Batboard

Found on e-bay, have never seen one before. When were they made? For what agency? Anyone know what the power output is?

Thanks!

Um, duh....

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTOROLA-SABER-RADI ... dZViewItem

I had seen these used by the Secret Service some years back. Basically give the agent a phone line and desk and he comes with his own 'lunchbox' to establish a temporary coordination or command post. There was a about a 14" metal whip antenna with a big red ball on top attached to the SO-239. I'm taking a guess at power but about 10w. would be about right. Some railroads also used a similar unit.

When we went to train in Canada, they had the same units...

chuckhab wrote:Found on e-bay, have never seen one before. When were they made? For what agency? Anyone know what the power output is?

Thanks!

The old timers I knew used to cal those 'draggy talkies' on account of how big they were.

The old-timers were referring to the same-sized hand-carried radios that were built using the pencil-size vacuum tubes and often had a solid-state inverter or used HV batteries located in the base.

Time period: fifties to early sixties when the fully solid-state HT200 and companion 'portable' PT200 series were introduced. The PT200 used the HT200 R/T boards with a little power amp that probably put out 5 Watts or so (basic HT200 was about 1.4 W) with a 14.4 V battery.

Some of those were even hybrid (solid-state/tube) in nature; solid-state receiver and pencil tube transmitter. I regret now having salvaged 'parts' from the few draggies I once had in the early 80's. I was after the 455 KHz mechanical filter at the time.

Jim / WB5WPA

These basically are a Systems Saber or Saber I/II/III in a lunch box.
They will have the same functions as the unit installed. Modes/Zones and
power settings. No more frills. Hope this helps.

I have two. You are all correct. The RR's mostly used the PX300 series "Pack Sets" as they referred to them, which was the predecessor of the Saber-X. It was bilt under the same principle using the old MX radios. And they too, had about 10 watts out. I think now the RR radio infrastructure allows them to use portables more than they had many years ago.

The Saber-X were built primarily for the Secret Service / White House Staff. I have driven in the Presidential motorcade a few times, and this was the first thing that he WHCA advance team would install your car with a mag mount whip.

The unit takes a Systems Saber 1 inside, and the controls are replicated on the outside. It has booming audio, a handset for private conversations, and of course, has optional encryption.

Cig plug was standard, but they have a 5 AH battery which will run the darn thing a couple of days on the internal battery.

We currently use them for Search and Rescue ops. Cool unit and easy to operate.


Dan