Why no DMR with the IC-R8600
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My guess is Icom will introduce it as an optional add-on module, similar to the UT-106 DSP adapter in other radios.
If you need it, Icom makes more money. If you don't need it, you spend less and save money when buying the radio.
If you need it, Icom makes more money. If you don't need it, you spend less and save money when buying the radio.
I don't know if I go with the add on option. Considering how many digital modes are on the radio already, it is kinda strange that they left off DMR.
Mayhaps they didn't want to pay the tithe that Motorola required.
Astro_Spectra
Member
Motorola runs a fair and reasonable essential patents program for both P25 and DMR. An outline of the DMR program is here:
https://www.motorolasolutions.com/e...censing/dmr-essentials-licensing-program.html
Access to some (but not all) patents is actually free of charge.
The codec comes from DVSI and is not free but Icom have to pay DVSI anyway for the AMBE base codec.
No, the reason Icom don't do DMR is that after telling everyone that IDAS and DSTAR are so great it would be a major loss of face to have to acknowledge DMR.
Contrast that with the more pragmatic, and ultimately more successful, Kenwood approach.
Icom & DMR
DMR is not the property of Motorola. Some features have been added by Moto, but they do not have control over the basic features. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_mobile_radio ETSI is the European group that released the DMR standard.
DMR is not the property of Motorola. Some features have been added by Moto, but they do not have control over the basic features. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_mobile_radio ETSI is the European group that released the DMR standard.
Air490
Member
Icom doesn't sell DMR as a commercial product. Icom's primary business is land comms, airband and marine radio. Amateur is just a sideline. They run with NXDN and dPMR, with D-STAR in the amateur world. That is the reason they haven't included DMR in this receiver, and are not likely to include it any in the near future.
intermod
Member
No DMR? May be short-sided (and deal killer for me)
Completely agree that this is more of a marketing/product positioning decision by ICOM. DMR overtook all other commercial digital voice technologies in sales volume in 2014 (Source: IHS), and it is continuing to grow. Its difficult to understand this decision by ICOM....
Providing DMR on a receiver that has limited market share will not have a significant impact on their other digital products - it will simply reduce potential sales for the R8600.
Greg
Completely agree that this is more of a marketing/product positioning decision by ICOM. DMR overtook all other commercial digital voice technologies in sales volume in 2014 (Source: IHS), and it is continuing to grow. Its difficult to understand this decision by ICOM....
Providing DMR on a receiver that has limited market share will not have a significant impact on their other digital products - it will simply reduce potential sales for the R8600.
Greg
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
True. Motorola does have some patents that actually make Tier II operation possible though.
Air490
Member
Would love a link to your source about DMR. Is that a worldwide figure? It is popular in this part of the world, but then so are TETRA and NXDN.
No dmr for the rc 8600
I guess you could Ask, why doesn't the UNIDEN BCD536HP / 436HP receive ICOM D-STAR IDAS or NEXEDGE? UNIDEN would had to market those radios at a steep price. Then again may come out with a transceiver, but I would not wait. After all the top brass at ICOM have the final word.
I guess you could Ask, why doesn't the UNIDEN BCD536HP / 436HP receive ICOM D-STAR IDAS or NEXEDGE? UNIDEN would had to market those radios at a steep price. Then again may come out with a transceiver, but I would not wait. After all the top brass at ICOM have the final word.
MStep
Member
Dealbreaker ?
I have to agree with one of the other posters in that I am at least "on the fence" regarding the R 8600. Here in the New York City area, approximately 80 percent of digital amateur radio repeaters are DMR, 10 percent are Fusion and the other 10 percent are D-Star, P25 and one or two other modes. Just approximate numbers to give you an idea. I understand that in other parts of the country, D-Star may dominate. My concern is that Icom may soon realize their "blunder" and come out with an R 8600-A, much in the same way that Yaesu did with the FT 991 / FT991A. Led to many unhappy 991 owners. Unless Icom shortly announces a clear path to DMR (and possibly Fusion) for the 8600, I believe that there will be a lot of "fence-sitters" like me, nervously reluctant to take the plunge.
I have to agree with one of the other posters in that I am at least "on the fence" regarding the R 8600. Here in the New York City area, approximately 80 percent of digital amateur radio repeaters are DMR, 10 percent are Fusion and the other 10 percent are D-Star, P25 and one or two other modes. Just approximate numbers to give you an idea. I understand that in other parts of the country, D-Star may dominate. My concern is that Icom may soon realize their "blunder" and come out with an R 8600-A, much in the same way that Yaesu did with the FT 991 / FT991A. Led to many unhappy 991 owners. Unless Icom shortly announces a clear path to DMR (and possibly Fusion) for the 8600, I believe that there will be a lot of "fence-sitters" like me, nervously reluctant to take the plunge.
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Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
Highly doubt it. Icom made their NXDN bed and now they are going to lay in it. Also, the way Icom operates, once a product has gone through the R&D and into production, it doesn't go back so they will come out with a completely new receiver if they ever feel the urge to support DMR. Kind of the don't fix it if it's broke mentality, just replace it and hope you don't lose too many customers over it.
MStep
Member
Perhaps...
Perhaps Icom is saving DMR, Fusion, and a host of other digital modes for an R9600. Just speculation folks. The 9500 is certainly "long-in-the-tooth" at this point, and apparently AOR is working on their Alpha-2.
Perhaps Icom is saving DMR, Fusion, and a host of other digital modes for an R9600. Just speculation folks. The 9500 is certainly "long-in-the-tooth" at this point, and apparently AOR is working on their Alpha-2.
palmerjrusa
Member
I hope AOR have fixed the major problems with their Alpha-1 in the Alpha-2 iteration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1le75Jk_Tw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqmUgCXqlCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdMmPrSwQvA&t=53s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW8HqFzyxDQ
It really astonishes that a receiver at this price point should suffer from the above deficiences.
MStep
Member
Main Thrust....
The main thrust of my post was not the AOR Alpha 2 per se, but that only that in the "scheme of things" , an Icom 9600 may very well be in development. And within the realm of reason, it could likely offer certain of the digital modes which are currently (and conspicuously) absent in the R8600.
The main thrust of my post was not the AOR Alpha 2 per se, but that only that in the "scheme of things" , an Icom 9600 may very well be in development. And within the realm of reason, it could likely offer certain of the digital modes which are currently (and conspicuously) absent in the R8600.
palmerjrusa
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