Batboard

I have a couple of UHF lo-split Saber IIRs I want to use with the Moto 30W RF Amp, but unless I'm mistaken I don't think the R version of the Sabers will work in the SVAs, so I'm stuck trying to get RF via a BNC adapter or some mod of a Public Safety Mic. Just to make sure I have all my T's crossed:

1) Is there a BNC adapter for the Saber? Will an Astro Saber one work?
2) Is there appreciably degraded performance if one uses a BNC adapter (RX sens, etc.)

3) Will a Saber IIR work with a standard Saber SVA or do I need the RVA?

Any help appreciated before I start kitbashing something together.

Not sure on the "R", the info below is for "normal" sabers.


There is a cable that uses the connector on the back of the radio. It has a BNC on the end of it. I don't have the number handy, but a search should show it. There is a reason an adaptor won't work directly on the Saber, but once again I can't remember why. Something about the grounding...

There was an SVA for the R series Saber. Totally different than the regular SVA. Pretty rare, but you can find them if you look hard enough.

The "thing" about the Saber's antenna connector is that it's
completely "hot" for RF, which means that there is no ground
available where the antenna screws onto the radio. This means
that you can't connect anything to the top of the radio except
the actual antenna meant for the radio. (The Astro Sabers,
OTOH, have a coaxial SMA connector with both the hot and
ground connection available where the antenna screws on.)
Standard Sabers and the Saber R are the same so the same
antenna connection method is used on both radios. When you
connect the external antenna to the rear port on a Saber a
circuit inside the radio senses this and switches the antenna
to the rear port electronically. This is what happens when you
connect a PS speaker/mic where the mic has an antenna
mounted on its top. This interior circuitry sometimes fails, so
it pays to check and make sure it's working whenever you
start out with a "new" Saber.