R8600 General Info Request

[ArloG]

Hi guys.
I've been spinning the VFO since I was a little kid. I made the plunge and will have an 8600 here when the FedEx guy shows in the morning.
I see info all over the place and would like to start a conversation of their capabilities using the various SDR software out there.
My top receivers right now are an IC-R8500 and RSP2 with a just-got Nooelec LNA.
A Diamond discone, 137MHz QFH, and an end fed longwire. Just getting into L-Band so I built a patch antenna a week or 2 ago.

I know HDSDR is what seems the go-to SDR software to use when going into the various decoders like DSD+.
Are any others like SDR# able to interface with the Icom extio?
Asking that one because I don't want to go nuts trying this and that. Pasting extio's into folders to find out they don't work.
Or if I'm limited to using the I/Q output.

I've never jumped in deep to use programs like DSD+. I do get NXDN, DMR,and P25 reception 'way out here'.
Just not much success decoding them. I'm getting that having 2 SDR's is the best way. I have VB cable working and am versed in those configs.
Have used most HF digital modes and have an OK log book. My first NOAA decode was a thrill with the RSP2 from only having the R8500 with it's low bandwidth.
So was Meteor decodes using SDR# and the round-about way to use the RSP2 with their pissing war with SDR#.

So. Basically what could I expect using PC controlled (SDR) interfaces and the extio driver for the 8600?
Will I only be able to use it like an audio device input like the R8500 does? Will I have control over the radios frequency and modes/extio control like the RSP2?
I don't want to really consider the Icom radio control software they sell and others don't look too highly of.

Knowing some of these things in one spot from members would be a great thing to know and compile what to expect of the R8600 after the initial getting used to it.

Thanks Guys.

 

[ArloG]

Well no responses. Nice.
A week into using the R8600 has been fairly easy. Learning and understanding some of the settings is a bit overwhelming if not confusing.
Getting it setup to run with HDSDR was pretty easy. I know right away that my HF antenna needs a bit of an upgrade.
I've been jumping back and forth between the radio and using HDSDR. Tried SDRConsole for a bit.
To be honest I wonder if Simon has ever worked a real hands-on radio before. Mouse (touchpad) laptop control is still atrocious.
Using the second USB port for AF/IF output after installing drivers was straight forward.

Not really documented , perhaps assumed.
Is the USB audio output when switched to IF actually the intermediate frequency output like you would use for a panadapter or other things on an IC-R8500?
Is I/Q output ONLY usable using something like HDSDR? Like when the radio is controlled by an SDR interface application??
Did I miss it in the manual? What does Peak Excursion and Peak Threshold actually do? It would be nice to see weak signals in the waterfall that I can hear but barely see in the scope without cranking the gain up, turning on the preamp, or cranking the REF Adjust way up.
HDSDR is WAY more friendly seeing weak signals in the waterfall. Without cranking up gain.

SDR# & DSD+. Wow. I've been using the DSD+ public release version with an SDRPlay RSP2 for some time now.
SDR#. Yeah. I know. They want you to use an RTL device. And to use SDR# with an SDRPlay receiver you have to dig up an old version.
In a nutshell. That sucks.
As for DSD+ Fastlane. If you've used the pub. version then get ready for a big surprise when you get it.
Not so easy. Not at all.

Now. I'm a dial spinner. Not a scanner guy. Matter of fact most of the funtions on my 8500 were largely never used and when I did that handy cheat sheet came in real handy. So what stands in the ethers is IF my R8600 will work with DSD+ Fastlane. And IF I'll be able to use it for P25, etc.
Speaking of the digital functions. P25. Do I set the radio up to a P25 frequency and let 'er go and wait for a decode?
Because so far no joy.
Today I was able to get a little DMR voice traffic using DSD+ public going thru HSDSR to VB Cable.
And IF I'll need to have another SDR device. If so WILL the RSP2 suffice? Will I have to get and Airspy compatible radio?
Jesus!

And then comes the Ethernet port. Not much out there on radio control using IP. At least not yet for me. What's the deal on that?

Just my first week with the R8600.
Anyone?

 

[tumegpc]

I held off on the R8600 due to the lack of DMR. I have the R30 and do like it quite a bit, but again no DMR.

 

[ArloG]

I held off on the R8600 due to the lack of DMR. I have the R30 and do like it quite a bit, but again no DMR.

Any decoding on the radio isn't really that important to me. I'd actually prefer to offload it to an SDR application.
Like Digital Radio Mondiale, Meteor APT sats, and what the other HF decoders handle so easily.
Too bad the Digital Radio Mondiale Sourceforge app went pear shaped.
It's a nice radio. And let's hope the firmware updates don't go stagnant.
Or better yet open up some of the internal workings to second party developers.
Wishful thinking.

 

[tumegpc]

How well do you decode DMR with an SDR app?

 

[ArloG]

How well do you decode DMR with an SDR app?

DSD+. The forum is full of discussion on it.