Ar 8600MKII

[SigIntel8600]

Having owned Uniden and Radio Shack scanners, numerous Yaesu tranceivers and receivers, I have always been interested in AOR. Well I took the plunge on a 8600 with P25 card (1.2 k OUCH) and so far I have been happy with my purchase. I wonder if there are any other 8600 owners out there.

What I like

Good sensitivity

metal case

search banks with autostore

Wide coverage-100kz to 3000MHZ all mode

P25 decoder card works

Step adjust

Freq offset

Squelch activated backlight

Computer control

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What I do not like

audio with optional CTCSS card enabled is horrible.

Audio is low during recorder card playback.

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I recommend the Butel software. The Fastlog traffic analysis tool is fantastic

 

[Fast1eddie]

I have the first generation 8600. I like it. My Butel program for the 8200 works very well for both. Am not using any option cards, I'd like to add the rechargeable battery pack sometime. Not great for HF utility monitoring, found a six foot wire works very well. Any more will cause overloading. Nice for vacation, otherwise it stays at home. I've read some are using it for satcom reception with a high gain amp with good results.

Ed

 

[n5rv]

I own an AR8600Mk2 also. Only option I got was the Collins 6KHz filter for BCB and SWL use. I've owned mine for about 3 years now as far as I can remember. I've gone back and forth on whether I should hang on to mine since I am mostly interested in the HF spectrum. It ain't the best for HF, but it is usable.

All in all, I like mine, just don't get the maximum use out of it.....

Where did you get it from. I bought mine from Universal Radio.....

de Jerry N5RV

Oops, forgot to add, that I also use Butel's ARC8600...

 

[SigIntel8600]

I own an AR8600Mk2 also. Only option I got was the Collins 6KHz filter for BCB and SWL use. I've owned mine for about 3 years now as far as I can remember. I've gone back and forth on whether I should hang on to mine since I am mostly interested in the HF spectrum. It ain't the best for HF, but it is usable.

All in all, I like mine, just don't get the maximum use out of it.....

Where did you get it from. I bought mine from Universal Radio.....

de Jerry N5RV

Oops, forgot to add, that I also use Butel's ARC8600...

I also got it from Universal. Thay did the install of the P25 Board for $30.00

 

[n5rv]

Kewl! They installed the 6kHz filter for me also. I thought about sending it in to have the P25 board installed. But I think I'd rather spend that money towards a P25 scanner instead.

Another program for general scanning is AR86Ctrl. I prefer it for everyday use, and ARC8600 for loading it with all the freqs and backing up the radio.

I am sure you will enjoy the 8600. It is a great wideband radio.

de Jerry N5RV

 

[SigIntel8600]

Kewl! They installed the 6kHz filter for me also. I thought about sending it in to have the P25 board installed. But I think I'd rather spend that money towards a P25 scanner instead.

Another program for general scanning is AR86Ctrl. I prefer it for everyday use, and ARC8600 for loading it with all the freqs and backing up the radio.

I am sure you will enjoy the 8600. It is a great wideband radio.

de Jerry N5RV

Thanks for the info, I'll check out that software AR86Ctrl

 

[SigIntel8600]

I have the first generation 8600. I like it. My Butel program for the 8200 works very well for both. Am not using any option cards, I'd like to add the rechargeable battery pack sometime. Not great for HF utility monitoring, found a six foot wire works very well. Any more will cause overloading. Nice for vacation, otherwise it stays at home. I've read some are using it for satcom reception with a high gain amp with good results.

Ed

Thanks for the info. I am using a Miracle whip. I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[bearcat_101]

Ar8600/p25

I will be buying a AR8600Mk2 over the Holiday, with the P25 install...I wanted to know can you monitor VHF low/high bands and the Digital traffic at the same time? Knowing that this does not Trunk.. does the user enter all the 800 freqs in the system?
How is the audio on the P25 transmissions.

Scott
Westmoreland co. PA

 

[SigIntel8600]

I will be buying a AR8600Mk2 over the Holiday, with the P25 install...I wanted to know can you monitor VHF low/high bands and the Digital traffic at the same time? Knowing that this does not Trunk.. does the user enter all the 800 freqs in the system?
How is the audio on the P25 transmissions.

Scott
Westmoreland co. PA

I have no 800 MHZ digital in my area. No problem receiving VHF UHF digital and conventional.