Icom shows new IC-R15 at Tokyo Ham Fair

[xms3200]

Quite odd....This is the Euro version, no NWS channels, FM is 76 to 108. When the USA version comes out, it will have WX channels.

 

[bcradio]

You're referring to pre-loaded WX channels, right? Like the receiver should be able to tune the 162-164mhz region of the spectrum in FM mode, right?

 

[xms3200]

Okay, to clarify different models, I have the Euro version of the IC-R15 which I got from Italy, the Euro version does not have WX channels, and the FM broadcast range is from 76 to 108 MHz. The USA version will have WX channels and the FM broadcast range is from 88 to 108 Mhz. I downloaded the .pdf specs on the different versions from Icom

 

[palmerjrusa]

Okay, to clarify different models, I have the Euro version of the IC-R15 which I got from Italy, the Euro version does not have WX channels, and the FM broadcast range is from 76 to 108 MHz. The USA version will have WX channels and the FM broadcast range is from 88 to 108 Mhz. I downloaded the .pdf specs on the different versions from Icom

Can you tune your IC-R15 to 162.550 MHz (FM mode)?

 

[palmerjrusa]

Okay, to clarify different models, I have the Euro version of the IC-R15 which I got from Italy, the Euro version does not have WX channels, and the FM broadcast range is from 76 to 108 MHz. The USA version will have WX channels and the FM broadcast range is from 88 to 108 Mhz. I downloaded the .pdf specs on the different versions from Icom

These are the NOAA weather frequencies (FM mode).
You should be able to receive them on your IC-R15.

162.400MHz,162.425MHz,162.450MHz,162.475MHz,162.500MHz,162.525MHz,162.550MHz

NWR Station Listing

 

[G7RUX]

I am also thinking that the Icom supplied antenna really falls short, I am getting an SMA to BNC antenna adapter tomorrow and I can compare it to the various other BNC antennas I have at home. In contrast, my Icom A25C transceiver does amazingly well with the supplied antenna it comes with. The only thing that improves the performance is the Taco D-5076 ATC style antenna.

No, it does not tune USA WX. channels, I really don't use WX channels.....with all the great iOS apps on the iphone, no reason to listen to that voice on WX 162.55

It depends completely on what you want to use it for. If you are looking to receive aero radio then the supplied antenna for the R15 won’t do very well. It is no surprised that for air band the A25 antenna will do much better since it is specifically designed for that band. The supplied 270C works as well as one can reasonably expect for 2 m and 70 cm.

 

[G7RUX]

It depends completely on what you want to use it for. If you are looking to receive aero radio then the supplied antenna for the R15 won’t do very well. It is no surprised that for air band the A25 antenna will do much better since it is specifically designed for that band. The supplied 270C works as well as one can reasonably expect for 2 m and 70 cm.

Here we go, I knew I had the plots somewhere...please note that the dates on the plots are likely incorrect as I often don't bother to set the analyser clock up!

I have included a return loss plot for the R30 supplied antenna (fully extended) as an indication...it is very much better on VHF airband than the S270C which is degined for and works well on 2m and 70cm...please also note the vertical scales are different (I didn't stop the analyser from auto-ranging which was probably an error) but the return losses are all listed.

Unfortunately I do not have the Icom FA-B02AR antenna (from the A25 family) to test at the moment.

 

[xms3200]

I just tried the IC-R15, it does get 162 to 165Mhz, I got WX on 162.500, just no preset WX for the US version.

i see how ineffective the supplied antenna is, waiting for the signal sticks

 

[G7RUX]

I just tried the IC-R15, it does get 162 to 165Mhz, I got WX on 162.500, just no preset WX for the US version.

i see how ineffective the supplied antenna is, waiting for the signal sticks

Which SignalStick are you going for? This is the return loss plot for the 2/70 dual band version...
From this unit, the return loss for WX channels will be around 6 dB, so around a VSWR of 3:1.

I guess what I'm getting at is that a properly designed and tuned antenna for the band you are interested in receiving wil always be better if you can get one.

