UHF Saber 1 Channel Issues

[vhacmowilmob]

I have a Saber 1 UHF (458-490MHz split) that seems to have issues with the channel selector switch. RSS reads it OK, and the model numbers match, but this is what happens:

Program 12 channels in via RSS. Channels 1-8 work OK. Put the channel selector on channel 9, and the radio acts like it's on channel 1. Put it on 10, it acts like it's on 2, etc. Channels 9-12 are 1-4 again...

The person I talked to at the local "radio shop" acted like I was speaking Gaelic.

Anyone have any ideas on what the issue is here?

[jmr061]

Sounds like the channel selector knob is bad. Its been known to happen.

Jason

[AEC]

Channel selectors will start to go bad on the Saber series, now that it is an old and out of date model.

Every part has a finite lifespan, and the Sabers are starting to reach theirs as well.

If not tight, with noticable 'clicks' on each channel, the rotary function is bad and will cause slippage and the encoder will not function properly.
Replace the switch, and check all the flex connections while you are in the radio, Especially the controls flex located above the receiver module(square on VHF).

[vhacmowilmob]

I'll check it out. It's not that big of a deal, as this radio is a loaner for our apartment complex maintainence people, and they only have two channels, but it was a failure I hadn't seen before.

[motorola_otaku]

A partially torn top control flex will cause the same issue. Take it apart and look for minute tears along the creases, especially around where it plugs into the main board.

In any event, a new control top/frame/flex assembly will likely fix it. Find a cheap parts donor radio on eBay (the ones with holes drilled through them are good examples) and rob the frame from it.

[RKG]

Your problem is that the MSB (most significant bit) of the 4-bit binary channel selector has gone bad.

Your channel selector has decimal values from 1 to 16 or 1 to 12. However, the radio processes binary values, so that, for instance, Ch 1 is 0000, ch. 2 is 0001, ch. 3 is 0010 and so forth. (Remember that the radio will subtract 1 from the decimal channel number before making the conversion.) Channnel 9 should translate into 1000. However, the left-most binary digit line is discontinuous, which means that when you put your selector on Ch. 9, the radio sees 0000 instead of 1000, and it translates this as Ch. 1.

The problem could be in the knob, the binary switch to which the knob is connected, or the connection to the PC board. It is most likely the binary switch, and a good radio shop with a good bench tech who has access to legacy radio parts should be able to replace this switch pretty easily.

See http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... or#p373594

[vhacmowilmob]

I have finally been able to get logged back in (I'm blind, so I have to have help with the captchas)

We replaced the switch with one from a donor radio off Ebay, and it works now.

Thanks for the help, all.