Astro Saber APCO 25, radio doesnt work most times its turned

[mstr3ttcmp]

I have an APCO 25 Motorola Astro Saber, purchased off eBay, that works okay sometimes, but usually will not function correctly when it is turned on.

It is a model 1 Saber, with P25 capability.
The model number is H04RDC9PW5AN and the flashcode is 100008-000000-0, which breaks down to:
Q806/G806 IMBE / APCO-25 Digital Operation
H38/G51 Smartzone Operation

I am using it for conventional operation on the only frequency that was programmed into it when I got it, 407.35mhz. (There are actually 4 channels programmed in apparently, but the first 3 don't seem to do anything - although they don't have the unprogrammed tone.) I am looking to get it programmed to the HAM band where I can legally use it, but I need to know if it will even work right. Could i get it programmed to simplex HAM frequencies even though the flashcode only supports Smartzone operation and not conventional operation?

Now, the big problem, is it not working. When I turn it on, it has the normal green light on for a few seconds at the top, then when it turns off, it wont transmit. If I press the PTT button, it wont beep, or the red light wont illuminate - unless of course I'm very lucky. I will turn it off and on continuously until something different happens. Eventually, after probably 10 times restarting it, it will transmit, but no PTT beep, no audio, not even P25, just an open analog carrier. It wont stop transmitting this until turning it on and off repeatedly or waiting about 20 seconds. Then I will turn it back on and it will do the same thing. After more attempts, it will eventually work. It will actually beep, and key up in great sounding digital P25 audio. Then after a few seconds of working, or about 2-3 key ups, it will do the same analog open carrier. I will turn it back off AGAIN and back on AGAIN a few times, then whenever I key up or press the MONITOR button, or actually anything that would provoke it to make a sound like the MON static, or key-up beep, it will do this VERY annoying high pitch buzz, kind of like a cat alarm or that bats make. It will have a constant high pitch sound until I repeatedly turn it off and on for a while or take the battery off. Then at other times, it will transmit fine, then a few seconds into transmitting this horrible sounding alarm buzz crappy sound comes out off the speaker and transmitted to the receiving radio. All of these issues will happen at completely random times, in random order, but usually happen before it decides to function correctly - which actually once every lifetime will happen. Is it acting up due to thinking it is on a Smartzone system, or is the radio just...broken?

Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks.

[MTS2000des]

sounds more like an electrical problem, if the radio works fine on conventional modes sometimes, than freezes up and acts all bizarre at others, it may be a broken flex, incorrect assembly (as often the case with these radios), or a codeplug issue. First off, have you tried a different battery? A low battery or old batter wiy can cause strange behavior. Can you read/write the radio okay with RSS/CPS?

[mstr3ttcmp]

I haven't tried to program them myself, the whole programming experience sounds pretty expensive and dangerous if I do something wrong. It has a new aftermarket battery, seems to do okay. Any suggestions on how to check out the electrical aspect? How exactly do I open it up to take a look? Thanks.

[Hightower]

sounds more like an electrical problem, if the radio works fine on conventional modes sometimes, than freezes up and acts all bizarre at others, it may be a broken flex, incorrect assembly (as often the case with these radios), or a codeplug issue. First off, have you tried a different battery? A low battery or old batter wiy can cause strange behavior. Can you read/write the radio okay with RSS/CPS?

Like MTS3Kdes mentioned, have you tried a new battery or known good battery? That cat annoying high pitch buzz, kind of like a cat alarm or that bats make is what my AS1's do when the battery is dead before the radio just shuts off due to a depleated batttery.

[mstr3ttcmp]

I tried 2 new fully charged batteries, which both work fine on another saber, same model and P25. The radio will work sometimes, but it's rare. I have it open right now, is there anything I should look for inside?

Thanks.

[Tom in D.C.]

A quick point of additional info for you, if/when you
get the radio working right it will do conventional
analog FM. All Astro Sabers do analog so don't worry
about that part of the radio's operation.

[compuman81]

I would say there's an equal chance that your codeplug is corrupt as the hardware is bad. I've seen radios with bad codeplugs do that. I would suggest you find someone to send you an S-Record for your radio if you have the ability to put it in as preliminary step in troubleshooting the operation of the radio.