Getting outdoors with an ex NATO and ex NYCPD Police radio

Hello all! It's been a while since I've uploaded a video, I took a break that has been extended by the UK weather, I'm sort of back but maybe not quite ready for a video per week.
I take a walk with two Motorola radios, the MT1000 on 10m FM (ex NATO) and the Saber (ex NYCPD) on UHF.
The MT1000 was very kindly donated by Martin AC0PT who has a bunch of these ex NATO radios to give away. Martin has requested that we find people who can't really afford to purchase radios but would benefit from a donation.
Also I want to say thank you to another Martin at Stoke on Trent Amateur radio club for programming both these radios for me.
Disastrous Robots KZbin channel: / @disastrousrobots
I'm a licensed amateur radio operator from the United Kingdom. My KZbin channel features videos focusing on operating portable radio from various locations plus how to videos, tutorials, insights and conversations in the hobby.

[@gtretroworld]

Good to see you back Carl and i see where you’re coming from regarding running a channel, it’s yours so just do as you please, Radio, synth and a bit of cooking, why not.

[@MarkDouglas-vw7jb]

Carl, I love the totality of your channel: the radio, the hiking, the cooking, all of it. Delighted to see a new video up!

[@wayneskiba1237]

Carl, very happy to see you back, enjoyed your video, and thank you for your update. I can see that your companion also is very happy that your are back. Also Carl, I agree with you, I really do enjoy your mixture of ham radio, camping, and cooking, and I would even enjoy you adding some music for the ambience, some great things to look forward too. Thank you for sharing.

[@Ploggy.]

Good to see you back Carl, that minion cracked me up and your little Doggo is super cute 🙂👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely hat Carl!

[@michaelharris2352]

I have always enjoyed the mix of Radio cooking and camping !!! Your doing a great job

[@skavak]

I really enjoy the content of your channel, I'm ham radio operator also and loving all the activities you do and getting ideas for myself. 73

[@thewidshed]

Hi Carl. It is your channel what you do is give knowledge. You show that you do not always make a contact but the fun is keep trying and you will succeed. I love the cooking as it is a part of being outdoors and portable. So keep doing videos when you feel like it we will still be here. 73 MM7DWQ.

[@stewpot3971]

After passing my full licence I didn't touch a radio for about two months, it was a long range QSO with my twin brother in Canada that got me out of my funk, that and swapping out my antenna for a half sized G5RV which changed my DX options. A new rig is usually not the answer; this is a modern dilemma wherein more focus is placed on consumption rather than experimentation. In the early days of amateur radio they didn't have the luxury of eBay etc, if you couldn't build it yourself then you missed out. Personally I am planning on spending more time on homebrewing in 2024/2025. Keep up the excellent content when you can Carl! 73 DE M0KKZ

[@robertmitchum2972]

Good to see you back Carl.. I was starting to get a bit worried about you, and was going to contact the DX Commander to see if you were ok! Nothing wrong with putting radio on the side burner for a while and turning your interests elsewhere. We all need a break even with the best things in our lives. Playing music and doing gigs is a most excellent way of using ones time and talent productively. As for the channel... Do what you want, as you said “ It’s my channel”. Camping, Cooking, Music, Radio I like them all! So whatever you decide to do will be perfectly fine by me.

[@g7waw]

Good you are back do what you like and please your self not the moaners. I wish i had kept my PMR radios and would love a military radio at some point. 🙂👍👍👌

[@K1STG-Fred]

I enjoy your videos, I’d say put out what you feel like at an interval you chose. I’ll gladly watch it. Those look like fun radios. My favorite radio is one my wife picked up for me from a second hand shop. It’s a Kenwood NX-210 VHF radio that is from Burlington Northern- Santa Fe railroad. Haven’t used the NXDN digital mode on it yet, but it works great on analogue 2M.

[@rpcomms1]

Love the Motorola lowband kit 20kc spacing stuff Unfortunately it's USA only band 29.7-36.00mhz , obviously converted to 10m FM uses. Pair of those on Simplex should go far on VHF lowband FM-Mid. Loved the video 👍

[@mattdixon5299]

Nice video Carl! Discovery looking good!

