R8600 Icom R8600 Thoughts On ?

[bearcatrp]

Well, have to eat my words. After selling my R8500 and R75, I ordered a R8600. Nothing else even comes close. I looked at every other radio but it was clear the Icom is about the best on the market. Very similar to the IC705 I used to have but better.

 

[N9JIG]

Well, have to eat my words. After selling my R8500 and R75, I ordered a R8600. Nothing else even comes close. I looked at every other radio but it was clear the Icom is about the best on the market. Very similar to the IC705 I used to have but better.

I kind of thought you might come to that conclusion. I too sold my 8500 and replaced it with an 8600 and never regretted it.

I was extremely happy and surprised to see how well it performs on HF, the 8500 was fine but the 8600 is superb.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Hi,

Giving some serious thought to getting an Icom R8600 receiver.
Seems every time I look at HRO the price has jumped another hundred or so.
Any reputable dealer with a lower price I should consider ?
...

Just some advice from my perspective. I have an R8600 and even an R9500. But far more use an SDR (AirSpy HF+ Discovery) even though it is far cheaper (~$200). (The World Radio Television Handbook does rate it overall better than the R8600). I even keep one, a wire, and a PC laptop in the car. If you have a PC, you should consider it if you have not.

 

[N4DJC]

Well, have to eat my words. After selling my R8500 and R75, I ordered a R8600. Nothing else even comes close. I looked at every other radio but it was clear the Icom is about the best on the market. Very similar to the IC705 I used to have but better.

I think that’s a good decision.

 

[N4DJC]

@N9JIG

Rich, what about the screen saver don't you like?

Jerry

 

[N9JIG]

@N9JIG

Rich, what about the screen saver don't you like?

Jerry

That it turns off the screen just as I am ready to snap a picture!

It (and my 705) are the first radios that I have had with screen savers like that and it takes some getting used to.

 

[N4DJC]

That it turns off the screen just as I am ready to snap a picture!

It (and my 705) are the first radios that I have had with screen savers like that and it takes some getting used to.

Lol, same here…but the time can set…or off. I’m far too paranoid to leave a display on for too long or set too bright

 

[AK9R]

That it turns off the screen just as I am ready to snap a picture!

Does the IC-R8600 have a screen capture feature like the IC-7610 has? On the 7610, if you tap the POWER button (don't press and hold), it will capture the current display and save it to either the SD card or a USB drive.

 

[kruser]

Does the IC-R8600 have a screen capture feature like the IC-7610 has? On the 7610, if you tap the POWER button (don't press and hold), it will capture the current display and save it to either the SD card or a USB drive.

Yes, the 8600 can be setup to save a screen image on a short power button push if you want. You can also disable that feature so the radio shuts off on a short power button push.
If used, it saves the screen capture to the SD card. I use the feature from time to time to record frequencies of interest that are not in the radios memory yet.

 

[prcguy]

Referring to the AirSpy HF+ Discovery, "The World Radio Television Handbook does rate it overall better than the R8600". So what are they rating???

Rob Sherwood has been professionally testing HF receivers for many years and rating them according to their performance in difficult band congested conditions. Out of the 150 or so receivers tested the Icom R8600 ranks number 5 on the list of the best receivers ever tested. I don't find any AirSpy or similar receivers on the list anywhere but I do find a radio that might have a similar chipset to other low cost SDR receivers and that would be the Commradio CTX-10. Out of the 150 something radios tested the CTX-10 is at the very bottom of the list, worst ever tested for high performance specs.

What could World Radio possibly be testing that places an AirSpy higher than an R8600?

="dlwtrunked, post: 3708118, member: 3288"]
Just some advice from my perspective. I have an R8600 and even an R9500. But far more use an SDR (AirSpy HF+ Discovery) even though it is far cheaper (~$200). (The World Radio Television Handbook does rate it overall better than the R8600). I even keep one, a wire, and a PC laptop in the car. If you have a PC, you should consider it if you have not.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Referring to the AirSpy HF+ Discovery, "The World Radio Television Handbook does rate it overall better than the R8600". So what are they rating???

...
What could World Radio possibly be testing that places an AirSpy higher than an R8600?

They have rated receivers for years and describe what they find for each one. The receivers we are discussing were evaluated in earlier years. This years though did include a write-up for several portables and the Icom IC-705 (3 pages for just it). This years does include tables of previous receivers evaluated in last several years.

Number of stars:
AirSpy HF+ Discovery SDR SEL: 5 DR:5 OV: 5
ICOM-R8600 SEL: 5 DR: 4 OV: 4
ICOM-R9500 SEL: 5 DR:5 OV: 5
So the AirSpy HF+ was tied with the R9500 on selectivity, dynamic range, and overall at a much lower price (not including a PC to use it);
while the R8600 was just 1-star lower perhaps primarily due to dynamic range (I do not have the write-up for it as I gave that addition away).

I have all 3 of those and do not disagree; but all are good receivers.

 

[prcguy]

Rob Sherwood runs an independent lab and publishes his test procedures and they are accepted by radio mfrs, ARRL and the radio industry. Adam Farson, another independent lab does similar testing and his data usually matches up well with Rob's data.

Rob tested the Icom R8600 20KHz wide band dynamic range at 109dB and the Icom R9500 at 110dB, something that you cannot notice in actual use. However, Rob measured the much more important 2KHz dynamic range on the R8600 at 107dB and the R9500 at 85dB which is a 22dB difference and huge.

