Can anyone explain to me why my IC-R8600 has squelch tail noise on FM frequencies without sub audio tones, but my IC-R30 does not on the exact same frequencies? I spoke with an ICOM tech and he blames the transmitters in my area. However, this makes no sense to me since the IC-R30 has no squelch tail. The only setting that appears different is the 8600 just says FM band, and the R30 says narrow FM band. All other settings appear the same. I use FIL3 on the 8600, that reduces the noise the most. Any thoughts?
R8600 8600 Squelch Tail...
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Ubbe
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If the squelch works on noise, and not signal level, then you'll probably want the most noise to get the biggest difference between noise and signal to have the squelch work at its best.
/Ubbe
Thanks, I have tried playing with both the filters and the squelch and it doesn't help. The only setting that completely removes the squelch tail is having VSC on. The problem with that is the conversations drops in and out between phrasing and you lose words.
Ubbe
Member
You don't go over 50% SQ level as that switches to signal level squelch? And you are listening to the receivers own speaker, or one connected to the external speaker out jack, as all connectors that output low signal audio have their own settings? It's the same regardless of frequency bands so cannot be some RF interference, remove antenna and use finger as antenna to receive a strong signal?
/Ubbe
/Ubbe
The squelch tail on the R8600 is a big annoyance for me and I wish there was a setting to control it. I pretty much gave up on using my R8600 for scanning FM frequencies because of the pronounced squelch tail. It just gets to me after a while. After the transmission it makes a loud noise "kerchunk" sound that is as loud or louder than the transmission itself. I played with the filter and squelch settings but it did not resolve the issue. If anyone has a suggestion for settings to try, then I am all ears.
The 705 exhibits this same behavior as the R8600. The R30 squelch tail is much more subtle and I end up the R30 or my TM281 for FM scanning over the 705 or R8600. Different antennas will not impact this behavior.
The 705 exhibits this same behavior as the R8600. The R30 squelch tail is much more subtle and I end up the R30 or my TM281 for FM scanning over the 705 or R8600. Different antennas will not impact this behavior.
MDScanFan, any way you can post a video of the kerchunk? If my R75 sells, am considering getting the 705 or the 7300 for HF scanning. Had a 705 and regret selling it.
That is my instinct as well. Unfortunately, after several emails and calls to ICOM tech support they are just blaming it on something other than the 8600. It's impossible to fix it in a firmware update if they don't feel there is any problem to fix. If anyone has a suggestion for settings to try, then I am all ears too. Thanks.
I've never had a squelch tail issue with either of my 8600's when using an FM mode.
I do have them when I monitor a bank of AM aircraft frequencies, both civilian and military. I can cure those by turning down the RG gain and raising the squelch level and surprisingly, the 8600's both still open the squelch on weak signal AM signals.
On FM modes with any filter setting, I run with the squelch at 30 which seems to be the point the squelch closes with no signal and the RF gain is at 100%.
I have an Icom V8000 2 meter rig that has horrible squelch tails but only when I monitor a signal that is using a narrow bandwidth. If I switch the V8000 to normal wide bandwidth, no squelch tails but then I must increase the volume a bit to overcome the narrow bandwidth signal. This is mainly when I use the V8000 to monitor above the 2 meter band like railroads etc.
I can crank the squelch way up on the V8000 or put the squelch control into the RF gain control and also eliminate its squelch tails but it will also miss weak signals. So I settle on setting everything to wide bandwidth on the V8000.
I wish I had an answer for your 8600 squelch tail issue. The only think I can think of is if you have a powerful signal in or out of band near you that may be triggering the squelch to stay open for the fraction of a second. The 8600 is pretty darn immune to adjacent high power signals though but it may be worth checking.
Does it do it across the board on any frequency above 30 MHz to say 1 GHz and higher? Or is the problem mainly in a certain frequency span?
My guess would be either an FM broadcast station near you that may be dumping out 100KW or a digital TV station pumping out near a million watts.
I'm not sure comparing the 8600 with the R30 is a good comparison. They are quite different from each other as far as the RF fronts ends and filtering go.
My R30 is subject to overload or intermod from powerful FM broadcast stations when using an external antenna. It's not bad though but I do see it but only on the R30.
I do have them when I monitor a bank of AM aircraft frequencies, both civilian and military. I can cure those by turning down the RG gain and raising the squelch level and surprisingly, the 8600's both still open the squelch on weak signal AM signals.
On FM modes with any filter setting, I run with the squelch at 30 which seems to be the point the squelch closes with no signal and the RF gain is at 100%.
I have an Icom V8000 2 meter rig that has horrible squelch tails but only when I monitor a signal that is using a narrow bandwidth. If I switch the V8000 to normal wide bandwidth, no squelch tails but then I must increase the volume a bit to overcome the narrow bandwidth signal. This is mainly when I use the V8000 to monitor above the 2 meter band like railroads etc.
I can crank the squelch way up on the V8000 or put the squelch control into the RF gain control and also eliminate its squelch tails but it will also miss weak signals. So I settle on setting everything to wide bandwidth on the V8000.
I wish I had an answer for your 8600 squelch tail issue. The only think I can think of is if you have a powerful signal in or out of band near you that may be triggering the squelch to stay open for the fraction of a second. The 8600 is pretty darn immune to adjacent high power signals though but it may be worth checking.
Does it do it across the board on any frequency above 30 MHz to say 1 GHz and higher? Or is the problem mainly in a certain frequency span?
My guess would be either an FM broadcast station near you that may be dumping out 100KW or a digital TV station pumping out near a million watts.
I'm not sure comparing the 8600 with the R30 is a good comparison. They are quite different from each other as far as the RF fronts ends and filtering go.
My R30 is subject to overload or intermod from powerful FM broadcast stations when using an external antenna. It's not bad though but I do see it but only on the R30.
For HF scanning I assume you would not be using FM, right? If so, then this should be a non-issue for that. On AM I have not had a squelch issue with the R8600, 705, R30, or 7300.
Yes, it is across the board for me. From what I recall the squelch tail is the same across all frequencies I have tested (VHF low to UHF).
And it is not due to strong signals because the same behavior is exhibited on a narrow band highly filtered antenna, broadband discone, or a simple whip antenna.
And it is not due to strong signals because the same behavior is exhibited on a narrow band highly filtered antenna, broadband discone, or a simple whip antenna.
Sounds good MDScanFan. Thanks.
Please do come back to this thread and let us know the outcome if Icom responds.
n6hgg
Member
When you receive a narrow fm signal with a receiver set for normal wide fm, the st’s can and usually are horrific.
I will definitely post on this thread if and when ICOM does anything. It's currently under review. I also sent them the most recent post about the fact the 8600 does not have a NFM setting. I was curious about that myself since the NFM frequencies appear to be the worst culprits. Thanks.
ICOM just called me. They duplicated the problem and said it was a hardware issue dealing with certain repeaters. They are adding this to the notes for the next firmware update. However, the tech said he can't promise it can be resolved via firmware. It sounds like they are at least going to try. We shall see!
MStep
Member
At least we know they're alive and well at Icom. "Hardware issue dealing with certain repeaters" sounds a little sketchy, but at least they are aware of the issue. And it's not like the 8600 is a new unit. We're talking about a piece of equipment that's been around 5 or so years.
There are some limited and varying degrees of success in remedying hardware issues via firmware patchwork. Sometimes you can mitigate issues; other times not so much. Please keep us posted and also let us know if anything shows up on the Icom website that may reference the issue.
"Hardware issue dealing with certain repeaters"...what does that mean? You only have the squelch tail issue when receiving signals from repeaters?
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