Which is better with the following flashcode
591008-4F1E00-9
Q806/G806 IMBE / APCO-25 Digital Operation
H14/G114 Digital ID Display
H101,G101,H169 Conventional Repeater Access (Analog Operation Only)(MDC1200 or Singletone)
H868/W298 Conventional Multikey and Analog Conventional MDC OTAR
G170/H43 Remote Monitor and Radio Trace
H38/G51 Smartzone Operation
H07 Multikey software encryption
Q354 OTACS (Over The Air Channel Steering)
Q353 OTACR ((Over The Air Channel Reassignment)
Q352 Soft ID
Q351 MODAT Operation
W947/Q947 APCO Packet Data
Q387 Conventional voting scan
Q173/G173 Smartzone OmniLink Operation
G182 Enhanced Radio Call Protocol
Astro Saber III vs XTS3000
Moderator: Queue Moderator
-
moto_XTS3000
- was twowayradio
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2003 4:52 pm
-
MT2000 man
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: XTS5000R, Astro Saber III, I
In answer to the question which radio is better the Astro saber VS. the XTS (this question has been asked about as many times as it's rained here this year 
) I have to be honest, I've never used the XTS, so I can't comment on them. I do like the jedi series radios, so maybe I'd also like the XTS. I have used/owned an astro saber. They are great radios, but they are so BIG its funny. Just stand it upright on your desk, and compare it to your other radios. You think the Astro was ment to be some kind of weapon
Anyone want to comment on the XTS ?
Is it worth me shelling out 800 some odd dollars to get ?
How does that channel selector light thing work ?
) I have to be honest, I've never used the XTS, so I can't comment on them. I do like the jedi series radios, so maybe I'd also like the XTS. I have used/owned an astro saber. They are great radios, but they are so BIG its funny. Just stand it upright on your desk, and compare it to your other radios. You think the Astro was ment to be some kind of weapon Anyone want to comment on the XTS ?
Is it worth me shelling out 800 some odd dollars to get ?
How does that channel selector light thing work ?
-
ASTROMODAT
- Posts: 1825
- Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2002 12:32 am
-
Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Having owned and monkeyed with both, for a fair amount of time, I'd say that the Astro Saber is a superior radio in most respects. Better audio, better ergonomics, better weather sealing, (the small top gasket of the Saber platform seals better than that huge gasket on an XTS), and generally, there isn't anything I like about the XTS that I don't like about the Saber more.
I am looking forward to the day when Motorola decides to release their experimental follow-up to the Astro Saber.( It has similar packaging and ergonomics but is modernized as is the XTS5000, with a similar multidirectional key system and enhanced display, among other things,
or so I understand.)
Elroy
I am looking forward to the day when Motorola decides to release their experimental follow-up to the Astro Saber.( It has similar packaging and ergonomics but is modernized as is the XTS5000, with a similar multidirectional key system and enhanced display, among other things,
or so I understand.)
Elroy
Judging by the worlds worst complainers, and biggest users of Sabers and XTS's.....(cops), all the cops here who has sabers and have since been issued XTS HATE the XTS's. They want their sabers back.
I have used both. I prefer the saber line over the XTS. Many people complain about the size of the saber, but I find that's because they have been using the extra high-cap batteries. If you get a normal 8 hour battery, its no bigger than an XTS.
There isn't anything that one radio can do over the other. Yes the XTS are newer, but think of how many people here are still using HT220's and MT500's...
I have used both. I prefer the saber line over the XTS. Many people complain about the size of the saber, but I find that's because they have been using the extra high-cap batteries. If you get a normal 8 hour battery, its no bigger than an XTS.
There isn't anything that one radio can do over the other. Yes the XTS are newer, but think of how many people here are still using HT220's and MT500's...
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
-
ASTROMODAT
- Posts: 1825
- Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2002 12:32 am
-
Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Opinions vary.
I owned both and decided that the slim profile of the Astro Saber made it much more comfortable for wear on the belt as it doesn't interfere with your arm swing, while the fat XTS is an arm bumper, and in the hand, the Astro Saber fits much better. Ergonomically, it's superior to the XTS in most respects.
