R8600 Rec'd My R8600 Today and Passing Out Cigars!

[TailGator911]

Well I have been busy for most of the day playing with my new toy here and must say I am very impressed. What a fine radio! Haven't really hit any snags manually programming it, but I wondered what the general consensus here is for what programming/controllable software is the best? So far, I have been looking into the Icom software and RT systems and curious as to if there are any other programs out there worth checking out? The Icom software user interface looks amazing, the best so far in vivid radio interface. Thanks!

JD
kf4anc

 

[rbrtklamp2]

Man I am so jealous I am hoping to get one by summer hopefully. The radio looks amazing and all I hear are good things. I just wish it decoded DMR if it did that the radio would be the total package. I just feel its lagging a bit with out DMR, for me DMR would put it over the top.

 

[TailGator911]

Man I am so jealous I am hoping to get one by summer hopefully. The radio looks amazing and all I hear are good things. I just wish it decoded DMR if it did that the radio would be the total package. I just feel its lagging a bit with out DMR, for me DMR would put it over the top.

Agreed, DMR would be nice, as well as P25 Phase 2, but I've got that on 2 other radios and the new SDS200 coming soon which I will upgrade to, so DMR isn't a deal breaker for me. This radio rocks for everything else tho!

 

[escortz28]

The ICOM RS-R8600 software has very limited capabilities and expensive to boot; I personally do not recommend. The thread reviewing the RS-R8600 (ICOM has not updated since initial release): https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/rs-r8600-installed-one-frustration.359868/

Another good thread with information of the ICOM cloning software and interfacing PC/R8600 https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/using-the-icom-r8600.356021/

 

[ridgescan]

Congratulations JD! Bought mine last August and every time I fire it up (every night) it's still a new feeling. I figure it'll be like that for a long while. Such satisfaction to own Icom's cutting-edge receiver

 

[AA6IO]

Keep raving on folks about the IC-R8600. Despite lack of DMR, I might just have to buy it one of these days.

 

[rbrtklamp2]

Keep raving on folks about the IC-R8600. Despite lack of DMR, I might just have to buy it one of these days.

My feelings exactly I would like to have a good shortwave loop or wire antenna with it. I may buy one before I buy the SDS200 it just seems like it would be the best addition to my radio room at this time.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[TailGator911]

Yep, so far I am amazed with this radio. Just with my 40-ft end-fed PAR wire I am pulling in great signals both in the utility bands and shortwave broadcast. I am hearing fishing vessels up near Cape Cod that my R75 is not hearing at all. So I was up late tweaking the R75 to compare with the R8600 and it's finding the same signals, but tweaking them in takes some fanangling. I used to take the old dog/new tricks stance when it came to SDR technology, but I am definitely sold. The display is dazzling, especially the waterfall spectrum. My wife was even impressed, asked me if I secretly worked for NORAD or something. lol This is one high-tech receiver! I only slept 3 1/2 hrs and back here at it with a good cup of coffee, filling in search parameters and memory channels. I am in awe at how much our hobby has evolved. I remember sitting up late at night with my first FRG-7. Not the same, not at all

JD
kf4anc

 

[bearcatrp]

Would have bought the 8600 instead of the R30 if I had the bucks. You folks using this sweet receiver, please keep posting your usage along with what antennas your using. Maybe one day I can get one. For now, the R30 will have to do.

 

[prcguy]

Same findings here, I love my 8600. If you like to monitor a specific signal in the HF bands try the VSC squelch accessed by pushing Dial C. This squelch ignores signal levels and only opens in the presence of audio within the human voice range and will work on signals way too weak for a regular squelch.

If your frequency of interest is free of interference the radio can sit silent until a call comes through and then its silence until the next call, even in the presence of lightning crashes and some other kinds of noise.

Yep, so far I am amazed with this radio. Just with my 40-ft end-fed PAR wire I am pulling in great signals both in the utility bands and shortwave broadcast. I am hearing fishing vessels up near Cape Cod that my R75 is not hearing at all. So I was up late tweaking the R75 to compare with the R8600 and it's finding the same signals, but tweaking them in takes some fanangling. I used to take the old dog/new tricks stance when it came to SDR technology, but I am definitely sold. The display is dazzling, especially the waterfall spectrum. My wife was even impressed, asked me if I secretly worked for NORAD or something. lol This is one high-tech receiver! I only slept 3 1/2 hrs and back here at it with a good cup of coffee, filling in search parameters and memory channels. I am in awe at how much our hobby has evolved. I remember sitting up late at night with my first FRG-7. Not the same, not at all

JD
kf4anc

 

[TailGator911]

I have wanted this radio ever since I read Bob Grove's review of it in the Sept '17 issue of Spectrum Monitor, and I am not disappointed. Even tho the User manual is a bit intimidating, and the front panel display IS also a bit intimidating, I am in major discovery mode here and loving every minute of it. Dialed in WPAFB 88th Fighter Wing this evening clear as a bell. Also pulled in a couple of 155mhz distant vhf public safety repeaters in Richmond, IN (fd) and then with a few clickety-clicks I was listening to Radio Havana. I doubt I will ever use up all of these memories, but it's nice to know they are there for me to give it a try...all I can say is WoW.

JD
kf4anc

 

[jack103]

You can listen to the same freqs on a RS PRO Is 2006 for a lot less money! Re uhf milair!

 

[TailGator911]

I can't alpha-tag my channels on my 2006....I can't listen to HF or shortwave broadcast on my 2006...or NXDN...or D-Star...or P25 Phase 1 or or or I could go on and on, but it's easier to read all the modes for yourself in the Users manual. Don't get me wrong, I love my 2006, but to compare these two radios would be a travesty.

 

[jack103]

Anyone who cares knows the freqs with out the alpha displays!

 

[prcguy]

Don't make me come over there Jack.

Anyone who cares knows the freqs with out the alpha displays!

 

[Peerlessk]

Nice radio . BUT it had me until no DMR . I felt for the price yadda yadda yadda . Nice radio congrats but I had to refrain from the plunge myself .

 

[TailGator911]

Anyone who cares knows the freqs with out the alpha displays!

Anyone my age that can remember them all, I'll give you my radio! bahahaha

 

[devicelab]

Nice radio . BUT it had me until no DMR .

Why do you need DMR on a wideband, base-station receiver? DMR is primarily used for commercial trunk systems. ICOM has *never* done anything involved trunk-tracking. So even if it could decode DMR (without tracking) then it'd be pointless for most users. So that's probably why they didn't include it. (Not to mention that decoding DMR in all of it's forms is not a simple task.)

DMR is here to stay (unfortunately) and I wouldn't be surprised if they do add DMR (decode only) eventually but it's a low-priority.

 

[TailGator911]

DMR - that's the way I see it. Certain radios are made to rec particular bandwidths and modes. There are enough low-cost DMR radios out there to be had that it shouldn't even be considered an issue with the R8600.

JD
kf4anc

 

[prcguy]

There are lots of DMR conventional repeaters around here but I have not encountered a DMR trunk system yet. DMR seems to be the most popular digital mode in the amateur community and it would be real nice if Icom could update the 8600 to include it.

Why do you need DMR on a wideband, base-station receiver? DMR is primarily used for commercial trunk systems. ICOM has *never* done anything involved trunk-tracking. So even if it could decode DMR (without tracking) then it'd be pointless for most users. So that's probably why they didn't include it. (Not to mention that decoding DMR in all of it's forms is not a simple task.)

DMR is here to stay (unfortunately) and I wouldn't be surprised if they do add DMR (decode only) eventually but it's a low-priority.