Programming Saber II UHF radios

[Ibby]

Yep, but I won't be back in BC til just after Xmas. You can get the software and cables off eBay for cheap. All you need aside from that is a computer with a serial port. It's pretty simple.

[Lerch]

Done! Would I be able to send my radio to you to have it done sooner?

I got moneys

[ScottMcLeod]

Originally Posted by Ibby

Yep, but I won't be back in BC til just after Xmas. You can get the software and cables off eBay for cheap. All you need aside from that is a computer with a serial port. It's pretty simple.

Out of curiosity...

What do you use for slowing down the computers so they don't brick the radios?

Or do you have an older computer kicking around that you use for that...?

[Gryphon]

Last I heard, Big M is VERY ruthless about stomping out distributors and knowledge of RSS sans merci and that includes eBay. Is it actually available there?

I'd heard that too, but here's the dillemma...the radios are out of production, unsupported, etc. So is the software. I spoke with a CSR at Motorola and stated, rather directly, that if you're going to pull support for the radios and software that's fine, but it should still be available ; otherwise you're forcing people to buy completley new systems for no good reason.

There are problaby 100,000 Saber I/II/III radio's on the surplus shelves right now as they're being replaced with digital sets. That means people will buy them, and there will still be a market for good radios that aren't "state of the art". They could still make FREE MONEY by selling the software so people can program the radios they buy.

Then I told her that if they weren't selling it, weren't distributiing it, and wouldn't make it available, it was essentially abandonware and free for anyone to use since there licensing agreement only covers supported software.

[Gryphon]

Interesting. I've been looking at those submersible Saber IIIs on eBay, they're like $60 or so. Hell you can't get a decent set of GMRS for that price. Think I'll run these past the team!

[Ibby]

Originally Posted by ScottMcLeod

Out of curiosity...

What do you use for slowing down the computers so they don't brick the radios?

Or do you have an older computer kicking around that you use for that...?

You can use an older computer, which is generally less headache in the long run, or you can use a program like MoSlo ( http://www.hpaa.com/moslo/ ) that puts different wait states on CPU's in newer systems. It's damned finicky to get this to work properly, as you have to make sure newer UART's and such are being slowed down correctly, which is often not the case. It's technical, but if you like tinkering, it's a fun puzzle. Usually I get a private to do it for me

Originally Posted by MadMorbius

Then I told her that if they weren't selling it, weren't distributiing it, and wouldn't make it available, it was essentially abandonware and free for anyone to use since there licensing agreement only covers supported software.

I agree, that should be the way. However, Motorola claims IP rights to the software, even though it's hard to find these days. We have licensed versions in the shop where I work, but even when it was available I found the updates were available faster on bittorrent sites. I passed this on to Morb then went to take a look and lo and behold, I couldn't find a single thing.
On a side note, don't ask for copies from me. I'm not making any.

Also, there's something I forgot. Instead of sending all the radios your team gets in for programming, just send in one and have it programmed the way you like. Then build a cloning cable, and clone the rest from the original. Much cheaper and a lot easier. There's tons of info about Motorolas at http://www.batlabs.com/

Good point Ibby. Thanks, and I'll look for the cloning cable.

[ScottMcLeod]

Originally Posted by Gryphon

Last I heard, Big M is VERY ruthless about stomping out distributors and knowledge of RSS sans merci and that includes eBay. Is it actually available there?

I don't know about a guy in the states that doesn't have 2 CD's worth of the software he doesn't sell for 100$ shipped.

You definitely couldn't get his email address if you didn't pm me.