R8600 Other Than a R8600 ?

[BOBRR]

Hi,

As always, thanks for thoughts.

So, what makes the 8600 twice as expensive ?

Regards,
Bob

 

[AK9R]

It's a "DC to daylight" receiver.

An IC-7300 is a direct-sampling SDR that covers 30 kHz to 74 MHz. There's no conversion. The IC-R8600 is essentially the same architecture for 10 kHz to 30 MHz but it adds another receive path with two mixer stages to down-convert for 30 MHz to 1.1 GHz and another receive path with three mixer stages for 1.1 GHz to 3.0 GHz.

 

[BOBRR]

Hi,

Thanks.

Regards,
Bob

 

[N4DJC]

I'd get the 8600, you never know when you might want the added frequency range and modes. I don't see the 8600 being upgraded anytime soon. And it certainly won't be going down significantly in price either.

 

[foxtail]

USA guys are lucky...here in good old ****canada they want $3500.00 anywhere I've looked for the r8600. Which would bring it just under $4000.00. Not in my life time will I be paying that amount unless I win the lottery.....lol

 

[bearcatrp]

Wow, that’s one heck of a price gouge to Canadian folks. I remember it was around $1800 when it came out. Wish I would have jumped on one then. Can’t afford current price so bought a used R8500.

 

[AK9R]

USA guys are lucky...here in good old ****canada they want $3500.00 anywhere I've looked for the r8600.

RadioWorld is CDN$3399.99.

I remember it was around $1800 when it came out. Wish I would have jumped on one then.

Ham Radio Outlet has B-stock units for US$1999.95. Icom B-stock is factory refurbished and has a 90-day warranty.

 

[bearcatrp]

Tempting but will use my R8500 for awhile. 90 day warranty seems risky though. If Icom repaired it, should have full warranty.

 

[fasteddy64]

I love my 8600 but I question it's reliability/longevity. It is currently traveling back from it's second trip to the hospital in 12 months.
First one was a failure of the display, second was a failure of relay ARE-1009 which controls the ANT 1 connector.

I hope it doesnt have to go back again!

 

[bearcatrp]

Seems the newer technology radios have a higher failure rate. Not just Icom. Twice in 12 months is nuts for repairs. Am currently on the hunt for a cable for my R8500 and researching different software packages for it. Am just hoping it doesn't come down with issues as Icom won't work on the R75 anymore from reading a different post on RR. Lack of parts. Now if Icom would make another R30 with a waterfall display like the 52A, would jump on it in a heartbeat.

 

[kruser]

I love my 8600 but I question it's reliability/longevity. It is currently traveling back from it's second trip to the hospital in 12 months.
First one was a failure of the display, second was a failure of relay ARE-1009 which controls the ANT 1 connector.

I hope it doesn't have to go back again!

I wonder if Icom has sourced a new relay to replace the ARE-1009 series they used in the 8600. Ever since the first relay failure was posted about in the R8600 groups.io groups message board, all stock of that relay were snatched up by others for self repair.
The 8600 has a few of the same model relay in them used for RF switching. Hopefully it was just a bad batch and not a sign all the ARE-100x relays are eventually going to start failing.

If anyone hears anything about Icom using a new relay model, please post about it as I sure don't want to doctor my board up if mine fails and I can't find a drop in replacement for the ARE-1009 type.

What failed with your display?

I have two 8600's and have had mostly good luck with both. One I bought when they were first release and then I bought a 2nd about a year later.
On the original 8600, I sometimes notice what sounds exactly like a dirty volume control pot. The audio circuits in these things are all digital as far as I know so a dirty encoder pot should not really be possible. But... sure enough, when I hear the crackling audio when powered up, I can open the squelch and then rock the volume control encoder back and forth a few times and it always cleans up the audio just like how you cleaned up a dirty pot in an analog audio circuit. I never figured that one out unless there is an analog stage there somewhere. I've honestly never traced it out on the schematic.

 

[fasteddy64]

I wonder if Icom has sourced a new relay to replace the ARE-1009 series they used in the 8600. Ever since the first relay failure was posted about in the R8600 groups.io groups message board, all stock of that relay were snatched up by others for self repair.
The 8600 has a few of the same model relay in them used for RF switching. Hopefully it was just a bad batch and not a sign all the ARE-100x relays are eventually going to start failing.

If anyone hears anything about Icom using a new relay model, please post about it as I sure don't want to doctor my board up if mine fails and I can't find a drop in replacement for the ARE-1009 type.

What failed with your display?

I have two 8600's and have had mostly good luck with both. One I bought when they were first release and then I bought a 2nd about a year later.
On the original 8600, I sometimes notice what sounds exactly like a dirty volume control pot. The audio circuits in these things are all digital as far as I know so a dirty encoder pot should not really be possible. But... sure enough, when I hear the crackling audio when powered up, I can open the squelch and then rock the volume control encoder back and forth a few times and it always cleans up the audio just like how you cleaned up a dirty pot in an analog audio circuit. I never figured that one out unless there is an analog stage there somewhere. I've honestly never traced it out on the schematic.

I bought my 8600 used, it showed up with a bad display. It could have been damaged in transit, not really sure. The seller took care of that repair.

 

[kruser]

I bought my 8600 used, it showed up with a bad display. It could have been damaged in transit, not really sure. The seller took care of that repair.

That was good of the seller to take care of it.