Saber Vs XTS3000??

Zoso · Post by **Zoso** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 4:10 am

I'm only new to Batlabs, so excuse me if this has been debated before - which is considered the best OVERALL radio, the ASTRO Saber, or XTS3000??

Thnks
Tony

motsaber99 · Post by **motsaber99** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 6:32 am

I have owned both. I recently sold a Astro Saber for a XTS-3000. The only thing I don't like about the XTS is the size. With the saber it would hang to your knees and the XTS is thick. Other than that the XTS does circles around the Saber.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:22 am

I have a differing opinion. I have both Astro Sabers and XTS-3000's in bands I can actually use. (VHF and UHF.) The XTS radios sit on the shelf and gather dust. I'm wearing out the Astro Sabers slowly but surely. I haven't noticed any difference in transmit/receive performance and I haven't measured any, either, with my service monitor. I don't like the ergonomics or bulkiness of the XTS, while I do like the thin profile of the Astro Saber which allows your arm to swing naturally and not bang into the radio on every swing when it's on your belt. Plus a Saber will fit into your back pocket. Try that with an XTS and your butt will go numb after a while.

Opinions will vary. For me, there's really no choice.

Elroy

Post by Pj » Tue Oct 16, 2001 8:52 am

My PD is slowly buying XTS3000's, but thats only because the Astro Sabers will not be available in the future. They are slowly replacing the analog sabers. All the officers who have received the XTS's wish that they had their sabers. They cannot stand the style of the xts's, and there audio quality. There are a couple who love to borrow my Astro saber when I work.

Elroy Jetson · Post by **Elroy Jetson** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 5:28 pm

As of just a few days ago, Motorola had not yet announced any plans to discontinue the Astro Sabers according to a few of Motorola's product engineers I've talked to.

If a department really wants Astro Sabers, they may have to make a special request for them but Motorola will take the order and fill it if the money's good. For some reason the XTS's are easy to get while the Astro Sabers are not, yet both radios are in current production and I understand that the Astro Saber production line is cranking at maxium capacity. I've heard no rumors or speculation regarding this, but my personal guess is that various U.S. government agencies (including the military) are buying every radio they can get. Given that we are now in a state of war and that highly secure and reliable radios like Astro Sabers (with Type 1 encryption available) would be highly useful to troops, I'd bet that this is at least partially true. And there's little doubt that from an environmental ruggedness standpoint, the Astro Saber is head and shoulders above the so-called Jedi Master with its overly large gaskets, snap together construction, and unreliable battery contact system.

Elroy

HOWARD · Post by **HOWARD** » Wed Oct 17, 2001 12:51 pm

I have both radios, and I agree with Elroy the Astro Saber is much easier to carry and fits nicer in you're hand. As for the "Jedi Master" not being built strong...we use the Ruggedized version and they are built very good. I have dropped them off a roof onto blacktop and I've seen them fall into puddles and keep on working.
The audio sounds better on the Astro Saber although not quite as loud. The Display on the XTS is easier to read and the backlighting is far superior to the Astro Sabers. It would be nice if they updated the Astro Saber to have the same backlighting as the XTS radios. Overall they both work good, but I like the Saber better because of the ergonomic design.
Howard