Receiver recommendation

[shatnersbassoon]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a desktop receiver, to supplement or maybe replace my R30.
Now that I'm working from home the R30 is on all day and although 90% of the time it's scanning civ and mil-air I do like to have a scan around the HF bands.

I love the R30, but being a handheld in a cradle, I don't find the R30 great for just having a quick spin through the frequencies to see what's about. Not like having a big dial and dedicated buttons for certain features.
I'm not so interested in any digital modes (not that there are many here in the UK anyway), so are there any desktop style recievers that I should be considering?

Would love something with a waterfall display but things start to get a bit expensive.
The R8600 looks amazing and ticks all the boxes as far as features, but is probably totally overkill for me, and I'd never get the purchase past the wife!
I do have an SDR, but would rather something that I can turn on and use rather than have to use a PC.

Hope that rambling makes some sense!

Cheers, Matt

 

[highwayman1224]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a desktop receiver, to supplement or maybe replace my R30.
Now that I'm working from home the R30 is on all day and although 90% of the time it's scanning civ and mil-air I do like to have a scan around the HF bands.

I love the R30, but being a handheld in a cradle, I don't find the R30 great for just having a quick spin through the frequencies to see what's about. Not like having a big dial and dedicated buttons for certain features.
I'm not so interested in any digital modes (not that there are many here in the UK anyway), so are there any desktop style recievers that I should be considering?

Would love something with a waterfall display but things start to get a bit expensive.
The R8600 looks amazing and ticks all the boxes as far as features, but is probably totally overkill for me, and I'd never get the purchase past the wife!
I do have an SDR, but would rather something that I can turn on and use rather than have to use a PC.

Hope that rambling makes some sense!

Cheers, Matt

Look at ham radio's. Lot's of older units that are way cheaper than the 8600.

 

[shatnersbassoon]

Look at ham radio's. Lot's of older units that are way cheaper than the 8600.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Anyone know of any that might fit the bill?

 

[theoldcop]

You might also want to consider the Icom R-75 or the Palstar R30A. Both are EXCELLENT receivers.

 

[WB9YBM]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a desktop receiver, to supplement or maybe replace my R30.
Now that I'm working from home the R30 is on all day and although 90% of the time it's scanning civ and mil-air I do like to have a scan around the HF bands.

I've had better luck with name-brand equipment than with unknown or off-brands. Yes, part of the cost will be for the "privilege" of having a well-known brand label on the front. As for specifics, that's a bit more challenging because what I like might not be something you'll like--things like ease of operation, the general look or "feel" of the controls, etc. Buying one step better than what you might need right away is also a consideration: planning ahead & buying features you might like or need once you grow into the hobby to meet your future needs without getting complex to the degree where extra features (and learning curve) get over-whelming.

 

[shatnersbassoon]

I've had better luck with name-brand equipment than with unknown or off-brands. Yes, part of the cost will be for the "privilege" of having a well-known brand label on the front. As for specifics, that's a bit more challenging because what I like might not be something you'll like--things like ease of operation, the general look or "feel" of the controls, etc. Buying one step better than what you might need right away is also a consideration: planning ahead & buying features you might like or need once you grow into the hobby to meet your future needs without getting complex to the degree where extra features (and learning curve) get over-whelming.

Would certainly rather stick to a known brand, I've always liked the icom kit, though I've never owned a desktop radio of theirs.
The R30 is a great radio. I suppose what I really want is an R30 in desktop format with a waterfall display and the possibility of control from PC.
Not a lot to ask for

 

[kd1sq]

If it's HF-only I'd suggest the ICOM R-75. A good performance, features, fairly recent design and not too long discontinued.

Otherwise I'd suggest a used ICOM R-8500 - good HF and VHF/UHF performance. More communications receiver than scanner in terms of features but a very nice toy indeed.

Or, as a last suggestion, embrace the future and buy something like the SDRPlay RSP1A - inexpensive and a grand way to get your feet wet with the new way of listening that has more or less completely replaced the old school receiver (apart from portables.)

 

[kruser]

Hide the purchase (somehow!) from the wife and get an R8600. You will love it. I don't think I've ever read a post where someone regretted getting an R8600 after they made the purchase.
It's a top rated receiver if you look at the ratings from Sherwood Engineering. I'm not sure if it's still rated as number one on Sherwood's list but it was for quite a while. I've not looked in a long time. Receiver Test Data

I loved the 8600 so much that I ended up getting a second one! Yes, it was impossible to hide that purchase!
I mainly use them for everything above 30 MHz but I also use them both for HF and below, just not as often as above 30 MHz. I also have an old Icom IC-R9000 that I love and would never part with. Sometimes I find myself using the old R9000 instead of the new 8600's but that's just habit I think.

 

[bearcatrp]

The 9000 is one of the best receivers ever made. Surprised you bought a 8600.

