Motorola Saber III vs. XTS5000

[@ryanhealy3074]

As a Saber aficionado myself, the Astro Saber 3 would be a fully UNSTOPPABLE monster of a handheld rig, if only it could do multiple CTCSS/DCS tone selection like the analog Saber or XTS2500/5000 can, or if it could do full front panel programming outright (like the Astro25/APX portables can do). Those are the only two drawbacks I have with mine. Also, Astro units can be programmed with CPS, which is the Windows-based successor to DOS RSS.

[@RANTStrategies]

COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE! WELL SAID!!

[@Echo_603]

I believe NYPD had some sabers that were actually XTS based. Wish I could remember where I saw it.

[@charlie_nolan]

@@Echo_603the Astro saber and XTS3000 are the same radio inside. And with the newest firmware they will do modern P25 phase I trunking. Maybe that’s what you’re thinking

[@mbnv99234]

As was said before - you can have a “securenet” standard Saber ( 1,2 or 3 ). Also - more corrections - the System Saber never came in a model 2, only a model 1, 1R and 3. The UHF 440-470 is one of the rare band splits to have in a Systems Saber. Also - the Systems Saber 3 can have a max of 255 channels instead of the 120 that a standard Saber 3 can have. I own many Sabers ( mainly the 2R Ruggedized versions ) and a Systems Saber 3 UHF as well. Use them all for GMRS and are fantastic radios.

[@RANTStrategies]

Great info! Appreciate you taking the time to share it……knowledge transfer amongst communities and people with more knowledge in areas than others that is ultimately, widely focused around preparedness, tac med and training is what RANT Strategies and this channel is all about. Keep it coming!

[@Jennifer-007]

@@RANTStrategiesThank you for taking his comments constructively and not being a douche like most are… well done.. subbing

[@RandomWire107]

I program these and all the older radios HT-600, HT-1000, MT-1000, P110, GP300, GM300, Maxtrac, Sabre, etc all the time. You can do it on any 32 bit PC. It doesn’t need to be an old 386. Cheap CF-29 toughbooks work great.

[@PowderMill]

I keep an old “beater” CF-29 for GM300’s / GP300’s and GR1225’s Perfect choice..

[@Jennifer-007]

The best part of the Saber is being able to slip it into your back jeans or pants pocket. Nice and thin.. I have an Astro Saber 3 and several XTS5000’s, I still prefer my AS. I do wish we could flash it to get FPP.

[@PowderMill]

How about the HT-220 “Slim”..? It was my first issued radio back in 1979. 2 channels w/channel elements +crystals. We were VHF High simplex and I’m fairly certain we were CSQ. The prices were fairly high back then and service shop work was always a big part of our budgeting.

[@ridiculous9730]

Also, you do not need a 386 to program these radios. Get a windows laptop that has a serial port, download a version of free dos onto a usb flash drive, put the rss on that same flash drive, then let your windows machine boot to that drive and boom you can program with a modern laptop regardless of the processor speed. Works great

[@RANTStrategies]

Yoooooooo I had no idea!!!!! Thank you for this!!!!

[@ridiculous9730]

@@RANTStrategies no problem, works with moto,Kenwood, anything that Dos based, the key is the free dos program and whatever cps, rss your using all has to be on the same drive as the free dos

[@RandomWire107]

This!

[@thomasmoran9114]

Sir, with all due respect, you are conflating two different lines of Sabers. The original Saber was designated as such "Saber" and had four models, 1,2,3 and 1E. They were available with or without Encryption. The cases may have been a little longer with encryption. The "System Saber" is a later line that had the 1,2 and 3 models but required a different CPS and offered additional features such as trunking, it also had 16 channels vs 12 in the Saber. And then there is the Saber SI, and the Astro Saber.

[@RANTStrategies]

Understood….. it was more just a range / Audio test to see if such dated unit could even come close to comparing with much more modern radios, I.e. the XTS series. They clearly did so should clearly not be ruled out for continued use as part of your preparedness or even training and operational needs. That’s all that we were going for here.

[@RANTStrategies]

Your information is spot on. All that we were testing here was if obviously dated, saber models could or should be part of your current preparedness, training or even operational comms plan. They certainly held their own both in audio and range against the XTS. That’s all we were looking to test. Appreciate the additional info though! Keep it coming

[@charlie_nolan]

Astro saber and XTS is a far more fair comparison because the 3000 and Astro Saber are the same inside

[@LegoWarFims]

Unpopular opinion. Saber is better the APX models

[@RANTStrategies]

As a group of daily APX users….. gotta agree with you here

[@PowderMill]

I hear it’s the quality of the crystals produced back then.

[@92fszero]

Did you forget about “Astro Saber”??

[@RANTStrategies]

I didn’t forget about them, wish I had a few! but I could only demonstrate and test analog sabers so that’s all I commented about.

[@Jennifer-007]

Suggestion, buy a $29.00 SDR dongle so we can see RF signal and SNR instead of useless purple audio dots…. Thanks for the videos, very cool.

[@RANTStrategies]

Consider it done…… we will definitely make this happen in the future, great suggestion!