IC-R8600 Overview, Features & Accessories

Summary: A tour of the Icom IC-R8600 wideband desktop communications receiver: how it works, what it covers and decodes, what’s in the box and how this section is organised.

What the IC-R8600 Is

The IC-R8600 is a desktop software defined radio (SDR) receiver covering 10 kHz to 3 GHz (0.010000-3000 MHz; some ranges aren’t guaranteed). Instead of separate demodulator circuits for each mode, the received signal’s IF is converted to a digital signal, processed by a high-speed FPGA and DSP, and restored as audio. It has a 4.3-inch colour touch screen with a real-time spectrum scope and waterfall, multi-function dials, an SD card slot, and connectors for USB, LAN, I/Q output, IF output, a 10 MHz reference and more.

This section is based on Icom’s IC-R8600 instruction manual.

Receive Modes

SSB (USB/LSB), CW (and CW-R), FSK/RTTY (and FSK-R), AM (including synchronous AM), FM, WFM, and the digital modes D-STAR, APCO P25 (Phase 1), NXDN (NXDN-vn and NXDN-n), dPMR and DCR (Digital Convenience Radio).

Main Features

• 10 kHz to 3 GHz wideband reception, with three antenna connectors (ANT1 N-type to 3 GHz; ANT2 SO-239 and ANT3 RCA for 10 kHz-30 MHz).
• Real-Time Spectrum Scope with waterfall, peak search and touch tuning.
• Digital Twin PBT, three digital IF filters per mode, auto and manual notch, noise blanker, noise reduction, AGC presets, preamp, attenuator and the IP Plus function.
• FSK (RTTY) decoder with logging to the SD card.
• 2,000 memory channels in 100 groups, plus 200 Auto Memory Write channels, 100 scan skip channels and 50 pairs of program scan edges.
• Many scan types: programmed, fine programmed, delta-F, fine delta-F, Auto Memory Write, memory, select memory, mode select memory, priority and tone scans.
• Voice recorder to the SD card with a player and a timer (sleep and 3 daily timer slots).
• 12 kHz IF output (for DRM broadcast decoding with PC software), I/Q baseband output over USB, and demodulated AF/IF output over USB, LAN and the AF/IF jack.
• LAN port for NTP time sync, audio/IF output and remote control with the optional RS-R8600; CS-R8600 cloning software for programming.
• CI-V remote control over USB or the [REMOTE] jack.
• Speech function that announces frequency, mode and S-meter level.

Supplied Accessories

Different accessories may be supplied depending on the version: DC power cable (3 m), spare fuses (3 A/58 V and 3 A/125 V), speaker plugs (2-conductor 3.5 mm), RCA plugs, and a DC power short connector (for use with the optional SP-39AD or AD-55NS).

Versions

The manual covers USA, France and other versions. UK receivers are normally in the “other” group: 0.010000-3000.000000 MHz. The USA version leaves out cellular ranges (822-851 and 867-896 MHz), and the French version is limited to amateur bands. The instructions also mention “European versions” (the amateur-band sensitivity specification).

Squawker

Squawker PC’s Connect supports the IC-R8600, and Squawker Online has an IC-R8600 export for Icom’s CS-R8600 software. Squawker PC’s Scanner Programmer doesn’t program the IC-R8600. See IC-R8600 Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online.