It is a great compact size. Works great on airband for me.
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
I've read here the R15 is overly sensitive to the point it breaks squelch more than normal when there's otherwise no listenable signals. True?
JeffFRANCE
Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2025
- Messages
- 45
- Reaction score
- 8
Hi eorange,
I confirm the IC R15 is too sensitive and it' s a problem, I have bought a super air band antenna to equip but now impossible to scan he stop on all birdies, sure it' s a very good receiver but Icom not work on it, when you see no firmware update since more than 1 year.... It' s not the same than Uniden or AOR !!!! AOR is the reference because they improve always with remarks or bugs received from customers but Icom nothing... It s a key parameter for a future invest..... I wait an update from Icom on this IC R15 a lack of functions and need to be improved asap ! concept and building is very very good just need to be upgraded !!!!
I hope Icom see these messages and work on it !
I confirm the IC R15 is too sensitive and it' s a problem, I have bought a super air band antenna to equip but now impossible to scan he stop on all birdies, sure it' s a very good receiver but Icom not work on it, when you see no firmware update since more than 1 year.... It' s not the same than Uniden or AOR !!!! AOR is the reference because they improve always with remarks or bugs received from customers but Icom nothing... It s a key parameter for a future invest..... I wait an update from Icom on this IC R15 a lack of functions and need to be improved asap ! concept and building is very very good just need to be upgraded !!!!
I hope Icom see these messages and work on it !
No doubt, the R15 is a sensitive receiver. Though I have yet to experience my R15 stopping on birdies or any other interfering signals. Yes, the R15 will open the squelch on the faintest of voice signals. Isn't that a good thing? Also, try using the VSC function if you are having issues with interference. My R15 is EXCELLENT on the airband when paired with the Smiley Regular Duck 118-125 MHz antenna. The Diamond RH77CA and Radtel Airband Antenna are also very good on my R15.
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
How often do you get birdies or open squelch breaks when scanning (or searching) airband, both VHF and UHF?
JeffFRANCE
Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2025
- Messages
- 45
- Reaction score
- 8
I have a lot of receivers DV10, SDS100, 160DN.... R15 is used mainly for airband and it' s in this range I have birdies I must put the squelch at level 3-4, in auto mode scan stop
The antenna delivered is not the best but I keep it to reduce birdies, if you put a better you saturate the receiver and ear nothing
When scanning my airband memory banks, VHF and UHF, I've never experienced the R15 breaking squelch for other than voice signals. Though I will be honest, I have yet to try a program scan edge on the airbands. I'll give that a try.
It is a sensitive receiver. Have to crank up the squelch when hooked up to my discone. But once that is set, receives just fine. Have compared this radio to my 160DM and 325P2 on airband. The R15 locks onto a frequency while the other two scan right past. But receivers and scanners are different radios. Will be testing the R15 against my 150 to see if it does the same thing.
JeffFRAnce...Your IC-R15 will definitely perform much better if you get rid of the antenna that it came with and use a Smiley antenna or a Diamond antenna. I must admit, the first week I had mine using the factory antenna for VHF air, I was very disappointed, until a member suggested Signal Sticks which was an improvement, and then I tried the Smiley 118-132 Mhz 6" ducky and I am totally blown away. I am getting another IC-R15 as a spare or before Icom discontinues it.
@bearcatrp - hopefully you remember that changing the scan parameters on one side (A-side) in the menu does not change them on the other side (B-side). So, when you change the "Temporary Skip" from "5 secs" to "power off and on" on one side, you also have to do the other side as well thru the menu system.
One more quick reminder - this same feature "Temporary Skip" is implemented on the R30 the same way with "5 secs" as the default. Like the R15, on the R30 you have to change both sides (A & B) because the scan parameters are "side" specific.
One more quick reminder - this same feature "Temporary Skip" is implemented on the R30 the same way with "5 secs" as the default. Like the R15, on the R30 you have to change both sides (A & B) because the scan parameters are "side" specific.
Last edited:
Below is a 5.5 minute video I just recorded of my R15 on a Program Scan from 118 - 137 Mhz with the Smiley Regular Duck 118-125 MHz antenna. The squelch is set to Level 2, which seems to work best for my R15. At 2:50 in the video, there was a short interfering signal. Otherwise, the squelch only opened on voice transmissions.
I just don't believe the R15 is overly prone to birdies and RF interference. Then again, certain geographical areas are more vulnerable to RF interference than others. At least in my monitoring environment (inside my home in north suburban Indianapolis), the R15 is excellent with no such vulnerabilities to RF interference.
R15 Program Scan VHF Airband
I just don't believe the R15 is overly prone to birdies and RF interference. Then again, certain geographical areas are more vulnerable to RF interference than others. At least in my monitoring environment (inside my home in north suburban Indianapolis), the R15 is excellent with no such vulnerabilities to RF interference.
R15 Program Scan VHF Airband
Last edited:
+1 on the Smiley antenna! I'm also considering a second R15. It's that good!
JeffFRANCE
Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2025
- Messages
- 45
- Reaction score
- 8
When I use the FA-B02AR antenna, the receiver is blocked by birdies; however, this antenna offers excellent performance.
When I am away from any electronic device, the radio works well with this antenna.
For it s the best antenna for airband
When I am away from any electronic device, the radio works well with this antenna.
For it s the best antenna for airband
eorange
♦RF Enabled Member♦
Thanks for posting that. It seems to do ok, typical for scanning that band.
What the heck was that digital-sounding burst at 2:50 on 130.450??
JeffFrance…You are correct, I forgot to add that antenna as an excellent choice, I use that on my IC-705 for VHF air
130.450 is an ACARS frequency that usually has TELM-DATA transmissions from commercial airliners to their home base. The R15 doesn't have clue on how to decode that.
You would think that I would have known that is an ACARS freq! I also own the Alinco DJ-X100T and do a little ACARS monitoring.
Thanks. Have not had to use that function on the R30 yet. Am scanning federal frequencies that pick up weather stations I need to block. Have yet to use an external antenna yet. Will this summer though.
I had a finger check in my above post about ”Temporary Skip”, my brain said 5 mins as default, but my fingers typed 5 secs. Well, at least my eyesight still works 30 minutes later
Since I'm in the mood to record some videos today, this video is of the Uniden SDS150 vs the R15 monitoring the Indianapolis Center ARTCC frequencies. Both receivers are equipped with identical Smiley 118 - 125 MHz airband antennas. The first approximate 4 minutes are of the SDS150 audio. The last approximate 4 minutes are of the R15 audio. Of course, being an ARTCC, many transmissions are weak signals. I don't know what to think of the comparison. Maybe the R15 has a little better better audio and sensitivity, though there is no doubt that the SDS150 is a formidable airband receiver!
SDS150 vs R15
SDS150 vs R15
