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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
KJ4AGA Rating: 2008-02-16
Gets worse Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm having the same problem a gentleman below is having now. The audio is cutting out. The radio is new and I'm having to take it apart to work on it already. Thanks Icom.
KT4WO Rating: 2008-02-13
Great RX Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I own 6 Icoms...HF-UHF....If you cant follow the manual...Learn to Read....
Programming does not get any easier.
If you think a Yaesu has a better RX...you are
smoking CRACK...cause..Ive have many Yaesu's and NONE have the RX that the Icoms do. Read the FT-857D manual and tell me that the Icom is hard to follow!!!! It does have some short comings..not a big fan of the SQL...overall...great rig with plenty of power.
N7EJC Rating: 2008-01-19
Great Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The V8000 was my very first amateur radio. The first one I installed in my QTH and hooked it up to a Diamond X-50 mounted about 20' above my chimney. I liked the rig so much I bought a second one for my vehicle. The maximum output of 75 watts has come in handy at times when my signals were marginal. I've been very pleased with the performance and would highly recommend this radio. I plan to get a third one for my XYL's vehicle.
W0WSP Rating: 2008-01-18
Great rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I first used this rig fixed, then mobile, and then as my PSE/ARES radio. It has been dropped, soaked with rain, and generally abused. Not a single problem. For PSE/ARES use, the 75 watts can make a big difference. If you want a high power, solid 2 meter radio, this it the one.
KE5DFK Rating: 2008-01-11
Great 1st Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was my first and only radio for 3 years and I could not have made a better selection. Build like a tank; the massive heat sink with the fan does a great job of keeping the radio cool. For me that’s important since I have it sitting on the dashboard of my Jeep Wrangler.

I love the huge numbers on the display and front firing speaker, I have hearing loss so I added a small 2x2 truck stop external speaker that I mounted on the visor, this works great in the noisy Jeep.

I mainly use it for repeater contacts and have hit repeaters at well over 60 miles. On the receive side I can’t complain it does what I want when I want. I use a mag-mounted antenna on the hood.

The mic is jewel to use. Once the radio is on I can run the whole radio from the mic with the exception of volume. I did have the failure to key up when I would hit the PTT, the problem I found was not the solder joints that many have noted. The problem is with the very soft rubber pad that is used to depress the nipple of the switch, the pad develops a pocket after use and will not push the nipple in. I placed a small piece of hard plastic between the nipple and the pad and the problem is solved. I did have the jacket slip out from the RJ connector, replaced the connector problem solved.

What I don’t like about the radio. For starters is the manual and programming system. It was way to many menus that are not in a nested building block system. I built the programming cable and program from the computer.

Did I mention that I love the 75w output? Love it.

If I could I would give it a 4.5 the only negative I have is the mic problem. I think a 4 would be to low so I gave it a 5 but really a 4.5 would be better.

My next 2m will be another V8000.

KE5DFK

KC9IUX Rating: 2008-01-11
Does fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had two or three of these, no regrets.

Front speaker is great for mobile, especialyy with my hearing loss.

Love the mic. RX is great, display color choice is cool, never has warmed up enough to turn on the fan( any of the ones I've had).

It'd get a 5, but I have the same audio problems on one that has been reported a few reviews down. Nothing a gentle slam doesn't correct LOL.
WN4P Rating: 2007-12-26
Didn't Like It At First Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great radio – pitiful manual – not the best rig to program for the real impatient! I bought my rig three years ago, hooked it up and struggled through programming, thought I had no way to quickly reverse a repeater's input/output, was plagued by an annoying break in receive every 5 seconds and didn’t know I had caused it by selecting weather watch. I also had great difficulty programming tones. Because of my impatience I promptly packed it in the box it came in and stored it – I was through with that sucker!

Just this week I had a conversation with a fellow ham who also had an 8000 and he just loved it. Well I got mine back on the table and began to slowly go through the motions to put it back in service. I ran across a great web site that simplified programming frequencies into memory using the mic and would like to share it with others who may need help.

http://www.hamuniverse.com/icomv8000prog.html

If anyone has heard of another helpful source I would appreciate an email. Maybe the manual has been reprinted or exists on the Internet?? Referring just to the radio and discounting my impatience I gave the rig a 4 out of a possible 5 because as I see it, a 5 represents perfection. Knowing what I know now I would recommend it to others.
N0AH Rating: 2007-12-22
Not the USA version Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Gee, after a lengthy mobile install of my one year old IC-V8000, I'm only getting 35W max out on VHF, ie: the Taiwan model..........wrong unit in a USA box.

Always nice to have an Icom manual telling you why they are so stupid when you read ranges of outputs on various IC-V8000 models. 75watts is what I was suppose to be getting.......

But I'm sure I am the first person who this has ever happened to-

This company is quickly going into the garbage catagory of MFJ with my experiences with the 756, my Pro 756, and my 756 Pro III problems. Now this-
I will never ever again buy anything with Icom's name on it.

When their equipment works, I think it is the best in the world....problem is their QC is on par with MFJ.

VE6AAO Rating: 2007-12-22
Good first impression Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As I live in a town in a deep valley, getting into the local repeater which is a few mile back from the top, 75 watts turned out to be what was needed. This radio's features seem user friendly in comparison to a few others. Icom seems to have a better customer service record than some others. First impression is that this is a well designed and solidly built radio, have to comment again after using more.
KC0NVS Rating: 2007-11-22
Not Real Happy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my V-8000 in Nov of 2002. It has worked pretty good until this past year or two.

I like others, was having some problems with the mike in that the PTT would cut out on me during transmit. I cleaned the connector contacts about 3 different times & than finally replaced the cord & the problem seems to be resolved.

Then I started having problems with the "audio" cutting out on me. I checked the antenna connections & traced down what I thought was the problem in volume control "pot" being loose. I changed that out but the problem is still occuring. My next thought was that it might be a problem with the Squelch "pot" because it seemed as loose as the volume control. I have the part but haven't changed it out as yet. BTW, who at Icom had the great idea (sic) of attaching these "pots" to the "board" with nothing more than a glob of solder for support ???

The next issue was the radio's "display". Last year I turned on the rig & the "first charecter" of the display had "disappeared", 147.000 was now 47.000. I tried checking/reheating the solder points on the board but that wasn't the problem. I called Icom & they want $42.00 to look at it. That's fine but, I've also been advised the cost to fix may be a lot more than the radio's worth. If I choose not to spend the higher amount for repair, I'm still out $42.00.

The good side of this rig is the front firing speaker & high power. If I can hear a station or repeater, I can usually work it.
BTW, This rig has been well taken care of & has not been beat. Wish this eval could have been better. Tom