheer number of radios that are coming available through DRMO it's at least worth a try. Unlike many people that buy radios and resell them on e-pray you may be seeing sabers on e-bay and the buy/sell/trade forum here in the near future that are correctly labelled with band, bandsplit, core version and all the specifics. I'll even let people know that their from DRMO if I end up getting them and selling the surplus.

At the very least I'll have a whackload of good saber modules and cases that can be resold.

NB2E

Everytime I have gone through the DMRO they have let me open the radios to verify whats missing. You might want to try that.

Had some VHF HT1000s one time. Looked great on the outside. Opened them up and they had removed all of the controller boards.
Another batch everything was in place. Hit or miss......

Don't forget..... DEMIL means different things to different people. some units have a few supply people that are radio savy and know that simpley blanking ro reprogramming the radio makes it "Unusable on Military communications systems", others think this means running it over with a CUCV.

DFC2

Well, the auction lots that I'll be bidding on are through a government liquidation auction and although they allow previewing of the items I can't really afford to drive 800+ miles to preview the items, come back to bid, and return again to pick the stuff up if I win the auction.

I'll just take my chances, If I end up driving 800+ miles for a bunch of motorola paperweights I guess I'll end up parting them out. *shrug*

NB2E

And some groups use the 30 cal demil method. At least those are obvious if you get to see the stuff first.

I am done with Demil myself, I had to fill out a bunch of end user papers on some o-scope I bought which is fragged by the way and now I get some letter from criminal investigations division from Pearl Harbor demanding that i respond and give them the exact location and use etc of this stupid old tektronics scope. I am trying get them to let me just drop the dam thing off at their office, I dont need letters like that in my mailbox for any reason.