I suspect the World Radio Television Handbook people don't really have a clue on how to test a receiver and I have never heard of their data being accepted by any mfr or frankly anyone.

They have rated receivers for years and describe what they find for each one. The receivers we are discussing were evaluated in earlier years. This years though did include a write-up for several portables and the Icom IC-705 (3 pages for just it). This years does include tables of previous receivers evaluated in last several years.

Number of stars:
AirSpy HF+ Discovery SDR SEL: 5 DR:5 OV: 5
ICOM-R8600 SEL: 5 DR: 4 OV: 4
ICOM-R9500 SEL: 5 DR:5 OV: 5
So the AirSpy HF+ was tied with the R9500 on selectivity, dynamic range, and overall at a much lower price (not including a PC to use it);
while the R8600 was just 1-star lower perhaps primarily due to dynamic range (I do not have the write-up for it as I gave that addition away).

I have all 3 of those and do not disagree; but all are good receivers.

 

[dlwtrunked]

...

I suspect the World Radio Television Handbook people don't really have a clue on how to test a receiver and I have never heard of their data being accepted by any mfr or frankly anyone.

They having been doing it for decades and are well recognized (perhaps even more so than Sherwood though I have no complaint against them) --you should really buy the book and also a Airspy HF+ Discovery (and certainly do not compare it to cheap SDR junk).
(Note the "Airspy HF+ Discovery" is not the same as an "Airspy HF+").

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14387

Airspy HF+ Discovery Specs and Prices | RadioMasterList.com | The Radio Directory (has specs)

 

[AK9R]

I suspect the World Radio Television Handbook people don't really have a clue on how to test a receiver and I have never heard of their data being accepted by any mfr or frankly anyone.

Frankly, I'd like to see their data. 5 stars? 4 stars? What does that mean? I'm sure that WRTH does a good job making subjective evaluations of receivers and shortwave equipment for their readers. But, a review without test data gathered using calibrated equipment and accepted test methods is just someone's opinion.

Pretty much the same as "reviews" in other publications, other websites, and YouTube videos. They are just opinions if they don't include test data.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Frankly, I'd like to see their data. 5 stars? 4 stars? What does that mean? I'm sure that WRTH does a good job making subjective evaluations of receivers and shortwave equipment for their readers. But, a review without test data gathered using calibrated equipment and accepted test methods is just someone's opinion.

Pretty much the same as "reviews" in other publications, other websites, and YouTube videos. They are just opinions if they don't include test data.

But condemning a receiver without even tuning it is just an opinion and the burden is on Sherwood to provide numbers on the Airspy HF+ Discovery if you want to compare with theirs.

Like I said, I have 3 AirSpy HF+, an R9500, an R8600, an R7300, and others. If someone's numbers disagree with my observations, I know their numbers are not measuring the right thing. And I do like data/measurements--I am a retired mathematician.

 

[fasteddy64]

For the average user, like myself, the "numbers" arent the most important thing. If you dont enjoy using the radio, for whatever reason, its probably not the right radio for you. Most of the fancy features and hardcore specs do not enhance my style of listening. If the bands are noisy and crowded, if the signals are difficult to hear, I turn the rig off and find something else to do.
I like my 8600 but I dont use even a fraction of its capabilities.

 

[TDR-94]

I don't own an Airspy HF Discovery, but I do own an Airspy R2 and all I can say is it just doesn't "cut the mustard" in comparison to my IC-R20, let alone any of my commercial radios. That's after using multiple SDR software programs while utilizing the latest R2 firmware.

I may just relinquish the R2 to ADS-B decoder duty . It seems to be adequate enough for that task with the right filtering.

 

[WPXS472]

This has been an interesting thread. As expected, there are those who just love their 8600's, and some, not so much. I don't think it can be argued that the 8600 isn't a great receiver. There is simply no evidence for that. Is it the best? Does it really have to be? I still haven't used mine, and am still on the fence about keeping, or selling. I am afraid that if I actually use it, I won't even think about selling. Being on a fixed income, and with inflation being what it is, not to mention that my 401K is pulling a disappearing act, it really makes a lot more sense to sell. I could certainly use the money. Listening to a radio isn't a necessity in life, and I do have other options. I'll let you know when I decide.

 

[bearcatrp]

Hope your able to keep it. It’s a fantastic receiver. With prices of everything going higher, I decided to spend the money on the 8600 as I will be home more. Haven’t spent allot of time with it yet but it’s similar to the IC 705 I used to own. But, you have to do what you need to do to survive. Good luck.

 

[batdude]

As I am not much into HF, I really can't comment so much on performance of the 8600 in those bands.

but.

I use my Airspy (not HF) units a LOT more than my 8600.

The stars that are missing from all those reviews and comparisons is simple. it's VALUE.

$169 for the Discovery+ or $2000 for the 8600.

I'd say that for about 95% of the monitoring crowd - the Discovery is a MUCH better VALUE.

the other thing that these reviews don't mention is flexibility. The 8600 is a "closed end" machine. Firmware updates are rare - and really only to fix bugs or minor tweaks. The Airspy is an evolutionary product. The software supporting it constantly evolves with new features - sometimes rapidly - over time whereas the 8600 pretty much does what it does - and that's it.

I'm not selling my 8600, but it's a great example of what "could have been" - iCom is just too stubborn to evolve.