VHF Motorola Astro Saber Shoulder Mic

[TheWarlock]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to get a Shoulder Mic for a VHF Astro Saber. I have heard the Public Safety Mic is not recommended on a VHF unit. Why is this? Also, should I buy a "OEM" model or do the third parties work just as well.

 

[FFPM571]

you can use it on a VHF ..It will work but you are limited to a stubby antenna also the loss involved in the mini coax in the cable will diminish the output. It is not recommended

 

[TheWarlock]

you can use it on a VHF ..It will work but you are limited to a stubby antenna also the loss involved in the mini coax in the cable will diminish the output. It is not recommended

If I use it for receive only as I currently use that radio to monitor a trunked system would it still cause damage to the radio?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pro-91, MTS 2000 800MHz, Astro Saber VHF

 

[FFPM571]

your not transmitting so it wont damage the radio. Stubby antennas are poor performers as it is. your reception of signals will suffer with the shorter antenna and the loss in the coax. Its always best to use the antenna on the radio

 

[TheWarlock]

your not transmitting so it wont damage the radio. Stubby antennas are poor performers as it is. your reception of signals will suffer with the shorter antenna and the loss in the coax. Its always best to use the antenna on the radio

What do you mean by Its always best to use the antenna on the radio

 

[SCPD]

What do you mean by Its always best to use the antenna on the radio

Allot of people would remove the radio antenna snd only use the speaker mic antenna. Going from a 7 inch antenna on the radio removing it to a 2 or 3 inch stub on the shoulder mic.

 

[TheWarlock]

Allot of people would remove the radio antenna snd only use the speaker mic antenna. Going from a 7 inch antenna on the radio removing it to a 2 or 3 inch stub on the shoulder mic.

What would happen if I kept the 7 inch VHF antenna on the radio and put a 3 inch 800MHz antenna on the mic. or vice versa would the radio still get the good signal I get on my vhf antenna or does it cancel it out and only use the shoulder mic?

 

[riveter]

The thing is: the 'public safety' RSM is designed for a stubby antenna for 700/800 mhz use. Sure, you can get stubby VHF antennas, but they suck. Despite the antenna being mounted at shoulder level rather than waist level, your reception will be a lot worse than using the larger antenna on the radio itself at your waist. That's basically it. There's absolutely no usefulness to having an extra, tiny, unsat antenna up on the RSM. Just looks doofy, performs no extra function (because its signal reception's going to be worse than the larger antenna on vhf nearly all the time).

 

[TheWarlock]

So from what I am hearing it best I go with a non public safety mic.

 

[TheWarlock]

The thing is: the 'public safety' RSM is designed for a stubby antenna for 700/800 mhz use. Sure, you can get stubby VHF antennas, but they suck. Despite the antenna being mounted at shoulder level rather than waist level, your reception will be a lot worse than using the larger antenna on the radio itself at your waist. That's basically it. There's absolutely no usefulness to having an extra, tiny, unsat antenna up on the RSM. Just looks doofy, performs no extra function (because its signal reception's going to be worse than the larger antenna on vhf nearly all the time).

In theory could I put a 7 inch antenna on the Shoulder Mic and get a much better signal. So I have one on the radio and one on the mic. for 2X 7 inch vhf antenna

 

[FFPM571]

The speaker mic connecton on the radio has a micro switch that changes the RF to the speaker mic when using the public safety style mic.They are designed for 800 and UHF not VHF if you were even to put a 7in antenna on the speaker mic it would look ridiculous and if you were wearing it would keep hitting you in the face.

 

[N4KVE]

So from what I am hearing it best I go with a non public safety mic.

This is what Moto recommends. PSM for 800, & UHF only.

 

[riveter]

So from what I am hearing it best I go with a non public safety mic.

Yes, the PS RSM will offer you no advantage over a non-antenna-equipped RSM on VHF, and will present a disadvantage if you use the onboard PS RSM antenna.

As moonboots said right above me in fewer words...