Saber Bricked During Programming?

[livitup311]

Hello,

I have a very nice looking SABER II (not systems/Astro). I was able to read the codeplug using Saber RSS. When I tried to write a codeplug back to the radio, it displayed ERR 01 04. Now it's just stuck at that screen no matter what I do and RSS can't read it any more.

I suspect my computer wasn't slow enough, causing a corrupted write. Is the radio a brick? Do I need to replace the EEPROM? If so, is there a good place to find them?

 

[W3AXL]

Unfortunately, you've got a brick. I killed 3 or 4 sabers back in my early ham days not understanding how picky these radios are with serial timing.

 

[ElroyJetson]

There may be hope but FIRST you've got to make sure you've got a suitably slow and old PC to program with. Nothing faster than a 486-100, and a 386 would be even better.
If you have that taken care of, create a new file for your radio type but make it a no keypad model. So if you have an H43SAK7139CN model, create a file for an H43SAN7139CN, add in some default data, and write it to the radio BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT, open up the radio and remove the front cover/shield assembly and unplug the cable to the LCD display/front shield. (Entirely remove the cable and set it aside.) Then put the shield back on because you want the speaker to work, obviously. Now reassemble the radio with the front display board disconnected.

Write the new file to the radio. There's a fair chance that you will now have a working Saber 1.

If that works, then reconnect the display board and now go back and rewrite the radio to its correct SAJ or SAK type model number.
Will this work? I've had it work before. I've also had it NOT work. So it's an experiment. And kind of fun.

 

[sfd745]

You may have a chance of fixing this if you have the right computer setup. You need a true dos computer running on 386 era platform and using a real RIB. Try your local HAM groups and local radio shops. You may have killed it, but you may just need to re-write your saved initial file with a proper setup.

 

[ElroyJetson]

The method I described above can work because there is no error checking when you tell the Saber it's a different model, and when it is set to think it's a Saber 1 then the entire operational software/firmware package is loaded into the 5D, 6D, or 8D CORE memory and it should be essentially brick-proof. Or, more properly, 100 percent recoverable as long as the eeproms and other core computer system components are not damaged. So this process should restore the radio to a base operable state and then you can rewrite it as a Saber II or III (beware of the difference between 2K limited memory Saber II and 8K memory Saber II) and it should take just fine.

I have a handful of Saber II/III front shield assemblies in good working order, if anybody needs them for repairs or upgrades. All are 8K memory so they will go up to a full Saber III.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The method I described above can work because there is no error checking when you tell the Saber it's a different model, and when it is set to think it's a Saber 1 then the entire operational software/firmware package is loaded into the 5D, 6D, or 8D CORE memory and it should be essentially brick-proof. Or, more properly, 100 percent recoverable as long as the eeproms and other core computer system components are not damaged. So this process should restore the radio to a base operable state and then you can rewrite it as a Saber II or III (beware of the difference between 2K limited memory Saber II and 8K memory Saber II) and it should take just fine.

I have a handful of Saber II/III front shield assemblies in good working order, if anybody needs them for repairs or upgrades. All are 8K memory so they will go up to a full Saber III.

Elroy, whats your experience with Systems Sabers that don't want to be read and randomly transmit when the programming cable is attached? I have a batch like this and it is a first for me. My PC is a 486SLC IBM PS/2 and is pretty much RSS ready.,

 

[MTS2000des]

The biggest challenge will be retuning the radio. If one has the appropriate period correct PC, (286/386 running DOS) with slow UART, cable and get get a WORKING codeplug back in, the radio's tuning values stored may be trashed and it may work poorly if at all.
These radios were sold when Ronald Reagan was still in office and when Bush Sr became president. They are that old. It can become a time and resource vampire. They are nice to look at, but keeping radios this old alive in 2023 is an exercise in futility. Aside, they can't be used for anything but part 97.

 

[ElroyJetson]

I don't have much of anything to offer regarding Systems Sabers, as my experience with them is close to zero. Never had to repair one, for certain.

