I have managed to make SDR++ Windows X64 version work with the IC-R8600. To do so I originally got the 8600 working with another SDR program, SDRGlut. Then, I copied the following files from SDRGlut over to SDR++
SoapySDR.dll
SoapySDRUtil.exe
ExtIO_ICR8600.dll
icr8600Support.dll was copied into the "Modules" folder
I'm not sure that all of the above were necessary to make this work but as I'm flying blind so I'm just listing what I did. I assume these files are available independently of SDRGlut; I don't want to make it appear that I am grabbing files from that software to make this one work, but I guess I kinda am...an experiment that worked out.
Also, the Icom IQ drivers for the 8600 need to be installed for this to work.
On startup of SDR++ (previously not run on the PC I'm on) it immediately identified SoapySDR as the source, and underneath was a drop down window with IC-R8600 in it as the only choice. I had to make several tweaks to the attenuator gain, RFGain, bandwidth, and adjust the max and min display settings. Clicked the start button and lo and behold it works.
There are a few quirks but it is a great start. I'm noticing that at a bandwidth of 5.12 MHz (the maximum for the 8600) I am truly seeing about 4.5 MHz. Also, strong signals appear to make the spectrum "jump" for lack of a better term. I've tried attenuation and reducing RF gain and it minimizes, but does not eliminate, this issue. At lower sample rates I did not see this occur. Also. When I stop the spectrum display SDR++ shuts down and thus requires a restart to continue. On the spectrum display the bandwidth does not fill the entire screen regardless of what it is set at, 5.12, 3.84, 1.92. I did not go lower during my initial test runs.
All of that said, it does work! More to follow as I try it further.
SoapySDR.dll
SoapySDRUtil.exe
ExtIO_ICR8600.dll
icr8600Support.dll was copied into the "Modules" folder
I'm not sure that all of the above were necessary to make this work but as I'm flying blind so I'm just listing what I did. I assume these files are available independently of SDRGlut; I don't want to make it appear that I am grabbing files from that software to make this one work, but I guess I kinda am...an experiment that worked out.
Also, the Icom IQ drivers for the 8600 need to be installed for this to work.
On startup of SDR++ (previously not run on the PC I'm on) it immediately identified SoapySDR as the source, and underneath was a drop down window with IC-R8600 in it as the only choice. I had to make several tweaks to the attenuator gain, RFGain, bandwidth, and adjust the max and min display settings. Clicked the start button and lo and behold it works.
There are a few quirks but it is a great start. I'm noticing that at a bandwidth of 5.12 MHz (the maximum for the 8600) I am truly seeing about 4.5 MHz. Also, strong signals appear to make the spectrum "jump" for lack of a better term. I've tried attenuation and reducing RF gain and it minimizes, but does not eliminate, this issue. At lower sample rates I did not see this occur. Also. When I stop the spectrum display SDR++ shuts down and thus requires a restart to continue. On the spectrum display the bandwidth does not fill the entire screen regardless of what it is set at, 5.12, 3.84, 1.92. I did not go lower during my initial test runs.
All of that said, it does work! More to follow as I try it further.