3/30/2020 Astro Saber Rss
You may also want to look at the Saber Page.
9 SECTION 1.INTRODUCTION ASTRO® 25 is a completely digital system platform developed by Motorola. It takes advantage of exciting new breakthroughs in digital technology, providing the framework for capabilities previously unavailable in land mobile radio. Guide to ASTRO™ Digital Radios Model-specific Discussion: ASTRO Legacy Series ASTRO Digital Saber™ As stated earlier in the guide, Motorola Inc.’s flagship ASTRO™ radio was the ASTRO Digital Saber™ which was released in approximately 1995.
Take a look at the programming cable.
Saber Accessory Connector Pinout
The pinout can be found here.
The Astro Saber uses a small, recessed, plunger type button, just under the retaining screw receptacle on the radio. This is how the radio decides whether to use the internal or external antenna, when pressed in, it selects the external antenna.
Out of Band Information
If you are using Depot Version B03.04.00 you should be able to change the bandsplits by hex editing the Runtime.odb file.
Search for the bottom/top of the bandsplit you are trying to change (on the ASCII side) and change it. There should be something like seven different places you need to change.
The later versions of Astro RSS are a combined portable and mobile software package. As a result, there are two files of interest Astrop.odb for portables, and Astrom.odb for mobiles.
Both these files are write-protected, and that protection must be removed before editing them. Windows Explorer does this very easily. Just open WE and highlight the file and right click, mouse to properties, left click on properties, and then deselect the read only attribute, and save the change by clicking 'apply' and then click 'ok'.
Remember, after hacking the files, you should go back and reselect the 'read only' attribute by the same method. I don't know if it makes any difference to the program, but just to be safe, do it.
So now you have two unprotected .ODB files. Use a hex editor to get into them, and from the text side of the document, search out the ORIGINAL band limit of interest to you (eg. to pick the lower end of UHF 450-520 split use '450.0000'), and having confirmed that it's there, do a global search and replace of that band limit with your intended limit, example take it down to 430.0000. You do a global search because that way you make all adjustments you need at once, transmit, receive, and every other place the software looks.
Save the files, put them back where they belong in the programs, and reapply their write protected status, then run the software normally and enter your new out of band frequencies that will be accepted and programmed. If it's a reasonable change, the radio will take it and it will work. Some people have had success taking a 450-520 radio down to 430.0000 (haven't tried any lower than that) and have taken it as high as 535.0000. Your milage may vary.
General Information
We've been told that you can use Lab RSS to get the Astro's out of band , and also to get them to do Modat. No specific details though.
If you have Astro Lab and press F4 then F9 from the Main screen, all Astro features can be enabled. Trunking, RAT Tones, MDC ID Display, Call Alert, Private Call, Battery voltage settings etc etc.
The radio uses a third generation keyloader, there is a retro kit to upgrade the DES-XL mkey key loader, and the data in and out pins are different.
Only keyloaders with a model suffix DX or later will properly keyload an Astro, while BX & CX (as well as DX) models will work fine with a regular Saber.
Saber Error Codes
If you have a Saber with a display, you may want to review the Saber Error Codes explanation.
Take a look at the programming cable.
Saber Accessory Connector Pinout
The pinout can be found here.
The Astro Saber uses a small, recessed, plunger type button, just under the retaining screw receptacle on the radio. This is how the radio decides whether to use the internal or external antenna, when pressed in, it selects the external antenna.
Out of Band Information
If you are using Depot Version B03.04.00 you should be able to change the bandsplits by hex editing the Runtime.odb file.
Search for the bottom/top of the bandsplit you are trying to change (on the ASCII side) and change it. There should be something like seven different places you need to change.
The later versions of Astro RSS are a combined portable and mobile software package. As a result, there are two files of interest Astrop.odb for portables, and Astrom.odb for mobiles.
Both these files are write-protected, and that protection must be removed before editing them. Windows Explorer does this very easily. Just open WE and highlight the file and right click, mouse to properties, left click on properties, and then deselect the read only attribute, and save the change by clicking 'apply' and then click 'ok'.
Remember, after hacking the files, you should go back and reselect the 'read only' attribute by the same method. I don't know if it makes any difference to the program, but just to be safe, do it.
So now you have two unprotected .ODB files. Use a hex editor to get into them, and from the text side of the document, search out the ORIGINAL band limit of interest to you (eg. to pick the lower end of UHF 450-520 split use '450.0000'), and having confirmed that it's there, do a global search and replace of that band limit with your intended limit, example take it down to 430.0000. You do a global search because that way you make all adjustments you need at once, transmit, receive, and every other place the software looks.
Save the files, put them back where they belong in the programs, and reapply their write protected status, then run the software normally and enter your new out of band frequencies that will be accepted and programmed. If it's a reasonable change, the radio will take it and it will work. Some people have had success taking a 450-520 radio down to 430.0000 (haven't tried any lower than that) and have taken it as high as 535.0000. Your milage may vary.
General Information
We've been told that you can use Lab RSS to get the Astro's out of band , and also to get them to do Modat. No specific details though.
If you have Astro Lab and press F4 then F9 from the Main screen, all Astro features can be enabled. Trunking, RAT Tones, MDC ID Display, Call Alert, Private Call, Battery voltage settings etc etc.
The radio uses a third generation keyloader, there is a retro kit to upgrade the DES-XL mkey key loader, and the data in and out pins are different.
Only keyloaders with a model suffix DX or later will properly keyload an Astro, while BX & CX (as well as DX) models will work fine with a regular Saber.
Saber Error Codes
If you have a Saber with a display, you may want to review the Saber Error Codes explanation.
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