 

[xms3200]

The dual band signal stick is what was recommended.
What is the best antenna for VHF air 118 to 137 in your opinion

 

[G7RUX]

The dual band signal stick is what was recommended.
What is the best antenna for VHF air 118 to 137 in your opinion

The Signal Stick probably is a little better than the supplied S270C because its bandwidth is a little wider although not by much.
If there is a specific band you're looking to monitor then it shouldn't be hard to make an antenna up yourself, especially if you have access to an antenna anlyser or nanoVNA to help tune it correctly.

What specific antennas are available in the USA I cannot answer I'm afraid but I feel sure that there will be a number available at the usual stockists if you didn't want to make one yourself.

I beleive this RR thread lists a few options for commercial ones.

If I were to make my own, I would obtain a suitable connector and a 60 cm (1ft 11 inch) length of 1mm diameter nitinol wire, fit it into the plug centre with suitable strain relief, perhaps heatshrink the wire and give it a go from there...you might need to trim the wire a tiny bit but 60 cm would be a good starting point. Calculations suggest 57 cm would be the end length but it's always easier to start a bit longer and trim it!

 

[palmerjrusa]

The Signal Stick probably is a little better than the supplied S270C because its bandwidth is a little wider although not by much.
If there is a specific band you're looking to monitor then it shouldn't be hard to make an antenna up yourself, especially if you have access to an antenna anlyser or nanoVNA to help tune it correctly.

What specific antennas are available in the USA I cannot answer I'm afraid but I feel sure that there will be a number available at the usual stockists if you didn't want to make one yourself.

I beleive this RR thread lists a few options for commercial ones.

If I were to make my own, I would obtain a suitable connector and a 60 cm (1ft 11 inch) length of 1mm diameter nitinol wire, fit it into the plug centre with suitable strain relief, perhaps heatshrink the wire and give it a go from there...you might need to trim the wire a tiny bit but 60 cm would be a good starting point. Calculations suggest 57 cm would be the end length but it's always easier to start a bit longer and trim it!

I use my diamond SRH789 telescopic antenna and experiment trimming it for optimum reception.

 

[G7RUX]

I use my diamond SRH789 telescopic antenna and experiment trimming it for optimum reception.

That would be a fine approach for experimenting, although I would still make my own final size one as the telescopic antenna is easy to damage while waving it about running across an airfield...

 

[G7RUX]

For reference, a 5 m roll of 1.8 mm nitinol wire is about £30/$37 and will make lots of antennas.

 

[eorange]

I have the dual band signal stick and it does fine on Wx and VHF/UHF airband. On the UHF airband I was hearing AR on 274.450 with the signal stick on my IC-R2 and it was great receive. Seems just as good as the SRH77CA in that regard. (The signal stick does do a little better, maybe, with APRS beaconing on my FT5DR.)

 

[G7RUX]

I have the dual band signal stick and it does fine on Wx and VHF/UHF airband. On the UHF airband I was hearing AR on 274.450 with the signal stick on my IC-R2 and it was great receive. Seems just as good as the SRH77CA in that regard. (The signal stick does do a little better, maybe, with APRS beaconing on my FT5DR.)

This is one of the fun things about antennas, in that there are a number of characteristics which all affect the performance in different ways.

A large antenna of the wrong length, but ok-ish matched, can work well. A small antenna may be much less efficient in general but when well-matched can also work well.

The holy grail would be to have a large (eg: 1/4 wave) antenna cut exactly for the frequency of interest, well-matched since this way the antenna efficiency is the best it can reasonably be and all losses are minimised. This will often work supremely well and can be worth the effort, especially at VHF and UHF where the quarter wave antenna sizes are manageable for hand portable use.

 

[xms3200]

Thanks for all the great info and replies.

 

[krtz07]

I just tried the IC-R15, it does get 162 to 165Mhz, I got WX on 162.500, just no preset WX for the US version.

i see how ineffective the supplied antenna is, waiting for the signal sticks

I guess my original thought process was I wonder how this performed against another receiver on weaker frequencies receiving the same transmissions at the same time. But I'd wait until someone do a technical review on it.

Cheers

 

[xms3200]

I am waiting for my “better antenna” to arrive vis USPS. The supplied antenna sucks

 

[eorange]

I am waiting for my “better antenna” to arrive vis USPS. The supplied antenna sucks

Can you describe how bad the "sucks" is? Factory antennas aren't ideal, but I've never had one where it made me think, wow I'm hearing almost nothing (or something like that).