IC-R8600 Clock, Timers & NTP

Summary: How to set the IC-R8600’s clock, use the NTP time server, and use the sleep timer and daily timers.

Setting the Time and Date

MENU, SET, Time Set, Date/Time, then Date (2000/01/01 to 2099/12/31) or Time (24-hour): touch [+] or [-] and [SET]. UTC Offset (default +0:00; -14:00 to +14:00 in 5-minute steps) sets your local time. Touch the clock readout on the main screen to see local and UTC time. For the UK, set the UTC offset to +1:00 during British Summer Time.

Clock Battery

A rechargeable lithium battery keeps the clock. If the receiver isn’t connected to power for a long time it discharges and the clock resets. Connect the receiver to a power source at least once a month; charging takes two days whether the receiver is on or off.

NTP Time Server

With a LAN connection the receiver can synchronise its clock over the internet. NTP Function (default ON) obtains the time automatically; <<NTP TIME SYNC>> syncs at once (“Succeed” shows); NTP Server Address (default time.nist.gov) can be changed, but the manual says not to unless necessary.

Sleep Timer

Hold TIMER for 1 second, touch Sleep Timer, rotate to 5-120 minutes (5-minute steps) and touch SET. The timer LED lights orange, and 10 seconds before it ends the receiver beeps and the LED blinks, then it switches off. It counts in minutes, so it can be up to 59 seconds out.

Daily Timer

Up to 3 timer slots turn the power on and off automatically. Hold TIMER for 1 second, choose a slot and set:

• Timer Status (OFF): ON activates it.
• Reservation Timer (00:00): the power-on time.
• Power OFF Timer (–:–): the power-off time. Set it later than the power-on time, otherwise the receiver won’t switch off automatically.
• Reservation Channel: the memory channel to start on (Clear to keep the current one).
• Day of the Week: blank for every day.
• Repeat Setting (OFF): OFF runs the timer once; ON repeats it daily or weekly.

Touch <<Set>> and YES to store it (the LED lights orange). Push TIMER to stop and resume it.

Timer Recording

Start a recording, then turn the receiver off: when the timer turns it on again, recording starts with the preset recording settings. See IC-R8600 Recording & Playback.