However, in terms of real world performance, they're both excellent, so it's a matter of comparing two different but excellent interpretations of the same idea. Some will prefer one, others will prefer the other, and there IS no absolute answer.
If you wanted to compare them to aircraft properly, you'd compare them like an F16 to an F/A-18. Both get the job done, but they have slightly different strengths, though honestly I can't think of any PERFORMANCE advantage of the XTS at all.
The only thing that IS definitely better about the XTS, in my mind, is that they're ALL 1 meg flash radios. That's ALL.
As for the size issue, yes, an AS is a tall radio, especially with a high or super cap battery, but in the next generation, look for a much smaller type of high capacity battery like Li-ion or something, thereby solving the only real beef you can come up with about the AS.
Elroy
I owned both and decided that the slim profile of the Astro Saber made it much more comfortable for wear on the belt as it doesn't interfere with your arm swing, while the fat XTS is an arm bumper, and in the hand, the Astro Saber fits much better. Ergonomically, it's superior to the XTS in most respects.
However, in terms of real world performance, they're both excellent, so it's a matter of comparing two different but excellent interpretations of the same idea. Some will prefer one, others will prefer the other, and there IS no absolute answer.
If you wanted to compare them to aircraft properly, you'd compare them like an F16 to an F/A-18. Both get the job done, but they have slightly different strengths, though honestly I can't think of any PERFORMANCE advantage of the XTS at all.
The only thing that IS definitely better about the XTS, in my mind, is that they're ALL 1 meg flash radios. That's ALL.
As for the size issue, yes, an AS is a tall radio, especially with a high or super cap battery, but in the next generation, look for a much smaller type of high capacity battery like Li-ion or something, thereby solving the only real beef you can come up with about the AS.
Elroy
-
ASTROMODAT
- Posts: 1825
- Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2002 12:32 am
How can you even compare (without laughing your head off!) the DTMF buttons/pad on the Saber vs. the XTS?! The Saber is USELESS in this regard, whereas the XTS has buttons that are as easy to use as the DTMF keys on a 2500 set! And, check out the button backlighting at night! The Saber has NO BACKLIGHTING on its DTMF buttons, whereas the XTS has awesome keypad backlighting! Go down through all of the ergonomics of these two radios, and it's the same story. The XTS is vastly superior, and that's why Motorola discontinued the Old Saber brick last year.
Hoping that Sabers, HT-220s, MXs and Biplanes will come back may make one all teeried eyed and nostalgic, but sorry to say, it just ain't gunna happen (and neither will Heathkit come back along with the ancient and now defunct Saber).
Let the Saber fade away, as Motorola has planned it.
There IS a reason that the buggy whip and Saber got discontinued---it's called "The Marketplace!" Don't blame Mother M, as she is simply responding to what the Marketplace demands---the BEST radio that technology can currently support! (Other than the RS FRS, of course)
Larry
Hoping that Sabers, HT-220s, MXs and Biplanes will come back may make one all teeried eyed and nostalgic, but sorry to say, it just ain't gunna happen (and neither will Heathkit come back along with the ancient and now defunct Saber).
Let the Saber fade away, as Motorola has planned it.
There IS a reason that the buggy whip and Saber got discontinued---it's called "The Marketplace!" Don't blame Mother M, as she is simply responding to what the Marketplace demands---the BEST radio that technology can currently support! (Other than the RS FRS, of course)
Larry
-
Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Believe what you want. I'd agree that the AS keypad could have benefitted from backlighting. The keys are small enough, though, that it's unlikely you'll get an unwanted keypress yet they're big enough that I (with large hands) never had a problem using the keypad as I intended to.
I won't argue about this with you or anyone else. I've been in this field for a LONG time, (Started in about 1980 in radio) and I'm experienced enough with BOTH radios (and many more...back to the HT220 and Motrac) that I can very well make up my own mind, and I've done that for sure.
