IC-R15 - First Impressions

[DudleyG]

Getting back to the R15 - Another feature on the R15 is "Category" which didn't make much sense to me or why I wanted to use it when I first read the instruction manuals. (I know, why read the manual, only read the manual when all else fails).

However, once you start manually or software programming the receiver, it becomes very obvious that it is a useful feature.

If you have say 7 groups that contain frequencies about airplanes, airports, or ARTCC; it becomes very handy to have all of them in a CATEGORY called "Planes". Then when you get ready to scan for airplanes, you don't have to scroll thru 20 or 30 groups looking for airplane groups. The groups numbers might be 2,5,6,10,12,15, and 23 but those groups are lumped together in the Category called "Planes".

If you have say 5 groups that contain frequencies about railroads or trains, put them in a CATEGORY called "Trains" and then you can easily find them without scrolling thru 20 or 30 groups.

Same thing for Police, Fire, and EMS if there are any analog ones left in your area.

If you are like me, over time you started "adding" new groups of frequencies and after a few "adds", the directory is in no particular order and you have to look thru the entire directory hunting where you put something. In other words, we don't carefully plan our scanner or receiver organizing.

 

[DudleyG]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is a picture of what I was talking about in the above post. I originally programmed a lot of the frequencies by hand but got tired of that and bought the R T Systems Software for the R15. The picture is a screen shot where you can see the CATEGORY entries, BANK names, and the way you set GROUP LINKS. In the GROUP LINKS, you see all have to do is put a check mark for which groups are in which GROUP LINK. Same is true if you are hand programming the receiver.

You just fill in the field names on this panel prior to adding frequencies to a group. You can see in the background what the frequencies data and field names look like.

So far, I have 220 frequencies in 11 groups, so I am still somewhat organized.

This software package also allows you to set and modify the receiver "SETTINGS" in addition to programming the frequencies.

 

[KD9KSO]

Listed to KSTL Tower S/W on 132.475 working departures and arrivals on 30L this morning. This station is 50+ nautical miles from my antenna.

Antenna is a Hustler G6 2-meter vertical at 40'. Signal meter on the radio didn't move, but modulation was well above background noise with the squelch open.

Also heard Tower N/E on 120.05, but he wasn't too busy this morning.

Very impressive receiver.

 

[xms3200]

The IC-R15 has impressive specs and does perform. I noticed, the IC-705 portable has the same specs for air band as the IC-R15, I am thinking of getting that unit as an air band receiver, really like the spectrum display.

 

[KD9KSO]

Picked up Scott AFB ATIS, 35 miles north of here. Also heard KSTL tower again today, so this wasn't an anomaly.

 

[N4DJC]

In stock HRO and DX Engineering

 

[bearcatrp]

The IC-R15 has impressive specs and does perform. I noticed, the IC-705 portable has the same specs for air band as the IC-R15, I am thinking of getting that unit as an air band receiver, really like the spectrum display.

You will like the 705. Waterfall display really helps finding signals. I regret selling mine but have the same display on my R8600. Sucks Icom did not include a waterfall display on the R15 since the 52a has one. Just remember, no mil air on the 705. One of the reasons I sold mine.

 

[xms3200]

Thanks for the great info. I am dead set on getting it in Aug. All the high tech features are really impressive from watching lots of You Tube on it. I only listen to VHF air, so no UHF mil is no problem. I plan on getting a Windcamp cage for it.

 

[dzirzow]

Mine just arrived. Any more opinions for airband on needing different antennae or factory ok?

 

[G7RUX]

Mine just arrived. Any more opinions for airband on needing different antennae or factory ok?

How are you with making one yourself?

If you’re up for that, install a 600 mm length of thin, springy wire in an SMA plug with some heat shrink sleeve to insulate it from the shell of the connector and you’ll have a lovely antenna for VHF airband. A copper-plated steel welding filler rod will do the job wonderfully and is extremely cheap and easy to solder to the pin (might need to thin the end down with a fine file a little to get it to fit the connector pin.
I have a couple I made using thin nitinol wire which you can get from craft shops although it is a bear to solder (you need to abrade the surface and use acid flux) so it might be easier to crimp that pin.

You could use epoxy glue to fill the back of the connector to make a nice solid fit for the connector, that’s what I did with my ones and it works a treat.

Whilst a 2m antenna will work it will be a poor match at airband as it is too short so making your own is worth the faff.

 

[xms3200]

REGULAR DUCK AIRCRAFT BAND 125-132 MHz — Smiley Antenna

REGULAR DUCK Super efficient VHF antenna show a OMNI directional 3 dbd gain, they are impedance matched to a hand-held radio. Strong and flexible, sealed in synthetic rubber and NT-MIL coverings. This flex coil matching network provides at band center low SWR & will perform between 125-132 M

www.smileyantenna.com

Highly recommend this antenna, as good as my external antenna.

 

[KD9KSO]

I use the Moonraker super gainer on mine. It's on a 5/8 wave vertical while in the house, but the Moonraker performs very well outdoors. It is specifically cut for civil air band.

 

[eorange]

REGULAR DUCK AIRCRAFT BAND 125-132 MHz — Smiley Antenna

REGULAR DUCK Super efficient VHF antenna show a OMNI directional 3 dbd gain, they are impedance matched to a hand-held radio. Strong and flexible, sealed in synthetic rubber and NT-MIL coverings. This flex coil matching network provides at band center low SWR & will perform between 125-132 M

www.smileyantenna.com

Highly recommend this antenna, as good as my external antenna.

What's your external antenna?

 

[xms3200]

Taco D-5076, 2db gain

 

[dzirzow]

Guess I should have clarified, antennae while mobile like walking at an air show.

Never made my own antennae, rather buy one for now.

I like mil air bands too.

 

[xms3200]

The Signal Sticks dual band seems to do well for VHF & UHF air from what I have heard, personally, I have never picked up UHF air, but for VHF civil, you cannot beat the Smiley antenna, and to top it off, it is only 6.5" long. The Signal sticks is very flexible at 19" long.

 

[SIMcard]

Question re scanning speed:
I see 150 channels per second in VFO mode listed, but what is the speed when scanning MEMORY channels?
In VFO you are scanning in tuning steps, whereas in MEMORY you are scanning your programed channels, two very different speeds from past models.

 

[bcradio]

Seems similar to me but I haven’t tried to measure it.

 

[Matcoman]

Good morning, what is a good all round antenna for the r-15? Thank you

 

[xms3200]

I very highly recommend the Smiley antenna rubber duck for VHF air. For UHF mil which I have no interest in, other members have had success with the Signal Sticks dual band.