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You can
write your own review of the ICOM R-8500.
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MACKAY3031
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 25, 2009 20:37
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Outstanding
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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A fantastic receiver.It is excellent on HF, contrary to some claims.It does lack a few features like notch but do not let that deter you.The APF(audio peak filter)Is wonderful for cw and voice audio recovery.VHF and above is excellent as well.The HF sensitivity is amazing, so small antennas work without an outboard preamp.A WHOLE LOT of capability in a small space, and build quality is excellent.Worth every penny.I favor it over my R8A for weak utility work on HF.A lot.I use mine with sennheiser phones, which really highlight the excellent audio.
In my opinion, a highly underrated radio.I will never get rid of mine, which I purchased new.I also have the video/stereo demodulator unit for it, as well as the 500hz cw filter.
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73383
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 23, 2007 21:18
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Great Receiver
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The R-8500 is a great receiver and worth the relatively high price. I've used it primarily to scan Aviation VHF (118-137 MHz) and UHF (225-400 MHz) bands. I have it connected to a Diamond D130NJ discone antenna. I haven't used the receiver that much at HF.
The setup and programming takes a little getting used to but it has great versatility. I like the scan stop and resume flexibility in this receiver and wish the R75 had it.
I use Ham Radio Deluxe and Icom's RS-8500 software with this receiver. The RS-8500 software has some basic flaws and does not provide full control of the receiver. HRD can be customized.
The R-8500 puts out some heat while running and I had to install a small fan in the cabinet to keep it cool. Icom doesn't recommend installing the radio in a sealed cabinet for this reason.
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KD8BNB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 11, 2007 21:45
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Nice receiver
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I Found a nice used unit at AES and combined it with an AOR SDU5600 spectrum scope and it works out very well. Audio is respectable and so far is a pleasure to operate. It was refreshing that it already had the vhf band capability and no converter was needed like in my kenwood r-5000 or the Drake r8b.
I would have liked to have bought the new Icom IC-R9500 but the price on that model was far beyond my reach. I think this combination is a cheap alternative if you want a spectrum scope without having to break the bank.
-73!
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KD0ZV
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 8, 2007 18:12
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Great for wideband
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was looking for a wideband receiver for VHF and UHF and bought a Yausu Vr-5000. It was basically a scanner and worked OK as ling as you did not take it off FM. It was easily overloaded from other transceivers in my shack. The manual sucked too. So I sold it and bought the Icom.
The Icom is 100x the receiver and actually does a great job on HF too. It has IF shift and a BFO adjustment that allows you fine tune things. The manual is well written and the rig is easy to operate.
So if you are looking for an "all in one" receiver, this is it. Unless you want to spend 4-5K.
This is a keeper.
73,
Rich
kdozv
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KB3LAN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2006 17:00
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Great receiver
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Picked it up used off qrz for a great price, I figured I could sell it and make a buck if I didn't like it. Hooked it up next to my R75. Long story short, sold the R75.
Mike KB3LAN
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IW3FZQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2005 13:17
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Simply the best
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have purchased it two years ago as used. It is an optimum receiver. I have make comparison with IC-R7000 and IC-R7100 and my IC-R8500 is the winner! Behaviour on 0/30 MHz is not poor like I believed before test. Over 30 MHz it is perfect, no birdies, no frequency image. Selectivity and sensitivity is the same than dedicated transceivers (like TR751, FT290, etcetera).
Good points: high sensitivity, good selectivity on SSB/CW and narrow FM, no birdies, no overload suffering, three antenna connectors on the back, very simple to use, good IF shift, very low frequency image level.
Bad points: poor selectivity on wide FM (230 kHz, not suitable for FM and TV DX), no miracolous noise blanker, no VFO but memories as VFO, low deflection of the S-meter.
After opportune comparison also with IC-R9000, the IC-R8500 is almost similar but with very lower price. Overall, this is a great receiver and it will be for me for many years!
Enrico, IW3FZQ.
