Problem with an Astro Saber 3.....

[WK9F]

Hello,

I have recently purchased an Astro Saber 3 in UHF. I was told the radio was a 403-470mhz radio. Initial reading of the codeplug verified. However, after I programmed the radio, some of the ham repeaters produce a "Fail 001" when I push the PTT. This only happens when the PTT is pushed. I have not verified RX operation on these channels as most people around here are asleep at 11:00pm. I will try to listen tomorrow.

Anyway, on to my question:

I believe that the radio I have gotten is a 450-482 or 512. This isn't a problem IF there is a way to retune the VCO to drop the low end down to 440mhz.

Anyone have any ideas or be able to do this for a reasonable fee?

Jerry

[Pj]

Hmm. May be a high split radio or something else going on. I have had two high split AS3's and have had no problem bringing them down to 440 or 520's without any hardware mods.

Open up the radio and grab the part number off the transmitter.

[RocketNJ]

I've seen issues where someone forced a low split codeplug into a high split radio. Had the same symptom of vco fail 001 when going down to 440. After the proper bandsplit codeplug was put in and the radio aligned the radio was able to 10 MHz out of band without a vco fail.

The VCO crossover is different between the low split and high split.

I'd suggest opening the radio and getting the model number of the RF board to confirm the bandsplit first.

George

[WK9F]

Ok, I opened the radio and removed the shield over the RF board. Here are the only numbers I can find:

On sticker with barcode: NLE4560F

There is one other number stamped on a shield covering the PA (I think) module. It is: 25U0(Zero)4 D

Hope this info helps.

Thanks, Jerry

[WK9F]

Here is some more info on the problem. It only effects 5 repeaters. They are the following. All are standard +5mhz TX

442.900, 442.925, 442.950, 442.975 and 442.875

All of the rest seem to work ok. In static/RX mode there appears to be no problem. It is only when the PTT is pressed that the display briefly flashes "fail 001" then returns to normal. TX LED also briefly flashes. There is also a low tone produced. Sometimes "fail 001" isn't displayed, just the low tone.

I don't know what the heck is going on. It would seem to me that if it was a VCO problem, it would be more likely to unlock on RX and not TX, which is closer to the rated bandsplit.

Jerry

[The Pager Geek]

NLE4560F comes back to:
"UHF XCVR BD 403-470"

Looks like the right hardware for a range 1 Astro Saber.

tpg

[RocketNJ]

Do you know anyone who can align the radio? I'd suggest checking that.

George

[Chris]

Check your VCO crossover setting in the service screen.

[WK9F]

Checked the VCO settings in the service menu.

Here they are:

TX is set to 448.000mhz

RX is set to 448.360mhz

Jerry

[Pj]

RSS TX crossover defaults have this information:

Astro Saber VHF-
V06 Rev E or ealier: 161.505
V07 Rev F or later: 164.85

Astro Saber UHF Range 1 403-470-
V06 Rev E or ealier: 438.025
V07 Rev F or later: 449.5

I know there was an update to this in a service man, so i have to hunt that down, but you can try this for starters

[WK9F]

That did the trick. As least as far as I can tell. All the main frequencies that I use seem to work now.

Thanks to all for thier input.

Jerry