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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
KI4EYM Rating: 2006-04-24
Outstanding Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I now own two of these beauties. I have had my first one approximately two years. I recently took part in the "Old Howard Bike Ride" as a mobile riding the lengthy route for bike riders thru the Black Belt of Alabama. The closest tower was the Tuscaloosa tall tower which, on 2 meter, was difficult to reach without good equipment. My V8000 used with a 5/8 wave mag mount on top of my truck outperformed all the other units. That extra 25 watts and the engineering of this rugged radio came thru when needed. I now have one as a base station and love it! By the way, my new Vanity Call Sign is N4FOP.
KM5TC Rating: 2006-03-21
Very Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got mine in Sept 03 and put it in the mini-van
at that time and just recently for the first time
took it out and set it up in the house to run
it with my sec 1223 power supply through a
Tram 1480 dual band antenna.

This is a solid, fully featured 2 mtr radio. I have had absolutely no problems with this rig.
I like the variable power and on occasion 75watts
comes in handy, the tone scan, and the front
speaker are all good features. This radio is a
must consideration for anyone contemplating on
buying a 2mtr radio for mobile or base use.
73's
KC4GMY Rating: 2006-03-20
Best 2 Meter Rig Available Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The radio is easy to program and use and the HM-133 microphone makes remote operation a breeze. I have owned two of them and never had a problem with either. The only reason I sold them was to get a dual-bander.
KD4GQG Rating: 2006-01-11
Best 2 meter rig out there Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my 1st V8000 over 3 Years ago. Was so pleased with it that I bought a 2nd one for the shack one year ago. My Radio crap htx252 just bit the dust. So I am getting ready to purchase another 2 meter radio and there is no question as to what I will get. Another V8000!
This radio has been bullet proof for me. I use the oldest one in mobile service out in the boonies of central Minnesota. So most of the time I am running at the high power setting as the closest repeater is 45 miles away. No problems at all and still keeps on talking.
Better than a Times watch.
My only complaint is that you cannot remote mount the faceplate from the radio. Other than that there is no 2 meter only radio that even comes close.
former_AA4Y Rating: 2006-01-07
Very Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great radio. I bought it over 2 Years ago. It has worked very good. Only problem for me was the programming. It is a little hard to understand by the instruction manual on programming scan edges. Outside of that it is great.
KC9IOP Rating: 2005-12-29
Excellent First Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While studying for my tech lisence, I purhased this transiver, used, from a good source who had it mounted in a vehicle for about a year. I hooked it up to a mjf power supply and it has been on constantly almost 24/7 since Oct, 05,so I could listen in to the 14 repeaters in the area. On Dec.16,05, I recieved my ticket and can now transmit as well as recieve. Even on the lowest power, through a inexspensive jetstream anntenna mounted on my roof I can consitantly hit all the towers within 50 miles with ease. On high power, 75 watts, I was able to use the Anglola, IN repeater approx 90 miles east of me. Being new, I find it somewhat difficult to program, but since I only have a FT60 which is very difficult to program I suppose it could be worse.
73's KC9IOP
KI4CH Rating: 2005-12-01
Very Good Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is the best 2 meter Radio. I am very impressed with it.
N3PAQ Rating: 2005-10-18
I Reccomend It Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The Icom IC-V8000 is a pretty good two meter mobile transceiver. Since I do a lot of two meter simplex, I thought the seventy-five watt high power couldn't hurt. It also has a sensitive receiver, of course, I listen with the squelch off a lot, but listening to the weak FM signals in the noise is my hobby within the hobby. I also liked the front mounted speaker for my mobile installation; my small car doesn't have much room for even this small radio, much less an external speaker.

There are two main problems with this radio.

1. The receiver just can't reject strong out of band signals. Even with the squelch up, I hear public safety and pager digital signals from over 150 MHz.

I now use a two meter band pass filter, while there is a little loss on 2m, it is better than having a weak signal otherwise covered up by pager tones. I would recommend to anyone purchasing a V8000; get a band pass filter to go with it.

2. Holding a conversation on high power makes the radio very hot. While mine has not failed, I've spoken to others on the air whose IC-V8000's have failed after long uses at high power.

When I'm running high power, I keep my transmissions at under a minute while the radio still heats up, I've been using it like this for a while without failure. Although, I can typically get the job done with 25 watts.

Even though there are things I don't like about the Icom IC-V8000, it is still a radio that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a good two meter mobile transceiver. As long as they understand and can mitigate or live with the problems I note above, it is a good choice. It gets a three from me, I guess I have higher standards than most, but I took one point off for each of my issues above.
W6ALE Rating: 2005-10-11
Good Radio but.. Time Owned: N.A.
I have had the radio for 3 months. Works great no problems with the radio. However the mic is another story. Right out of the box it didn't work, sent it back got another and that lasted a week. What I did find was if you touch the 2 poles on the microswitch it works again. Go figure! It is a super radio and nice to have that extra wattage when needed. The front loaded speaker is the big plus no need to position the radio just to hear the speaker. Good Radio. I like it a lot.
N1WBD Rating: 2005-08-17
Keeps breaking down... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well folks I've had it with the V8000, for the second time in about 2 yrs this rig of mine has died same trouble as the first time very low power output even though the smeter says it's running at full but its only drawing about 4 amps if that!! The first time it was repaired under warranty. This second time the failure came while running in my base eviroment. I only run the rig at 25 watts to feed my 160W 2 meter brick. As far as I'm concern the V8000 makes a worthy doorstop and thats it! Definately not worth to me to send it back for repair. I bought a Kenwood TM271A Its a shame too The rig is in excellant cond. The have been quite a few disgruntled V8000 owners in my area. What has happened with the ICOM reliabilty lately??

WOW I feel so much better now after venting.