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Reviews For: Icom IC-V8000

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Icom IC-V8000
Reviews: 185MSRP: 249.00
Description:
2 meter mobile radio
75 Watts output power
RX: 136 - 174 MHz
Wide/narrow operation
Front firing speaker
Cooling fan
Dual color display
Auto repeater offset
CTCSS Encode
CTCSS Decode
CTCSS Tone scan
DCS Encode
DCS Decode
DCS Code scan
DTMF Encode
DTMF Decode (optional)
DTMF Code squelch
Dynamic Memory Scan
Weather channels
Weather alert
Weather scan
207 Memory channels (3 scan edges)
Call channel
6 Character alphanumeric display
PC programmable
Radio - radio cloning
Programmable keys
RF Attenuator
Channelized operation
Alpha only operation
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/2mmobile/index.html#v8000
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001854.4
AD4BG1944 Rating: 2004-03-06
Super Radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this radio for about 6 months, I have had no problems with this radio, I will be buying another soon
PE1RLN Rating: 2004-02-14
Superb! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the only rig I'll never sell! It stays right where it belongs: in my shack.
The reception quality is better then any other rig with same price. Take that next to the great power and you will be able to work any repeater in the wide area.

The mike is great. I don't use it in the car, but if I did, it would be very useful when using every function by mike.

Let's look at the proposed disadvantages:

1. Reverse missing: push 1 on the mike...
2. Fan noise: what would you expect after an hour 75W power blowing from the antenna? Great that it kicks in when getting too hot. Great that you can select different types of fan-reaction.
3. Difficult programming: buy or build a cable and download the software from the yahoo-group! That is the best you can have!
4. Power button bad: great position. No power off by mistake. Just 2 seconds push and it is off!
5. Tilt stand: which mobile rig has?
6. Squelch on mike useless: great when receiving noise form computer or whatsoever for short time!

I can continue with various points but a fact is that this cheap radio does what expensive radios don't: everything!
K9CHP Rating: 2004-02-13
Highly recommended Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got it out of the box and was on the air almost immediately. I hate programming a radio by keyboard but this one was quite intuitive so it was relatively painless. I had to look up a couple of spots in the manual but the instructions were clear enough. I've had my ticket for just a few months now, so that speaks for the ease of use of this rig. Connected to a J-pole, I can hit a repeater 62 miles away from home and sound very clear on the other end, at 5W. I'm using this rig both as a base and a mobile. I like it and strongly recommend it!
KB5AS Rating: 2004-02-01
All great, except.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased an Icom IC-V8000 2 meter rig. Great radio. Small package, & 75 watts output. My problem is that when programming frequencies into memory, the radio seems to follow a "band plan" for the transmit offset.
From the Instruction manual:
Frequency Range: Duplex Range
145.200 - 145.495 " - " appears
146.610 - 146.695 same

147.000 - 147.395 " + " appears

When I try to use a repeater such as 147.975, with a " - " offset, there is no way to tell the rig I want to use "-" offset. It recognizes that frequency as a simplex frequency. It defaults to simplex per the internal programmed "band plan". How do I set the rig for a -600 transmit offset? I think I've thoroughly examined the Instruction manual, but can't find it.

If it's in the book, or if you know of a way to do this, please let me know.
Thanks,
Milt, W6QE@scdxc.org
K1VV Rating: 2004-01-29
Great Radio, Lousy Manual Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
We recently bought the IC-V8000. We have two other VHF/VHF radios, Yaesu VX-1R and FT-1500. We also have an IC-706 MKIIG. The reason we bought the IC-V8000 was for the higher power, small size and front speaker. The only negative we have is about the manual. It is the poorest we have ever seen. It took us several hours by trial and error to figure out how to set the TONE and TONE SQUELCH. One reason is that you can only have the TONE symbol or the TONE SQUELCH symbols show in the display at one time. So you cannot tell if both functions are set in the radio even if they are. With the IC-706 you KNOW when both functions are because both symbols show in the display. We sent an email to the ICOM America web page HELP address asking for help, we received broken English reply which was as difficult to decipher as the manual ..HI .... Ths is a good radio, worth the money, the manual is the only problem. ICOM should post an addendum to the manual to clarify the settings on their web page for all the new owers of the IC-V8000.
KK7MK Rating: 2004-01-18
GREAT 2 METER RIG Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these radio and both work great. I am using one for my echolink for almost 2 years now and no problem, and the other one on mobile.
KB1INK Rating: 2004-01-16
so far so good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This radio has been used in my car under direct sulight on 90+degree days at full power. Radio would burn eggs on it, and it never quit. I own 2, one mobile one in shack, both have given me reliable results @ full power for long periods. I live in the woods so can't comment on intermod. Great radio for the money.
KA7JEX Rating: 2004-01-15
Don't miss this rig! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Would you believe - 4 IC-V8000 units - one each in my cars, one for the shack, and one for the test bench.

This is one of the finest rigs that ICOM has ever produced. I am also running a pair of IC-V8 handhelds, as well as a pair of IC-F620 UHF units and a IC-F4GS handheld.

The ham side of the business has finally caught up with the commercial side. These units are ruggedly built, and with the ease of computer programming - well, when I travel, the laptop comes with me...

I speak from the experience of one who used to work on an Ericsson trunked radio system - these ICOM radios scream! For one who began in ham radio with the first synthesized radios, I am truly impressed.

Duane KA7JEX
KD5ZWF Rating: 2004-01-13
Had to buy two! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great 2m rig with front firing speaker and power! Originally bought this rig for my truck which had a tape deck that I never use so I measured the dimensions and found that the V8000 would fit nicely in it. I didnt want to ad an external speaker and since the V8000 had a front firing speaker it was my only choice. The 2m looks like a factory installed radio in the dash. After playing with my new 2m for a month, I went and bought another just because of the features and performance and use it as my base. I would recommend this rig to anyone. The fan is really not that loud like some have said. I have seen other posts where a 2m doesnt have a fan and they wish it did because of the heat build up. Outstanding radio.
W5ZZQ Rating: 2004-01-08
Love it! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Great rig. Has everything that I want in a 2 meter only radio. Everything works as it should. Even runs cool on high power. Fan is quiet also. Highly recommend it to anyone wanting a good - well built 2meter mobile. Larry..

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W5ZZQ on 2003-09-17

One of the best 2meter rigs I have had. Built like a tank! Gets a little warm on high power - but that's normal - whatever normal is! All in all it's a very good radio for the $$. No problems so far. Recommend this radio. Thanks! Larry..