Elroy
I won't argue about this with you or anyone else. I've been in this field for a LONG time, (Started in about 1980 in radio) and I'm experienced enough with BOTH radios (and many more...back to the HT220 and Motrac) that I can very well make up my own mind, and I've done that for sure.
Elroy
Interesting fact but I have seen a beta test radio at a fed agency that sure looks like a small saber slated for 2005. It is thin, has a small lithium polymer battery and has more stuff inside than any XTS will ever have, the XTS is slated for replacement in 2005/2006 so hello baby saber.
Stan Glass
Government & Entertainment Division Manager (Kenwood)
Government & Entertainment Division Manager (Kenwood)
-
Elroy Jetson
- Posts: 1158
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Larry, I agree.....ASTROMODAT wrote:The CORRECT answer is: XTS 3000 is the superior radio to the Saber. And, it looks like The Big M agrees since they dumped the Saber in favor of the XTS. The Saber is just too darn huge. Comparing a Saber to an XTS is like comparing a DC-3 to an F-18.
Larry
If and when I want to feel like an MP carrying an MX-300, then I LOVE my ASTRO Saber, but more more realistic times, the XTS series is much more functional. I own many of both, so there you have it.
I would agree that the DTMF pad would be much better had the AS been backlighted....but let me ask you this:
In reality, how many people actually USE the DTMF pad? My guess, not many. Nice to have, but in public safety, many systems are no longer being built with telco interconnect and a few are having it disconnected with everyone having cell phones. In addition to that, you cannot add the ham crowd in either as the radio was not engineered with them in mind.
I would suspect that only very large agencies such as LAPD would still be using it for channel access, but thats about it.
In reality, how many people actually USE the DTMF pad? My guess, not many. Nice to have, but in public safety, many systems are no longer being built with telco interconnect and a few are having it disconnected with everyone having cell phones. In addition to that, you cannot add the ham crowd in either as the radio was not engineered with them in mind.
I would suspect that only very large agencies such as LAPD would still be using it for channel access, but thats about it.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
-
Astro Spectra
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2001 4:00 pm
There can be no doubt that the build standard of the AS is way better than the XTS. From as field service point of view the fiddly clips (which sprong everywhere if you're not careful) and the extra care needed to properly seat the big O-ring make the XTS a bit of a pain.
But most of our users love the XTS controls (we only have Model I units in service). Particularly when wearing gloves the offset volume is great.
Some of the issues go way beyond the ergonomics most people first think of. When you are using two-frequency talk thru repeaters and have staff in close proximity then desense between handhelds is a real problem with digital systems. The 3500 is better than the 3000 in the area. And I like the ability to program ALL the controls on the XTS.
But most of our users love the XTS controls (we only have Model I units in service). Particularly when wearing gloves the offset volume is great.
Some of the issues go way beyond the ergonomics most people first think of. When you are using two-frequency talk thru repeaters and have staff in close proximity then desense between handhelds is a real problem with digital systems. The 3500 is better than the 3000 in the area. And I like the ability to program ALL the controls on the XTS.
Astro Saber Astro Saber Astro Saber AHHHHHHH *Runs out of room screaming*
I have heard about the Babby Saber that USPSS Speaks of:
From what I HAVE HEARD....
It is SUPPOSED to be called the Astro2. and It will have like a whole mess of cool features like 1024 channels and the UHF is supposed to have a LARGE bandsplit 380'ish - 520 (cant remember the VHF one) and they will REPLACE the XTS series. Hello Sweet Victory!
Like I said, that is just what i have been told/what i have heard. I may be wrong, but cool thought to let your brain munch on. 1024 channels, what would I use them all for.........
I have heard about the Babby Saber that USPSS Speaks of:
From what I HAVE HEARD....
It is SUPPOSED to be called the Astro2. and It will have like a whole mess of cool features like 1024 channels and the UHF is supposed to have a LARGE bandsplit 380'ish - 520 (cant remember the VHF one) and they will REPLACE the XTS series. Hello Sweet Victory!
Like I said, that is just what i have been told/what i have heard. I may be wrong, but cool thought to let your brain munch on. 1024 channels, what would I use them all for.........