[@KC2MDP]

Those Motorola Saber radios were very popular with armatures here in the states about 10 years ago. Most of the authorities police, fire, EMS were starting there switch to digital and the used market was flooded with these things. And some of the higher models like the Astro Saber still demanded a pretty good price . Around $500 US. There still out there, but not as easy to find. But still a great preforming radio and way better than 99% of the stuff you can buy today... Batteries are getting to almost unobtainum status as I know of only one manufacturer still producing them at least here in the states. W&W Battery..... And there located somewhere in Florida. They manufacture all kind of hard to find batteries. Just in case your interested.

[@richardtwyning]

It certainly has been a while. You had me worried. Good to see you back 👍🏻

[@prepcommsuk]

So pleased to see you back. I have missed your videos. Look after yourself.

[@sutitigi101]

Nice to see you out and about again, we have had a long winter here in Finland , my area was with snow from the end of October to about 2 weeks ago , got back into scanning radio, ski clubs and ski resorts very active , digital and normal PMR radio. 56CTOO4

[@m7trsradio]

Hi Carl. Good to see you back on the air. I know you have been busy with the gigs. How's was it to get back into them? Good to see some old gear being used. We are all snobs one way or another. I tried BOTA but didn't post it so made no contacts. Yeah get back into the radio and cooking. It's your channel and you do what you want mate. Give us a shout if ever over my way. How's the cobweb going? Been looking at them myself. 73

[@alannorthdevonuk763]

Good to see you back. Interesting radios, I have never used 10m, perhaps I should try. I enjoy the videos, camping, cooking and all. Thanks for taking the time, appreciated.

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

Great to see a new video from you - just a few days ago I'd wondered if I'd been unsubscribed from your channel because you'd gone quiet, so I came and had a look, and saw you hadn't uploaded anything in a while. As others have said though, you should feel no pressure to record or upload anything whatsoever mate. Just live your life, and if YOU want to share something then please yourself. Anyone that wants to watch it will watch it, and anyone that wants to moan will moan! All the best :) M7TYN

[@jimshook39]

Carl, my interest in radio seems to wax and wane as well. I just go with it; I have other hobbies that fill the void whenever radio loses its luster for a bit. I enjoy your channel and watching your adventures, but please don’t make videos out of some feeling of obligation. I’ll tune in whether you make one per day or one per year! 73! Jim KE8WC

[@TimHarperW5TAH]

I could provide a 2 of the MT 1000 radios a home here in rural Oklahoma.

[@alphakilo3bravo161]

Good to see you. Hope all is well.

[@UDX-340]

Nice handhelds .

[@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266]

He’s back !!!

[@Subgunman]

Have a few of the VHF SABER III radios with full keypad and a pair of the SVA adapters with the full feature microphones. Only issues are finding g batteries for these fine radios. Also the control knobs have suffered from a dry rot where the outer portion ok the knobs have turned to dust. Too bad the big /\/\ no longer stocks parts for these radios. Not much activity on 2 meters here in SV9 land so they are shelf queens at this time. BTW, programming the Saber radios requires the use of DOS on a very slow XT PC. Anything faster than that will turn the radios into useless bricks which would require LAB software which is not available to the general public. In the past there were individuals who had bootleg copies of this stuff but they have become SK. 73!

[@robertmitchum2972]

I’ve been getting the Inner and Outer Saber knobs off of eBay. Usually purchase six or seven sets at a time, as ever Saber I’ve ever owned eventually needed those knobs replaced. Astro Saber knobs thankfully are much better constructed and don’t have that problem.

[@KC2MDP]

YEP! You also needed the appropriate programming cable and the interface device to go between the computer and the radio.

[@Subgunman]

@@robertmitchum2972 that is a smart way to handle this issue. You might want to keep them in a small glass jar with a small desiccant pack in the jar to avoid moisture damage. Never has issues in the states but after moving to the Mediterranean region it appears that the salt water moisture has been affecting a lot of plastics on my equipment.

[@Subgunman]

@@KC2MDP I have had all of that for 30+ years. A lot of the information was available on line as to how to build cables. One issue is when Motorola uses proprietary connectors for programming via the microphone connectors. I visit hamfests and buy used ratty microphone and cannibalize the connectors. Sometimes I have to reposition the pogo pins to the appropriate locations on the connectors.