 

[ElroyJetson]

Incidentally I have some nice examples of Sabers that I have hanging around for nostalgic purposes. I can't even program them myself anymore. I'm kind of tempted to make an offer and might as well do it here. If you can program them, I'll give you one if you program another one to my requirements and send it back to me. They're all Saber IIIs, VHF and UHF models both. I think they're all in usable sub bands.

 

[FFPM571]

I can program Sabers. I still have an old Win98 machine that boots to DOS. I am 99% sure I still have a cable at the shop.. My personal cable got borrowed and lost.. The problem is I don't have a battery anymore to use they all died of old age

 

[wtp]

the wife took some of my old and useless scanners and radio parts and has made a little "olde time box" of stuff in an entertainment center.
the computer one has a zaxxon motherboard and other stuff in it.
so some stuff went from around the house, to, "what the heck is that" ?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The biggest challenge will be retuning the radio. If one has the appropriate period correct PC, (286/386 running DOS) with slow UART, cable and get get a WORKING codeplug back in, the radio's tuning values stored may be trashed and it may work poorly if at all.
These radios were sold when Ronald Reagan was still in office and when Bush Sr became president. They are that old. It can become a time and resource vampire. They are nice to look at, but keeping radios this old alive in 2023 is an exercise in futility. Aside, they can't be used for anything but part 97.

The Systems Sabers are Part 95 certified, which is weird because they also have Securenet. But it is had to find a 440-470 band Systems Saber so I swap 440-470 band modules into the 403-433 band chassis ex fed radios.

I agree they are a vampire for technology required to support. But in my opinion they are solid performers and Motorola sort of went backwards with later model radios as far as size, performance and durability, not to mention all the FLASH upgrades to make later models work.

As far as tuning, the hard part is the modulation compensation. I have the gear to do it but it is tedious to set up, so I do radios in batches.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

the wife took some of my old and useless scanners and radio parts and has made a little "olde time box" of stuff in an entertainment center.
the computer one has a zaxxon motherboard and other stuff in it.
so some stuff went from around the house, to, "what the heck is that" ?

Pictures?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Incidentally I have some nice examples of Sabers that I have hanging around for nostalgic purposes. I can't even program them myself anymore. I'm kind of tempted to make an offer and might as well do it here. If you can program them, I'll give you one if you program another one to my requirements and send it back to me. They're all Saber IIIs, VHF and UHF models both. I think they're all in usable sub bands.

I cant guarantee how fast I could turn around. Programming will be quick. But if tuning of Mod Comp required, it will have to wait for a turn of the crank.

 

[ElroyJetson]

I'd definitely be in no hurry in any event. As for batteries, I use the li-ion ones you can buy on ebay with my Astro Saber, which lasts a VERY long time between charges.

 

[wtp]

RFI,
i am trying for pics now.
slow phone...

 

[wtp]

no luck, my phone will not send it to my email.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Incidentally I have some nice examples of Sabers that I have hanging around for nostalgic purposes. I can't even program them myself anymore. I'm kind of tempted to make an offer and might as well do it here. If you can program them, I'll give you one if you program another one to my requirements and send it back to me. They're all Saber IIIs, VHF and UHF models both. I think they're all in usable sub bands.

I sent you a message...

 

[BrhatWeed]

I have two saber-3s (8k securenet H43 & H44) with good front panels that I'm willing to part with for the price of retrieving and printing out the codeplugs. Message or email me. One was dropped and the other got +18v on the battery terminals because I wasn't paying attention to the bench supply.

 

[mikewazowski]

I have two saber-3s (8k securenet H43 & H44) with good front panels that I'm willing to part with for the price of retrieving and printing out the codeplugs. Message or email me. One was dropped and the other got +18v on the battery terminals because I wasn't paying attention to the bench supply.

A reminder that Buy, Trade and Sell is to take place in the Classifieds forums.

Thanks