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VK1ZIP
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 30, 2004 21:50
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Could have been better
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The IC-R8500 cosmetically is a very attractive receiver. I really like its looks and its ergonomics. Technically it could have been better. IMD/BDR is not so great but it is acceptable, not a problem if you live out of town. Sensitivity is excellent and selectivity very good overall. Lack of track tuning of the BPF's on VHF is an oversight that cannot be excused. FM Dxers forget the R8500, it will not compare to a quality dedicated FM receiver like the Onyko T9090. As an general listening receiver for HF/VHF/UHF the 8500 is a great receiver. BUT if your a serious VHF/UHF dxer then for the same price you can purchase a second hand IC-R9000. The IC-R9000 is a far superior receiver in every respect. I still like the IC-R8500 but it needs modification on several fronts to bring it up to the performance level that I expected from such an expensive receiver.
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KI3P
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 24, 2004 17:20
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Is It Really an Icom?
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the Icom R-8500 and a Drake R8B. I bought the Icom with the intention of replacing the Drake, since it has extended VHF/UHF capability, while the Drake is confined to low and high band VHF only.
This is a weird Icom radio - not in the tradition of other Icom products through the years. Looking at the construction and circuitry, it does not even closely resemble Icom manufacturing. My feeling is that this receiver was built by a another company for Icom.
The radio has good sensitivity, and fair selectivity. Missing from a receiver of this caliber (and price) are bandwidth/notch/DSP/filters and other tuning niceties. This receiver does not have a VFO! That's right - NO VFO! It only has tunable memories. If you change memory banks, the radio always returns to the preset frequency. There is no way to return to the previous frequency used in the "VFO".
For example, if you are listening to 75 meters, and want to jump to your weather channel memory bank, when you return to the "VFO", it defaults to the preset frequency - you lose your previous frequency. The exception to this, which I find very odd, is that when you turn on the radio, it returns to the exact memory bank and frequency it was on when turned off last.
If you want to return to a particular frequency (and settings), you must either memorize it, write it down, or use the M-SET button (temporary memory), and reset the frequency when you return to that band (bank). I find this ridiculous.
The R-8500 also has a terrible display lighting system. As mentioned here by another reviewer - "..it's either too dim or too bright.". When you view the radio on a slight angle, the back-lighting bulb glares in your face through the side of the S-Meter. Really cheesy.
The Drake is superior in all of the above respects, except it too has it's idiosynchrosies. From the stand point of quality, the 8500 appears to be right up there with the rest in this class. As for receiving quality, this radio is comparable, but missing many 'pro' level receiver controls. As for ergomonics and usage, it is very clunky to use and not the best for display of information.
So now I look at both of these receivers and think that if I had another $5000 or so to burn, I could try the R-9000L. Otherwise I will keep one or the other. Try one before you buy one!
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N2DY
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 8, 2003 08:52
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Excellent DC to Daylight Receiver
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my R8500 for about 5 years now. I love it! It's real strength is a sensitive bullet-proof receiver, particularly on VHF and above.
On HF it is as good as most but, as one reviewer pointed out, it lacks some fairly basic controls such as a notch filter and pass band tuning to name a few. That being said, it is as sensitive as most of my HF transceivers on the amateur bands and is much better than the amateur rigs down below 160 meters. I like to listen for AM broadcast and longwave DX. It works well for that although my Drake R-8B is even better.
On VHF and above, no other receiver seems to come close in terms of consistent excellent sensitivity and high immunity to intermod over such a broad range of frequencies. I own or have used many of the wideband scanners out there such as the Uniden 785D and they just do not compare. On the other hand, the R-8500 scanning capabilities are primitive compared to the Uniden.
Physically the radio has extremely high build quality. It is solid as a rock.
So if you want an extremely high quality wideband receiver that goes just about everywhere you want and are not concerned about bells and whistles, then this is the radio for you. Also, if you live in a high intermod area and your scanner is failing you, the R-8500 might solve your problem.
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N2PQQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 7, 2003 23:39
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THE SECOND TIME AROUND
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I really enjoy this radio. I had one once before back in 1996. I just bought one again. This time it will stay here. Radio is simple to use and easy to lisen to. This is not a scanner but a receiver. It may not be fancy by todays standards but it will receive with the best of them. You really cannot go wrong buying this radio.
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