R8600 Using the Icom R8600

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I am exploring the CHIRP program and seeing if I can write a driver for the IC-R8600. One problem is CHIRP likes fixed data structures and the R8600 uses several different data structures depending on the mode. There is one structure that will work across all modes, but it leaves out any tone data for NFM. I am amazed at how far I got over the weekend.

73 Eric

 

[jcardani]

Does the 8600 have a discriminator output similar to the R8500's detected audio signal without de-emphesis in order to interface with DSD, DSDPlus, etc?

Or if not, has anyone identified a suitable tap point for the discriminator output?

thanks!

 

[jcardani]

Anyone?

Does the 8600 have a discriminator output similar to the R8500's detected audio signal without de-emphesis in order to interface with DSD, DSDPlus, etc?

Or if not, has anyone identified a suitable tap point for the discriminator output?

thanks!

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I tried out the usb audio with deemphasis off and flat tone and I was not able to get good decoding. I suspect the receiver is using a 8K sample rate for NFM modes. There maybe a method to improve it, but I have not played around with it.

The audio paths appear to be mostly digital, so I doubt there is any discriminator output.

The current best alternative is to use the 12 KHz IF output. You could use a program that handles 12KHz IF output or could convert it to flat audio.

73 Eric

 

[jcardani]

Thanks Eric!

 

[kruser]

CS-R8600 Cloning Software

I received the cloning software CD from HRO today and... the application is missing from the CD!
It only has the USB drivers but no actual application.

Called Icom America and they have had this reported with version 1.2 and are sending me a new CD out via FedEx or UPS.

Just a heads up in case anyone else gets a CD and can't figure out why it won't install!

Nice of Icom to correct the problem without needing proof of purchase or anything from me.

 

[dlwtrunked]

I assumed this is at VHF/UHF and not HF?

I found the IF 3 dB bandwidth on HF to be about 8.7 MHz, and the 10 dB bandwidth was 11.5 MHz. Above 30 MHz the 3 dB bandwidth was about 12.7 MHz and the 10 dB bandwidth was about 15.1 MHz.

However, my 10 MHz ref spike was a bit taller than yours.

If I remember right the inverted spectrum is common among the Icom wideband radios.

T!

On some of their earlier radios, it was inverted only above 1 GHz due to a converter causing that.

 

[mbott]

At HRO, the Icom R8600 has a reduced price of $2299 during their Early Bird "Black Friday" event.

Still a bit out of my league, but getting closer.

--
Mike

 

[EricCottrell]

Finally, IQ Output!!!!

Hello,

I just noticed the IQ Driver and new firmware posted on the Icom Global Site.
Firmware Updates / Software Downloads | Support | Icom Inc

73 Eric

 

[n2pqq]

Hello,

I just noticed the IQ Driver and new firmware posted on the Icom Global Site.
Firmware Updates / Software Downloads | Support | Icom Inc

73 Eric

Did firm wear update and installed HDSDR.

It recognises software and controls SOME functions.

Can not get software to change mode on radio .

Need to look at operation further.

 

[n2pqq]

Interesting thread here

https://sdr-radio.groups.io/g/main/...0,0,0::recentpostdate/sticky,,,20,2,0,7716122


Maybe we will be fortunate enough to see it work in sdr console in the future.

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

USB IQ Output observations so far.

Install went well.

It is important to make sure the Options [F7] | Input Channel Mode For RX is set to I (Left) / Q (Right). This is the default, but for some reason I had set it to Both Channels added, which messed up the spectrum.

Pressing F2 Start control in HDSDR will put the R8600 into Remote Mode and lock almost all the controls. The R8600 will not output any audio. All decoding is done by HDSDR. The Power control on the R8600 will turn off the R8600 and cause a communications error. The Local control on the R8600 will stop HDSDR (the same as pressing F2 Stop in HDSDR) and return the receiver to the state it was in before the F2 Start control was pressed.

Pressing F2 Stop in HDSDR will stop HDSDR, but the R8600 will remain in remote mode until HDSDR is exited. When HDSDR exits the R8600 will exit remote mode and return to the state it was in before the F2 Start control was pressed.

HDSDR LO A and B work. The Frequency Display on the R8600 is the LO Frequency in HDSDR. The Spectrum Scope on the R8600 will still display information with the same relationship as the Frequency Display, but no settings can be changed.

Only on USB Connection to the ICOM is needed for IQ Output. The AOR AR-Alpha requires two USB connections, one for IQ Data and one for RX Control.

Receiver Settings on the ExtIO Settings dialog are Antenna, PreAmp, IP+, Attenuator, and RF Gain. The HF Bandpass Filter can be disabled.

