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
K5CLC Rating: 2007-09-25
excellent 2meter radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Purchased for the extra power on long trips out of town, and the hot receiver and 75w output have not let me down. On a long highway trip I was keying up/talking into repeaters mobile 60-100 miles away. I've been able to reproduce those results several times just to make sure that good band conditions were not the sole reason for the radio's performance. Excellent audio reports as well. It's a keeper.
W2ZXN Rating: 2007-09-24
ICV8000 review Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The ICOM V8000 has already become a permanent staple in my shack! The 75W output has certainly been useful since I live in an area that requires a lot of juice to get out of the 'valley' if you will. I live in Central/East New York State and can get into repeaters in the Western district with no problems and excellant signal reports! The multiple frivilous features of the V8000 are a plus in my book, but the difficulty of such simple tasks as changing a CTCSS (for receive/decode only) make this rig good for more technologically advanced and patient hams! However, if I had to do this all over again, I would purchase this rig again! However, this rig will be pampered and I will not run it mobile even though it's certainly road-worthy with it's built-in fan off of a very effective heat-sink. 73 to all!
W4KVW Rating: 2007-09-23
"SWEET" & POWERFUL Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am VERY happy with my V-8000 as with ALL of my ICOM's.It has GREAT ears & of course that BIG 75 watts of output power.If if ever fails I'll replace it with another V-8000 no doubt about it unless ICOM can top this GREAT mono bander for my 2 meter FM usage!Thanks ICOM for ANOTHER great rig! {:>)

W4KVW
KB3JNP Rating: 2007-08-16
POWER AMP FAILURE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned the V8000 for 3 years, but yesterday the finals went out.

not sure if it is a bad soldering job or excess heat, but one side of the power transistor melted the solder and the termial appeared to be fried.

I had been told by another operator that this happens so I cleaned the terminal and resoldered and the unit is now working again.

I know of at least three other units that have experienced this issue.

I still like the unit and find it easy to use and program, although it seems that others do not seem to think it is.

I would recommend the unit to anyone that wants a good solid 2 meter fm radio.

I do think that ICOM should take a look at this issue the same way they did the issue with the IC 746pro xmit problem.

73
KB3JNP
KC2OZK Rating: 2007-07-29
great mobil Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Like many have said in the previous reviews, the programming of this can be a pain. That being said, most of the newer multifunction programmable units all have complex programming systems. Maybe someday there will be a programming standard that will make them all the same. I can just wish! Anyways, it is a rugged, powerful unit, and I have not had any problem working way out on the various repeaters I use, both in getting a signal in, and also in hearing what is said. The area I live in is fairly mountainous and the high power output is an advantage for me. 73's
KB3PKI Rating: 2007-07-12
awesome Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The IC V8000 is built like a tank. It has a very well built chassis and a front firing speaker for easy installation. It will fit almost anywhere in your car. It is very difficult to program and the manual is hard to follow, but that does not affect the rating that I have given it. Once you are able to operate it you can realize its full potential. It is a powerful transciever in a compact package. Very impressive!
K4XZ Rating: 2007-05-06
Heavy Duty Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used my ICV-8000 for over 3 years mobile in the truck.Hot temperature, Spilled coffee,Kids feet on the top and still just keeps working like it should. It takes some time to program.I recomend you set it up on the bench,program it, then install into the vehicle.75 watts is great.With a good antenna it does great.The one thing I just don't get is the method used for WX monitor.This rig switches to the selected WX channel every 5 seconds to check for an alert.One of the reasons I purchased this rig.It's OK if you not in QSO but when in use It can really be annoying trying to copy with a skip in audio every 5 seconds.A minor gripe.My Kenwood TM-271 works all the time and when there is an alert it gives a tone alarm and switches to the WX Freq.I'd still buy another one.Great price, great performance.Hey Icom Take a hint from Kenwood and change the WX alert and this rig is perfect!

73 Joe K4XZ
VK2XDZ Rating: 2007-05-06
got it how I want it...finaly Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought my ic v8000 about a month ago.
It has 2 menus,1 for programming normal things and another "initial set mode" menu for "seldom changed settings".
The manual is all over the shop,I found it hard to follow.
But I have finally got it programed right,and I am very pleased with it.
The front firing speaker, 75 Watts output are great and have been told the tx audio is excellent.
Nearly rated it a 4,but I am used to Yaesu radios and that may have been my problem in regard to driving the Icom,so it gets a 5.
73
Pete vk2xdz
N3DG3 Rating: 2007-05-04
Rugged, Top Quality, Affordable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned a V-8000 for over a year and have recommended them to several hams, newly licensed and old timers.

The V-8000 delivers excellent high power output in a small, rugged package. The 70 watts sets the bar versus the lower competition and eliminates the need for an amplifier in most cases. The audio quality on receive with the nice speaker, is excellent; as is the transmit audio quality from reports I have heard and other V-8000s on the air. The audio is crisp, clear and pleasant to listen to.

The packaging for the V-8000 is very rugged and compact, to be non-obtrusive in even a compact car. The remote microphone is high quality, user-friendly, ergonomical and conveniently featured.

Colleagues who use the V-8000 in urban, congested RF areas, find the intermod rejection and selectivity, to be superior.

The overall value of the Icom V-8000 is excellent as a primary or secondary 2 meter FM transceiver, at home or on the road. Right now at its price point, it appears unbeatable.
KD7CJO Rating: 2007-04-23
good rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hey All, I can`t say enuf good things about this rig! Low power is hot(by several watts) but thats ok by me. The only problems I`ve had are a flaky squwl. and it forgot the localy used PL tones once for no reason. I like the front speaker and it has plenty of audio power. What I don`t like(this is why I gave it a 4) is that it is somewhat of a challenge to program. I`ve not run it mobial as yet, but I do think that this could be an issue if run as such.(don`t reprogram while driving) Its used as a base rig right now and runs 24/7/365. It dose get warm in use(tx) and dose have a noisey fan, but these are things that I can live with. I don`t like the man. however as things are scattered through out, making it hard to fallow at times. It is my 3rd. 2 meter rig(other 2 being rad shaft 242 and 200, nether being all that great) and second icom.(the other being the r-75, also an excellent unit overall) I would recommend the v-8000(and r-75) and will buy another as needed. Overall a great rig. Now I just have to get used to the programming proceadure and strange manual writing. 73 from dn51