IC-R15 Overview, Features & Accessories

Summary: A tour of the Icom IC-R15 wideband handheld communications receiver: what it can receive, what’s in the box, its main features and how this section of the Knowledge Base is organised.

What the IC-R15 Is

The IC-R15 is a compact, waterproof dual-receiver handheld covering 108-500 MHz on its two receive bands (A and B), plus an FM broadcast band (76-108 MHz on the European version, 88-108 MHz on the US version). It has two independent receivers (Dualwatch), a microSD card for recording and memory backup, a Bluetooth unit for a wireless headset, and a Type-C USB connector for charging and PC connection.

This section combines Icom’s Basic Manual and Advanced Manual for the IC-R15 into one set of articles. Where the two overlap, the article follows the fuller Advanced Manual text.

Main Features

• Dualwatch: two receivers that can watch different frequencies, bands or modes at the same time and record both.
• 2,000 memory channels in 100 groups, organised into categories with icons, plus Favorites, 25 scan edge pairs, 200 Auto Memory Write channels and 100 Skip channels.
• Receive modes: FM, FM-N (narrow), AM and AM-N, plus wide FM for FM broadcast radio.
• Scanning: program (25 ranges), program link, band, all-bands and Auto Memory Write scans; memory scans by favourite, group, category, group link or all; tone scan.
• Voice Squelch Control (VSC) and Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL).
• Voice recorder to the microSD card (WAV files) with a built-in player.
• Bluetooth 5.2 (headset profile) with one paired device.
• Simple mode for easy operation from favourites, categories or bands.
• IPX7 waterproof protection (with the battery pack, antenna and all jack and slot covers fitted).
• microSD card for settings backup, CSV memory import/export, screen captures, opening pictures and firmware updates.
• USB: charging, CI-V remote control and programming, or SD Card Mode.
• CS-R15 (optional) Icom programming software.

Supplied Accessories

Antenna, hand strap, belt clip, battery pack (BP-287), and a USB cable (Type-A to Type-C). Some accessories aren’t supplied, or look different, depending on the receiver version. See IC-R15 Specifications & Options for optional items.

Which Version Do You Have?

The manuals cover both the European (EUR) and USA versions. Differences include the FM radio range (76-108 MHz EUR, 88-108 MHz USA) and the NOAA Weather Channel and Weather Alert functions, which exist only on the USA version. UK-supplied receivers are normally the European version. UK conformity information (UKCA) is in IC-R15 Safety, Battery Cautions & Compliance.

Squawker

Squawker PC’s Scanner Programmer can program the IC-R15 by writing a CSV file to its microSD card, and Squawker Online has an IC-R15 export. See IC-R15 Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online.