R8600 "EMR" Blinking While Scanning?

[MTScannerNut]

I've had my R8600 for about a week and noticed something new today. While scanning one of my memory groups I noticed that "EMR" was blinking under the passband width indicator symbol. Then I switched to other memory groups but the light kept blinking no matter what channel or group I scanned. The only reference I can find to "EMR" has to do with D-Star, but I have no D-Star channels programmed in the receiver at all. Finally I just turned the receiver off, then back on and the light no longer appeared.

What is "EMR" and what does it mean when the light is blinking? Thanks, Ed

 

[kruser]

I've had my R8600 for about a week and noticed something new today. While scanning one of my memory groups I noticed that "EMR" was blinking under the passband width indicator symbol.
What is "EMR" and what does it mean when the light is blinking? Thanks, Ed

I think I recall another thread here or on a message board at groups.io about the same thing.
I know I've also seen it show up one one of my R8600's and a power cycle also cleared it for me. At the time, I was sitting on an analog railroad channel when I noticed EMR was lit up.
I suspect it may be a bug in the firmware possibly.

 

[MTScannerNut]

Odd that the manual doesn't make mention of it except relating to D-Star.

When I googled it I saw mention of a blinking "EMR" in other Icom radio manuals. Something about when someone transmits an "emergency" message "EMR" blinks to alert the operator receiving the transmission.

 

[eorange]

I asked this last year and didn't get any definitive answers:

R30 - EMR on Display

I occasionally see EMR on the display when scanning the P25 voice channels on Ohio MARCS. Anyone know what this means? It's not on the display diagram in the manual, and only saw a passing reference to DSTAR EMR AF.

forums.radioreference.com

 

[kruser]

I asked this last year and didn't get any definitive answers:

R30 - EMR on Display

I occasionally see EMR on the display when scanning the P25 voice channels on Ohio MARCS. Anyone know what this means? It's not on the display diagram in the manual, and only saw a passing reference to DSTAR EMR AF.

forums.radioreference.com

Yep, that's the thread I remembered!
And that was on the IC-R30 at that so if it's a bug, they both share it!

I don't think I ever saw it except the one time on my 8600.
Being as it seems to be related to D-Star, I wonder if the Icom models that have D-Star capability are somehow picking up random data even on analog only channels that triggers the message. You would think D-Star would be turned off completely when not monitoring a channel set for D-Star mode but who knows how Icom may have implemented the feature.

I guess as long as it causes no harm, it can just be ignored!
I also wonder if the feature actually works when monitoring a D-Star repeater and someone does send an emergency message. I'd test it but I don't know any hams in the area that use D-Star mode anymore. They all went to DMR and P25 and a few Yaesu Fusion users on one multi-mode 2 meter repeater.
We do have a 2 meter repeater here that's supposedly still D-Star capable but I don't think I've heard that mode used in months.

 

[eorange]

I also think it's a bug in the R30. When it appears, it blinks erratically even though the P25 audio is perfect as usual.

 

[bearcatrp]

Found this...

R30 - EMR on Display

I occasionally see EMR on the display when scanning the P25 voice channels on Ohio MARCS. Anyone know what this means? It's not on the display diagram in the manual, and only saw a passing reference to DSTAR EMR AF.

forums.radioreference.com

 

[eorange]

That was my post which I reposted in post #4.

 

[bearcatrp]

My posts get delayed a day or so for review.