A bit of news on the R8600 / R30

[ka3jjz]

can be found on the SWLing website, viz.

The Icom IC-R8600 shipping early 2017 | The SWLing Post

Mike

 

[Air490]

Apparently the R8600 will be available in Australia in March. No word on the R30. Not sure if that will mean an earlier or later date for the US

 

[compuscan]

Radioworld has it up for special order on the link below.

https://www.radioworld.ca/ic-r8600

It says: Please contact Radioworld for pricing

 

[chief21]

FYI... I was recently at the Orlando hamfest and asked the Icom rep about the new receiver (which was not on display in Orlando). She indicated that Icom was hoping to have a demo/display unit available for the Dayton hamfest in May. She did NOT yet have any information on the eventual US pricing.

John AC4JK

 

[mbott]

Pretty much the same conversation I had with Fred Osterman of Universal Radio last Saturday. He was hoping that it would come in under $2k, but he said he was clueless as to what it will actually be and when.

--
Mike

 

[MStep]

Early information that the R8600 would not include DMR decoding is troubling--- I hope that this is an oversight in the currently published specs.

Regarding the price--- an interesting observation is that the matching speaker includes the power supply necessary to run the unit. This will no doubt increase the price for some individuals looking at the unit (likely by about 300 USDs - just my guess) --- I wonder if Icom plans on producing a matching speaker minus the built in power supply as a less costly accessory.

 

[digsatman]

Early information that the R8600 would not include DMR decoding is troubling--- I hope that this is an oversight in the currently published specs.

Regarding the price--- an interesting observation is that the matching speaker includes the power supply necessary to run the unit. This will no doubt increase the price for some individuals looking at the unit (likely by about 300 USDs - just my guess) --- I wonder if Icom plans on producing a matching speaker minus the built in power supply as a less costly accessory.

I too really hope this is an oversight. Here in the UK, the price is likely to be around £2500. It really needs to have DMR to justify the price. I will stick to the IC-R8500 for general reception and the AOR-DV1 for digital. It may be that DMR could be added later by ICOM as it uses DSP for decoding but I would want to see something in writing before putting my money down!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[Andy3]

Oh dear, I was looking very seriously at this receiver, but here in the UK an awful lot of digital radio uses DMR. It's no good to me without it!

 

[digsatman]

I'd say DMR is probably more important than D-Star in UK. I am in Birmingham and we have several DMR repeaters but not a single D-Star repeater. Lots of people now using dongles seems to have led to the demise.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[MStep]

I too really hope this is an oversight. Here in the UK, the price is likely to be around £2500. It really needs to have DMR to justify the price. I will stick to the IC-R8500 for general reception and the AOR-DV1 for digital. It may be that DMR could be added later by ICOM as it uses DSP for decoding but I would want to see something in writing before putting my money down!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

In terms of firmware upgrades on these co-called SDR's, and based more upon my experience with the AOR DV1 than with any other SDR, firmware upgrades (holding future promises for additional modes) seem to be few and far between.

To be on the safe side, and regardless of what the manufacturer promises to add later via firmware (in writing or otherwise), I would say that they only way to approach the purchase of such an expensive piece of equipment is essentially "what you see is what you get".

One should buy based solely on what is specified in the current offering, and not on promises that may or may not materialize in the future.

 

[compuscan]

In terms of firmware upgrades on these co-called SDR's, and based more upon my experience with the AOR DV1 than with any other SDR, firmware upgrades (holding future promises for additional modes) seem to be few and far between.

To be on the safe side, and regardless of what the manufacturer promises to add later via firmware (in writing or otherwise), I would say that they only way to approach the purchase of such an expensive piece of equipment is essentially "what you see is what you get".

One should buy based solely on what is specified in the current offering, and not on promises that may or may not materialize in the future.

I agree 100%, it looks like a nice radio and I'm sure it will be hot seller BUT if the radio don't have what you want in it right now, it's probably not for you. I would not buy it if I needed DMR and they have not announced that it will include DMR. I would buy it if I needed DMR and ICOM announced they would included it in a future update. Most companies are very good about doing what they say they will do including ICOM.

 

[devicelab]

Most companies are very good about doing what they say they will do including ICOM.

Very doubtful that ICOM will support DMR any time soon.

 

[Andy3]

Very doubtful that ICOM will support DMR any time soon.

They wouldn't be doing themselves any favours by excluding it. Here in the UK and in continental Europe DMR is used extensively, more so than NXDN and APCO25. As it's only a software difference I can't see why they wouldn't do it.

 

[ka1njl]

Estimated price

This morning I found this link that provides a price in Japanese yen. Newly released receiver Icom IC-R 8600 compatible with digital wave | QRZ Now – Ham Radio News!

If that price holds, the cost in US dollars ought to be right around $2k. While that is a sizeable price tag, I expected it to be worse.

Gary

 

[Andy3]

Nice find. Still no mention of DMR though.

 

[digsatman]

I'm still hoping the 8600 will have DMR for that price. Will it do Fusion?

 

[devicelab]

I'm still hoping the 8600 will have DMR for that price. Will it do Fusion?

ICOM decoding a Yaesu-marketed standard... yeah... I wouldn't hold your breath on that one.

 

[digsatman]

Not good if a £2500 all-singing, all-dancing receiver won't do DMR or Fusion. Will stick with my AOR-DV1 and 8500. They're just limiting the appeal of what could otherwise be an attractive product.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[genemalet]

Icom does not support DMR and it will not be in their radios, ever. Nor will they ever have Fusion. Two standards that they won't have in their radio, nor will they pay the license fees. So those waiting for DMR on this radio, well don't wait, it will never happen. Same with Fusion.

 

[phillmobile]

They wouldn't be doing themselves any favours by excluding it. Here in the UK and in continental Europe DMR is used extensively, more so than NXDN and APCO25. As it's only a software difference I can't see why they wouldn't do it.

All the main digital trunk systems that i know of in the uk are NXDN not dmr