Both 16 and 24 bit samples are supported, except 5.12 MSPS is 16 bit only.
Supported Bitrates
5.12 MSPS (4.48 MHz BW) - 16 Bit Samples only
3.84 MSPS (3.31 MHz BW)
1.92 MSPS (1.63 MHz BW)
960 KSPS (815 KHz BW)
480 KSPS (408 KHz BW)
240 KSPS (203 KHz BW)
120 KSPS (108 KHz BW)
60 KSPS (51.8 KHz BW)
30 KSPS (27.1 KHz BW)

73 Eric

 

[bagmouse7]

Here are some screen shots of the IC-R8600s ExtIO options and a screenshot from HDSDR.
The USB I/Q output seems to be working very well, and HDSDR is great on a 4k monitor.
Fantastic results so far.

 

[n2pqq]

Here is what I found after playing with the program.

When you change mode in software it does not show change
on radio. HOWEVER it is indeed changing mode.

It will not read the antenna preset that is in the radio

Antenna has to be set for correct antenna input Ant1 Ant2 Ant3
It will remember it after you set it.

This is done in software by clicking on extlo and then choosing antenna
input.

 

[EricCottrell]

Here is what I found after playing with the program.

When you change mode in software it does not show change
on radio. HOWEVER it is indeed changing mode.

It will not read the antenna preset that is in the radio

Antenna has to be set for correct antenna input Ant1 Ant2 Ant3
It will remember it after you set it.

This is done in software by clicking on extlo and then choosing antenna
input.

Hello,

HDSDR is doing the signal decoding, so changing the mode in software only affects the software. The mode displayed on the radio display is meaningless. You basically turn the R8600 into a very expensive RTL-SDR device.

It is too bad that it does not read the current radio settings, but I can see why they save the settings before going in remote mode and restore the settings when exiting remote mode.

I found five new CI-V commands that I want to try out this evening.

73 Eric

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I expect the CI-V manual to be updated as new commands were added in the Version 1.30 update. Here are the two I figured out.

Cmd  Sub  Data
16   65   00 ~ 01       Send/read IP+ (00=OFF, 01=ON)

1A   13   00            Read the remote status [I/Q Output]  (00=OFF, 01=ON)

There are other 1A 13 commands, but they can only be used on the IQ Output port.

73 Eric

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

R8600 IQ seems straight forward. CI-V commands are sent to an BULK endpoint on the IQ Data USB port and responses are sent back from another BULK endpoint. A couple of commands can only be sent over the IQ connection. It appears sample rates below 240 KHz are done in the ExtIO DLL.

These new commands can be sent on any port.

Cmd  Sub  Data
16   65   00 ~ 01       Send/read IP+ (00=OFF, 01=ON)
1A   13   00            Read the remote status (00=OFF, 01=ON)

These commands can only be sent on the IQ Data USB port.

Cmd  Sub  Data
1A   13   00 00         Set the remote status off
1A   13   00 01         Set the remote status on

1A   13   01 00			Set IQ Output Off
1A   13   01 01 00 01   Set IQ Output On 5.12 MSPS (4.48 MHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 00 02   Set IQ Output On 3.84 MSPS (3.31 MHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 01 02   Set IQ Output On 3.84 MSPS (3.31 MHz BW) 24 Bit
1A   13   01 01 00 03   Set IQ Output On 1.92 MSPS (1.63 MHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 01 03   Set IQ Output On 1.92 MSPS (1.63 MHz BW) 24 Bit
1A   13   01 01 00 04   Set IQ Output On 960 KSPS (815 KHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 01 04   Set IQ Output On 960 KSPS (815 KHz BW) 24 Bit
1A   13   01 01 00 05   Set IQ Output On 480 KSPS (408 KHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 01 05   Set IQ Output On 480 KSPS (408 KHz BW) 24 Bit
1A   13   01 01 00 06   Set IQ Output On 240 KSPS (203 KHz BW) 16 Bit
1A   13   01 01 01 06   Set IQ Output On 240 KSPS (203 KHz BW) 24 Bit

1A   13   02 00 ~ 01    Send/read HF BPF (00=OFF, 01=ON)

IQ Data seems straight forward little-endian 16 bit or 24 bit values alternating between I and Q.

73 Eric

 

[osros]

Just did the upgrades and added the HDSDR support all went well. I'm not a fan of HDSDR and the more or less locking out the radio itself for HDSDR control only to me seems disappointing. Appreciate Icom doing something though to give us a spectrum and control features on PC/Monitor. Would rather it be two-way and for that matter, I hope to see support for SDRConsole which is my go-to atm.

Will have to give HDSDR more time maybe I can grow into it.I did notice in my setup I also have a 7300 and LOA controlled the R8600 and the Tune controlled the IC7300 since of course both are connected. will be playing with it some more.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Anyone?


Quote:
Originally Posted by jcardani View Post
Does the 8600 have a discriminator output similar to the R8500's detected audio signal without de-emphesis in order to interface with DSD, DSDPlus, etc?

Or if not, has anyone identified a suitable tap point for the discriminator output?

thanks!

Anyone?

Not sure if this got addressed later. Install the .dll for HDSDR, send the audio from that to VBCable, the output from VBCable will act as your discriminator tap. Feed that to DSDPlus or whatever. Works fine.

 

[jcardani]

Thanks dlwtrunked!