Can anyone try to enter 154.4525? Its VHF High. Am unable to. Have tried adjusting but can't do it. One of the issues I don't like about this receiver. Need 1k steps. 5k is the lowest.
Sent Icom USA a message to send my request to Icom HQ. Requested frequency coverage to go down to 25 MHz. Also, to add 1.0 kHz stepping. The frequency I posted above cannot be done due to minimum stepping is 5.0 KHz. Told the even uniden scanners can do this. Explained my point of view on how a receiver is supposed to be more detailed than scanners and that I think sales on the R15 must be low due to less options. Doubt it will go anywhere. Had to fire up my R30 to listen on the above frequency. Would think a firmware update could do this if they did the work on it. If anyone agrees with me, please send Icom a message on this. For now, I consider this receiver an over priced air and rail receiver.
I don't think 1.0 kHz steps will solve your problem.
When the FCC mandated that business and public safety VHF users go to narrowband FM, the frequency coordinators started putting channels on 7.5 kHz spacing instead of the 15.0 kHz that had been used before.
You need 7.5 or 2.5 kHz steps to get frequencies such as 154.4525 MHz. With a 1.0 kHz step, closest you can get would still be 0.5 kHz off.
In the meantime, tune to 154.450 or 154.455 and see how that works for you.
Tried that. Still, for a receiver, the R15 is lacking. So are manufacturers restricted from adding additional spacing? Looking over the specs on the DV10.
People keep forgetting the fact that Icom designed this receiver strictly for the Air, Rail & Marine bands, analog only. Icom produced a sensitive, fast scanning receiver strictly for that use...Air, Rail & Marine, analog only. If you look at the brochure on the IC-R15, you will see pics of airplanes and an airport. That gives a good indication.
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I understand that. It’s a great airband receiver, no doubt. Great compact size. Still learning it.
KeeperOTAN
Member
Maybe stupid qustion, can I use mono to stereo adapter without somehow damaging/shorting R15?
I have found the R15 is very sensitive and prone to receiving interference when listening to civil aviation. After eliminating some sources of RFI at my location such as a particularly problematic fluorescent light bulb I found setting the mode to AM-N rather than AM along with setting the attenuator and squelch to level 2 stopped the squelch from opening on spurious signals while still receiving both the tower and aircraft. I’m pleased with the performance of the Icom for airband monitoring but it required time learning how to optimize its settings.
I tried the AM-N and found my tower frequencies didn't sound as well as with the AM setting. Squelch & attenuator at 2 and everything booms in now just fine. Can't wait to try some military monitoring with this radio.
You will enjoy mil air with the R15. I listen to a NG base about 50 miles from me off my discone. Will be bringing my R15 on my camping trips this summer. Haven’t had mine outdoors yet.
A couple of weeks ago I posted a comparison of the R15 vs the Uniden SDS150 on the VHF airband. I thought I would post another comparison. Below are videos from today comparing my Alinco DJ-X100T to my Icom R15 using identical Smiley 118 - 125 MHz antennas monitoring the Indianapolis ARTCC air traffic.
Both are obviously very sensitive receivers and can benefit from a little attenuation at times. Though the attenuation scale differers on both receivers; therefore, I decided to not compare with any attenuation used.
I believe both receivers are pretty much a tie on the VHF airband. I'm sure there may be differing opinions on which receiver is superior, but IMO, the differences are minute and debating such is like "splitting hairs."
Anyway, I simply enjoy handheld receivers and making these comparisons, though not necessarily in the most scientific ways! I love my Icom receivers, but Alinco also has a winner with the X100T. It's good that we have some excellent receiver choices out there.
X100T vs R15 -R15 Audio
X100T vs R15 - X00T Audio
Both are obviously very sensitive receivers and can benefit from a little attenuation at times. Though the attenuation scale differers on both receivers; therefore, I decided to not compare with any attenuation used.
I believe both receivers are pretty much a tie on the VHF airband. I'm sure there may be differing opinions on which receiver is superior, but IMO, the differences are minute and debating such is like "splitting hairs."
Anyway, I simply enjoy handheld receivers and making these comparisons, though not necessarily in the most scientific ways! I love my Icom receivers, but Alinco also has a winner with the X100T. It's good that we have some excellent receiver choices out there.
X100T vs R15 -R15 Audio
X100T vs R15 - X00T Audio
I have airband setup for 25k spacing I programmed. Have noticed when I hit scan again to stop on a frequency, then manually turn the knob to go to the next frequencies, it moves in 8.33k spacing. Anyone notice this?
Am disliking this radio the more I use it. Have my squelch at 8 and still picking up crap. Stuck with it as selling would be to big a loss. Bet I have 2 dozen temp skips on airband right now.
At this point, it sounds like a great idea to sell the Icom IC-R15, considering all the grief it has given you. I am sure you will be a lot happier sticking with the IC-R30
Want to try one more thing before deciding. Scanning between low/hi frequencies grabs allot of garbage. Seems more suited for specific frequencies programmed in.
Looks like going back to the IC-R30 is looking like the best option for you.
I see someone posted one for sale. About what I was considering selling mine for.
Go ahead and post your IC-R15 for sale...Happiest day of your life, The day you got the IC-R15 and the day you sold the IC-R15....just like a boat owner!!!!
Know what you mean about boat. Done that. Always hesitant on selling radios but if it doesn't serve a purpose that other radios already cover, then I sell them. The R15 is a good radio but its more for a small select users. Wasn't planning on getting the 150 so got the R15. Then I jumped on the 150. Glad I did as uniden did a great job on this radio.
KeeperOTAN
Member
I just tried it. I hope you will understand because my english is so bad
If I set 25k steps for the airband scan via menu-set-scan-program scan edge, it starts scanning with 25k steps and when I stop scanning and turn the knob, it really jumps in 8.33k steps. This was caused by the quick-TS menu setting, where I selected 8.33k steps. If I change quick-TS to 25k and turn the knob again, it jumps in steps of 25k as it should, BUT if I turned the knob while quick-TS was set to 8.33k and tuned to some .33 or .66 frequency it will stay on those .33 .66 decimals adding those new 25k steps to those 8.33k decimals so I needed to set quick-TS back to 8.33k steps - tune to non 8.33k frequency then switch to 25k steps and voila, it works.
I tried even scans between low/hi frequencies like you. At my home I need to set squelch to 6 without attenuation otherwise it picks known RFI sources in close vicinity (same RFIs stops my SDR scanner). If I set attenuation to 1 I can use squelch 2 without problems. At my friends home where he have some RFI hell I had to set attentuation to 4 and squelch to 3 to be able to scan without picking all those RFI signals. Outside Im able to scan without attenuation and with squelch on auto.
I think that this little beast is just super sensitive and maybe more sensitive than R-30? PC monitors and other electronics in close vicinity, some bad BT modules transmitting outside specifications and even SDR dongle(my cases), FM/DAB/LTE interference, all of this can cause the squelch to open on every piece of garbage signal. If something like this happens, there is always built-in attenuator and it works really and If you live somewhere where there is tons of RFI you will need to attenuate a lot. That is cost for super-sensitive receiver. On other hand, it is so freaking sensitive, that Im picking crystal clear transmissions from FL280 at 380km with little rubber-duck antenna at ground level. It even picks up local ATIS 25km far away while I walk throught the city!
I love it, for me only two real problems. Mono audio output from jack and bad BT implementation