 

[shatnersbassoon]

Hide the purchase (somehow!) from the wife and get an R8600. You will love it. I don't think I've ever read a post where someone regretted getting an R8600 after they made the purchase.
It's a top rated receiver if you look at the ratings from Sherwood Engineering. I'm not sure if it's still rated as number one on Sherwood's list but it was for quite a while. I've not looked in a long time. Receiver Test Data

I loved the 8600 so much that I ended up getting a second one! Yes, it was impossible to hide that purchase!
I mainly use them for everything above 30 MHz but I also use them both for HF and below, just not as often as above 30 MHz. I also have an old Icom IC-R9000 that I love and would never part with. Sometimes I find myself using the old R9000 instead of the new 8600's but that's just habit I think.

Well, that's not helping. Now I want an 8600!
It'd still be spending 90% of its time as an airband scanner though which does feel like a waste of a good radio.
Though I'm sure I'd make use of lot's of the other features.....

 

[kruser]

Well, that's not helping. Now I want an 8600!
It'd still be spending 90% of its time as an airband scanner though which does feel like a waste of a good radio.
Though I'm sure I'd make use of lot's of the other features.....

I have two banks setup for aircraft. One is the main local stuff while the other is more rare military and other oddball air frequencies.
The 8600 does a great job with the civil and military air bands, I'm using an antenna geared more towards the 160 MHz range which is hooked to a 16 port multicoupler I put together from parts,
Even with that antenna, the 8600's both do great on the airband frequencies.
They are also fairly immune to overload problems from local FM Broadcast radio stations which can ruin the VHF civil airband on many scanners. I do have a PAR VHF airband bandpass filter but I honestly don't see a need for using it with the 8600 or 9000. I forgot but I also have an Icom IC-R2500 that works really well as far as not needing any external filtering.
I've always been very pleased with the Icom's I own.

Yes, after you get the hang of things, you will start exploring other bands! I sure did.

Go for an 8600 if you can swing it! I don't think you will regret the purchase other than what the wife may say about it!

 

[shatnersbassoon]

I have two banks setup for aircraft. One is the main local stuff while the other is more rare military and other oddball air frequencies.
The 8600 does a great job with the civil and military air bands, I'm using an antenna geared more towards the 160 MHz range which is hooked to a 16 port multicoupler I put together from parts,
Even with that antenna, the 8600's both do great on the airband frequencies.
They are also fairly immune to overload problems from local FM Broadcast radio stations which can ruin the VHF civil airband on many scanners. I do have a PAR VHF airband bandpass filter but I honestly don't see a need for using it with the 8600 or 9000. I forgot but I also have an Icom IC-R2500 that works really well as far as not needing any external filtering.
I've always been very pleased with the Icom's I own.

Yes, after you get the hang of things, you will start exploring other bands! I sure did.

Go for an 8600 if you can swing it! I don't think you will regret the purchase other than what the wife may say about it!

Do you know if the 8600 can do 'group link' scanning like the R30 does?
I guess these are the equivalent of banks on the 8600? I should try and download a manual for the 8600 and give it read really!

 

[kruser]

Do you know if the 8600 can do 'group link' scanning like the R30 does?
I guess these are the equivalent of banks on the 8600? I should try and download a manual for the 8600 and give it read really!

I don't think you can link groups or banks together. Someone asked that question here or maybe in a discussion group and I don't think they found a way to link the groups together.
I've never played with that on mine but I do know what you are talking about.
I think it's the R8600 that lets you adjust the memory amounts for each bank. If so, that may give you enough memory to scan everything you need.
Don't quote me on this though as it could be a different receiver I'm thinking about!

Icom had two manuals available for the 8600. One was what they called a 'Basic' manual and then they also offered an extended or advanced manual with a lot more detail. The extended manual is the one you want!

 

[N4DJC]

You won’t be happy with anything other than the 8600, buy it. A compromise is always a compromise.

 

[shatnersbassoon]

You won’t be happy with anything other than the 8600, buy it. A compromise is always a compromise.

It's beginning to feel that way!
I did find someone in the UK selling a used one, but he won't ship it. UK is on lockdown for the forseeable future so collecting is out of the question.
The wife did say "If you want one, just get one", but that may have been out of frustration from me keep mentioning it!

 

[N4DJC]

It's beginning to feel that way!
I did find someone in the UK selling a used one, but he won't ship it. UK is on lockdown for the forseeable future so collecting is out of the question.
The wife did say "If you want one, just get one", but that may have been out of frustration from me keep mentioning it!

Get it in writing for future reference she may have selective amnesia.

I wasted money by not going with my instinct and buying what I really wanted.

 

[shatnersbassoon]

Well, now look at what you've all made me do.
The 'buy' button got clicked so hopefully it should be here in a couple of days!

 

[wcsd45]

Well done! There is no merit to rationalizing when you hear "just get one", perhaps not consistently heard.

 

[N1FKO]

Do you know if the 8600 can do 'group link' scanning like the R30 does?

No, but you can scan a range like Group 8 Channel 1 to Group 10 Channel 99.

 

[SigIntel8600]

Well, now look at what you've all made me do.
The 'buy' button got clicked so hopefully it should be here in a couple of days!

Welcome to the R8600 club. I've had mine for a year and I feel I have not even scratched the surface of this beast. Get the ICOM programming software, pricey but worth it.