Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

Reviews For: Icom IC-V8000

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
KG6QPS Rating: 2003-09-25
Bad power button Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After buying several used rigs on ebay and having found problems with most of them from not working to not being as described and to the seller not sending everything that was supposed to go with the radio, I decided to get another 2 meter radio. I made the decision this time to get a new one. I purchased an ICOM IC-V8000 from AES. They shipped it promptly. No sooner than I had it set up I found out the power button was totally messed up. I could barely get it to turn on and I could not get it to turn off until I used a small blunt object that allowed me to push it in far enough to turn it off. It is not due to having large fingers, it is just a faulty button. Am I just unlucky or has anyone else had this problem? Most of the reviews on this radio have been very positive and I purchased it because of that and ICOM's reputation, but now I am wondering about their quality control. The buttons are all much smaller than I would like, but that is not the reason for the problem. The button just will not turn the radio on and off like it should. I don't understand how these radio's can get out of the factory with such obvious problems. I have shipped the radio back today and AES says they will replace it but I am looking at least another week or more before I get a radio back. I also sent an e-mail to ICOM and I have not received any reply. So now I am not only out the original shipping cost but almost $13.00 to ship it back to AES when the problem is due to a defective radio and not something I did wrong. So far I have no complaints with AES other than the shipping cost to return the radio, just ICOM and their defective radio.

Bob
W4JHD Rating: 2003-09-22
Outstanding! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I put up an 11-element beam at the same time I started using this radio. 75 watts (probably 65-70 with loss) will get me repeaters 75 miles distant consistantly. The fan noise is no problem regardless of what other reviews say. The front firing speaker is excellent and I'm having no problem with the mike. Signal reports are consistantly high, even when running simplex to stations that don't even register on the meter.

This is simply an outstanding radio.
AK9S Rating: 2003-09-14
Alternator Whine and V8000 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Just a tip...

Installed my V8000 in a late model Ford truck. Reports of alternator whine in my transmissions. Added Radio Shack 20A Noise Filter to (+) wire of radio. Fixed the problem.

Great radio!
CASPER669 Rating: 2003-09-01
What Hasn't Been Said? Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This was my first retail purchased radio after getting my tech license. I've had it for about 11 months. Every time there is an ARES event, the only items I grab are my HT with 4 rechargeables, my 7.0 ah gel cell, my IC-V8000 and my high-gain 2 meter mobile whip. I don't work an event without dragging the V8000 with me. This rig is rugged enough for almost anything! Scanning the frequencies is wonderfully swift, and although she can put out plenty of power, I never really have to put out more than mid power.

If you are looking for a basic 2 meter mobile (or even base) rig that's rugged, light weight, easy to use and an all-around great rig, consider the V8000. You really can't go wrong with it!

CHris KC2KFW
KG4WMG Rating: 2003-07-24
Still a 5 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Still working great. Fixed the Mic Gain Problem by speaking into the hole on the mic at a 45 degree angle. Love the high scan speed and sensitive reciever. Starting to have intermod problems though...
W2ZIG Rating: 2003-06-01
Super Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.

I bought this rig when it first came out here is my summary on it.
WX ALERT is great:
Great receive, stays cool, awesome rx audio, great displays,lots of power,built very sound.I think yaesu likes it too with there clone the ft-2800 which also has good reviews so far.
K7NA Rating: 2003-05-23
Very Impressive Performance!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this rig on sale at AES for an incredible price: $159.95! It must be the result of deflation in Japan that such a new and high powered rig could sell for such a price. Unbelieveable!! Regardless, I bought the rig and a new Diamond F23A triple 5/8 wave colinear vertical and together they do a superb job here in Southern Calif. My audio reports are excellent and the receiver sensitivity is excellent. I do not sufer from intermod. For the price, I can not say enough good things about the V8000. Great performance at an unbeatable price!!! 73

K7NA
KI4AJA Rating: 2003-05-19
Love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought it new a week ago at a hamfest, and I love how easy it is to use. Hooked it in the car to a Radio Shack 5/8 wave 2M antenna, and it's clear as a bell. I'm afraid to run it 75W because I don't what the antenna will handle. However, 25W reaches all the local repeaters just fine. Fan works well; I can barely feel the heat. Very happy so far.
WR2W Rating: 2003-05-18
Very Nice Rig...Just A Quick Mic Fix Needed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I like the performance of this radio so far, and it compliments my IC-718 HF rig very nicely. The reciever is very sensitive, and the receive audio is super from the front mounted speaker. I live in the center of town, and have not noticed too much intermod but I have nothing but the ocean to the east of me. I'm not fond of a "busy" handheld microphone because one hit of the wrong button can put you in all the wrong places. My rig was one that had low tx audio, and from past experiences I decided to check the microphone first. I found the keypad mounted element hole was not aligned to the opening on the element, and the microphone casing hole was not lined up to the keypad hole. I used a tiny drill bit by hand to widen the keypad hole, and a jeweler's screw driver to widen the microphone case hole. Does Not look like it was fixed by hand, and now my tx audio reports are good. The cooling fan runs for no less than 2 minutes whenever I key up so I would say the casing must get pretty hot if I were to use high power. I run only medium power for distant repeaters, and low power for local repeaters. I wish Icom would make a Base sized All Mode 2 meter rig like this!
KC9DYN Rating: 2003-05-17
hmmmm??? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased the 8000 from AES, i hooked it up and i was talking on 25 watts when i smelled something getting pretty warm, well it was my radio, i put my hand on the heatsink and it was hot!, the fan was not running, i took the fan cover off and turned it with my finger and it started to run real slow, so i pushed the blade a little bit and i felt it pop on to the shaft, the blade was not on the shaft all the way and would not work, well i turned the radio back on and it ran full speed until it cooled down to normal temperature, so i tested it on manual, so far so good, i put it back on auto and now it works great, it scared the heck out of me, a brand new radio with a malfunctioning fan, i got back on the radio and the operator i was talking to said it sounded good to him, so hopefully there is no damage to the finals, should i call AES and inform them of what happened? any opinions are welcome.


73's....kc9dyn