[@nc4tn]

Greetings Carl, from the Carolina colony!

[@paulbauer9834]

Happy you are back. I like the camping and cooking.

[@Anthony-qx1nj]

I enjoy all the videos. It is great to see how someone else enjoys the hobby and how they work it into their lives. Keep up the great videos!

[@stevetaylor8446]

Welcome back buddy. I enjoy the radio, mixed with a bit of camping/cooking/portable radio. Sun and warmth is on it's way...things will pick up then. All the best, from Kent

[@5P2BA]

Great to have you back, Carl. Always great inspiration. I have a MT2100 for 2 m, from a utility company ... the US call AC0PT ... gosh, gives me goose bumps as it is so close to AC3PT - the call of OM Palden Thondup Namgyal ... that called mayday, when his palast was ... but this is another story. Vy 73 de Frank, M0GTW mostly active as 5P2BA

[@Anonopsmo]

Welcome back on track, Carl. these are nice radios. wish glad one of them. ;-) everyone needs a break time. greets from germany, 73 - Jan

[@paulmark63]

Carl lovely to see you back we missed you hope you are well Paul in Kent

[@M7XCB]

Great seeing you back Carl got to love 10m handheld you don't see many about can't beat old school radios.

[@threepistols7]

Welcome back Carl! Glad you have some gigs coming up, the music sounds great. I happen to love the cooking :)

[@dukeofrodtown1705]

Great to see you back! (That Despicable Me 2 clip had me dead LOL, childhood memories)

[@PhilG8PJH]

Nice to see you back.

[@Simon-qn5wm]

Good to see you back, same as you I get the most enjoyment from converting & using my old Pye, Philips & Motorola radios. Modern radio gear does not do much for me & is overpriced for what it is imo. Great video Carl & love to see more adventures with you & your Dog.

[@mattyfraser9487]

Great to see you back !

[@Russ-]

Nice to see you Carl, that looks like a lovely place to explore.

[@garyhinson3876]

i wondered what had happened to you, great to see you in good health, i hadn't touched a radio for around 5 months till last week, took the gear on holiday, and got back into it. Your music, I'd watch than, and delta zero golf looks impressive! thanks M0IUQ

[@simontemplar0468]

WELCOME BACK!! Missed you Carl. Great to see you and a new video. I hope you got some good family time in when you took your KZbin break. 73!

[@tonym7cvk430]

Good to see you back Carl 145 Alive event 11th May 13:00 15:00, 10 been flat but still managed a few contacts.

[@PaulC-2M0YZT]

Good to see you back.

[@rjy8960]

Good to see you back, Carl :)

[@M0RMY]

Really great to see you mate. Hope all well. Catch up soon.

[@dnel83]

Good to see you're doing well. Don't keep putting out content just to feed the algorithm, just have fun.

[@Brookspirit]

I've seen other people on youtube feel the need to put out content regularly, you should just do it when you feel like it, you don't owe anybody anything.

[@denniswofford]

Glad to see you back, Carl. But don't feel compelled to make a video every time you do something. We love it when you do, but don't let the self imposed pressure to record and edit something for youtube drive you nuts. Just enjoy the hobby and post a video when you feel like it. Take care of your family and yourself, my friend. God bless!

[@johnnorth9355]

I bought a Jopix CB 514 a couple of weeks back and so far have only mnaged a QSO with the wife from the garage (about 20' away). The bands locally are dead and the local repeaters on 2 meters/70cm are no busier apart from a local net at 8.00 pm most nights. I have just put up a new 10/11 meter antenna and when I finish commisioning it I will try again. I loved the cooking apart from the instant hunger pangs it gave me lol and music is my day to day go to for my own well being. 73 M7BLC.

[@Brookspirit]

It seems more people like buying radios than actually using them.

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

I think you have a great, original channel. If you make videos, I'll watch them!! Robert K5TPC

[@billkaldem5099]

If you can play like David Gilmore of Floyd your awesome

[@Pedro8k]

You are not doing KZbin to earn money as a job so go and do your music radio will still be there when you want to come back it