#Icom r8500 serial numbers update#

Since the 8600 has been on the market for some time now, I discussed with Thomas Witherspoon of SWLing Post, the idea of obtaining an 8600 for the specific purpose of comparing it to some of the top receivers in my collection.ДЄ surprising outcome of my comparisons of the 8600 to these radios is that my appreciation of the qualities of these older receivers was actually re-ignitedвЂ“so much so that some that had been on my вЂto sellвЂ™ list are now back in the вЂkeepersвЂ™ column.

#Icom r8500 serial numbers update#

The firmware update released recently (1.30) added the capability to use the radioвЂ™s IQ output with HDSDR software, which means that the receiver is now not only a standalone but also functions easily with a PC. in short, just about everything one would think should be included in a 21st century receiver of this kind, ICOM put in the 8600. Other features include ICOMвЂ™s wonderful Twin Passband Tuning, combined with the ability to adjust filters 1/2/3, adjustable attenuation, Digital AFC, tone controls, noise blanker digital noise reduction, speech enunciator, main tuning dial tension adjustment, synchronous L/U/Double sideband, adjustable panel brightness. I canвЂ™t say enough about this capability which automatically keeps fully labeled logs.

The ability to record directly to SDHC cards eliminates the need to attach an external solid state recorder (over the course of my DX career I accumulated many of these). It has numerous flexibilities selected from the front panel and within the menu system. The new Icom IC-8600 at the 2017 HamventionДЄt this point, there have been numerous reviews of the 8600, and videos are all over YouTube showing the basics of its operation and features. That can be seen in the amazing color 4.3 inch LCD display with fairly fast spectrum scope and waterfall displays, coverage from 10 kHz to 3 gHz, decoding capability in multiple protocols, (Baudot RTTY, D-STARв„ў, NXDNв„ў, dPMRв„ў, DCR (Digital Communication Radio) and APCO P25, and the combination of SDR and superheterodyne circuitry, with 2000 memories. In its design decisions with the 8600, ICOM clearly intended to hit it out of the park, taking a huge step from the 8500. The R75 as everyone knows established a reputation as an excellent receiver that delivered bang for the buck, including for example 1hz readout and extreme stability. My experience with ICOM includes owning a IC-R71A and R72, both of which I found to be strong performers, as well as a IC-R75.

I have been primarily a hardcore DXвЂ™er and SWL and avoided purchasing wideband receivers, including the predecessor IC-R8500, because they were limited in areas such as selectivity. When ICOM rolled out its new wideband receiver, the IC-R8600, I immediately took an interest in it. ICOMвЂ™s IC-R8600: Can this mega-radio stay in the ring with big gun вЂњlegacyвЂќ receivers when it comes to shortwave band reception?

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following guest post: