MStep, I don't think that Yamamoto Wireless ships to destinations outside of Japan, if that's what you're thinking of, young fellow.
If Icom waits say, a month or two, prior to introducing the IC-R8600 into international markets, perhaps it's so that their domestic users can find and report bugs and firmware updates can be issued before the radio is unleashed upon the world at large. If that actually happens, and I have idea whether it will, then those buyers in other parts of the world will be getting a better product. That could turn out to be a better approach than that taken by AOR with their AR-DV1 digital receiver.
As to the repair policy of Icom USA, I don't know, since neither of the Icom receivers that I've owned, both of which were ordered directly from Canadian dealers so as to get unlocked versions of the products, have ever needed any sort of repair or adjustment. Both were rock solid, as were all of the many Icom accessories that I've purchased over the years.
Regards,
Frank...who wonders whether someday there will be an IC-R9600 that includes some of the digital modes that weren't included with the IC-R8600, as well as a real physical numeric keypad. You know, the type with real push buttons. That I might save up for!
