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Astro saber programming

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n3obl

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No that cable wont work. You need a rib box and a rib cable for the astro saber.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Be careful, the SABER programming cable and ASTRO SABER programming cables are different. There is a different pinout for the data at the RIB end, and while SABER uses an electronic antenna switch (for antenna external RF), with a Zener diode to select the port, the ASTRO SABER cable has a plunger to push a mechanical switch inside the radio housing.

You can find after market programming cables for both that dont have the antenna RF servicing pigtail, but they still will be wired slightly different. You might have to shuffle two wires if you buy the wrong one. Or make a male to female DB connector that switches the wires.
 

FoxMcCloud

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Thanks for your answers, are there some options on eBay that you could link me on? And yep, thanks for looking out on that, I have the Astro Saber and not the older analog saber
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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This is an aftermarket cable. You still need a RIB. I assume the seller knows what he is selling and it actually works.

 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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It will probably work. Whatever you do, read the radio and archive a couple copies of the original codeplug. That way if there is a problem rewriting it you can try another configuration. The new WIN10 OS may be a bugaboo. WINXP was probably last support for CPS. I am running WINXP and same CPS here. But will have to change OS soon, and I think that may be the end of it. Meaning another CPU sitting on a shelf in case I ever need it. I still have a DOS IBM pizza box for all things before.
 

bumby

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I recently programmed an Astro Saber with WIN7 32 bit, and a 3rd party programming cable off ebay, and it was a great success. I realize 3rd party programming cables are not recommended, it was a ham radio project, and I wanted to keep cost at a minimum.
 

FoxMcCloud

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I recently programmed an Astro Saber with WIN7 32 bit, and a 3rd party programming cable off ebay, and it was a great success. I realize 3rd party programming cables are not recommended, it was a ham radio project, and I wanted to keep cost at a minimum.
Did you use the RIB box or did you just use the R232 cable?
 

bumby

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It was a rib-less, USB interface cable....or I should say the USB cable has a rib built into it.
 

FoxMcCloud

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It was a rib-less, USB interface cable....or I should say the USB cable has a rib built into it.
So a USB Serial cable to astro saber programming cable? Who made yours and where did you buy it from?
 

jaspence

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I use a Kawamall cable that requires a true serial port (no usb to serial) but not a rib box. I just finished reprogramming my XTS 3000 VHF radio using it. Works best with Windows XP, but no 64 bit software of any Windows version.
 

bumby

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I bought mine off ebay from seller bluemax49ers, however, I checked and he does not seem to have one for sale at the moment. I would message him and see if he has a cable, its not showing up on his ebay site right now.
 

N4KVE

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Yesterday I spent a half hour looking for an Astro Saber ribless serial port programming cable. They don’t seem to exist. But yet I have one that works perfectly for my MTS2000/XTS3000.
 

jaspence

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Very possible the supply ran out and not worth the cost to produce a small quantity since the XTS3000 has been retired for several years. I could not find one the last time I looked either. I also have a couple EFJ5100 radios, but they all have FPP which works good for ham use.
 

FoxMcCloud

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Yea I have a XTS3000 and just programmed it with a R232 cable. So since the XTS and the Astro Saber are electronically identical, they should both not need a RIB box right?
 
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