WHCA Systems Sabers

[mbnv992]

Got a pair of old school VHF ex White House Systems Sabers in. Anyone have any info on these ? I’d assume they are just standard Systems Sabers. Don’t see these WHCA ones around much anymore. They both work great and currently programmed for local HAM repeaters and FD RX only.
If anyone has more info on these that would be great ! They are both in mint shape for being 30+ years old.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I have a VHF one that was ex-IRS in desk queen condition. Yours probably have DES or DES-XL modules inside. Probably OTAR and multi-key. You can still find DES key-loaders for these. I loaded mine up with all the VHF marine, ham and MURS and SAR freqs. Also NOAA weather channels and used long tone B to decide the alert tone. You can get aftermarket Lithium Ion batteries that are about 2.5-3 x more capacity and 6 oz lighter than the OEM batteries. The Chinese/HK batteries come with a wallwart charger that plugs into the side and is infinitely more useful that a Motorola desk charger if you travel.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Ohh as far as encryption if the word Fascinator shows up on a tag outside or inside, don't tell anyone. But those modules are pretty useless and attract unwanted FBI attention should you be so lucky.

 

[mbnv992]

Ohh as far as encryption if the word Fascinator shows up on a tag outside or inside, don't tell anyone. But those modules are pretty useless and attract unwanted FBI attention should you be so lucky.

Nope nothing that said Fascinator anywhere on or in the radio. I remember reading about those encryption modules on Batlabs YEARS ago. Thankfully, never seen one in person though.

 

[RichardKramer]

Back when POTUS stopped at KABE in the early 2000's; my friend, who was an FAA Tech, called me and said the SS was in the Tower and 2 of the agents each had a Fascinator ht. One had a label OSCAR and the other was marked SIERRA. I told him that OSCAR was the motorcade freq; SIERRA was WHCA. He said the SIERRA radio was patched to the phone system for comms back to the WH.

 

[BabaYaga60]

Got a pair of old school VHF ex White House Systems Sabers in. Anyone have any info on these ? I’d assume they are just standard Systems Sabers. Don’t see these WHCA ones around much anymore. They both work great and currently programmed for local HAM repeaters and FD RX only.
If anyone has more info on these that would be great ! They are both in mint shape for being 30+ years old.
View attachment 203248

THANKS, for the Nostalgia of the Good ol' days !

 

[FFPM571]

Is facinator even revelant anymore? it's 30+ year old technology

 

[mikegilbert]

I acquired my first analog Saber maybe 5 years ago. Before that, I'd only owned Astro Sabers. I was blown away by how sensitive they were. I could pick up NOAA full-quieting without an antenna.

 

[prcguy]

Is facinator even revelant anymore? it's 30+ year old technology

It’s a Type 1 Encryption algorithm based on the KY57/58 and probably fairly secure today. It needs a KYK-13 fill device running punched paper tape for key fill which would be very difficult to come by as a civilian these days.

 

[MTS2000des]

I acquired my first analog Saber maybe 5 years ago. Before that, I'd only owned Astro Sabers. I was blown away by how sensitive they were. I could pick up NOAA full-quieting without an antenna.

The analog Saber, when properly tuned and aligned, was one of the best performing analog radios ever made.

 

[mbnv992]

I have an “AN” version of both the VHF and UHF standard Sabers in my collection as well ( with the sunken keypads - the model 2 also doesn’t scan )

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Back when POTUS stopped at KABE in the early 2000's; my friend, who was an FAA Tech, called me and said the SS was in the Tower and 2 of the agents each had a Fascinator ht. One had a label OSCAR and the other was marked SIERRA. I told him that OSCAR was the motorcade freq; SIERRA was WHCA. He said the SIERRA radio was patched to the phone system for comms back to the WH.

Years ago I had to go back to Miami for some work. I was staying at a hotel right near the airport (Lejuene Rd). I was returning from a meeting in my suit and carrying my Systems Saber in my hand. As I entered the side entrance to the lobby, I was stopped by a guy in a suit who asked me if I needed my radio re-keyed! I looked to the right and there were all these feds with a long table rekeying SABER radios! I told him no thanks, I am all set and hurried to my room. I am not sure which agency but apparently they had taken over the hotel!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

The analog Saber, when properly tuned and aligned, was one of the best performing analog radios ever made.

The hard part is the modulation comp. I have a bunch I need to perform that on. You have to be able to sing and dance, and chew gum at the same time. But yeah once tuned they stay tuned. I don;t think I have had any that drifted far on the TCXO and these are pretty old.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

It’s a Type 1 Encryption algorithm based on the KY57/58 and probably fairly secure today. It needs a KYK-13 fill device running punched paper tape for key fill which would be very difficult to come by as a civilian these days.

I wonder if it would be possible to reverse engineer the KYK-13. I think that its scarcity is the security.

 

[prcguy]

I wonder if it would be possible to reverse engineer the KYK-13. I think that its scarcity is the security.

Probably, the keyloaders for AES and DES have been emulated.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Probably, the keyloaders for AES and DES have been emulated.

That would make Fascinator difficult to break and suddenly useful.

 

[prcguy]

That would make Fascinator difficult to break and suddenly useful.

There are many more type 1 VINSON encrypted radios in civilian hands so it makes sense to develop a keyloader for that. This would be for all the PRC-148s, PRC-152s and similar radios people seem to come up with.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

I have a VHF one that was ex-IRS in desk queen condition. Yours probably have DES or DES-XL modules inside. Probably OTAR and multi-key. You can still find DES key-loaders for these. I loaded mine up with all the VHF marine, ham and MURS and SAR freqs. Also NOAA weather channels and used long tone B to decide the alert tone. You can get aftermarket Lithium Ion batteries that are about 2.5-3 x more capacity and 6 oz lighter than the OEM batteries. The Chinese/HK batteries come with a wallwart charger that plugs into the side and is infinitely more useful that a Motorola desk charger if you travel.

I just picked up a astro saber. do you recomend battery

 

[Kitn1mcc]

I just picked up a astro saber. I am looking for a set of knobs and proper antenna VHF

 

[mbnv992]

Battery here -

https://ebay.io/m/Ulqeoa

Antenna here ( probably the best VHF antenna you can get ) -

Motorola 8505518V01 8 Inch 136-174 MHz Wideband Antenna

Shop Motorola 8505518V01 at Radioparts. Find radios, accessories, replacement parts, and wireless communications products.

www.radioparts.com