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Reviews For: ICOM R-8500

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : ICOM R-8500
Reviews: 24MSRP: 1999.99
Description:
All mode receiver.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomreceivers.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00244.7
AA5CH Rating: 2002-03-14
Expensive but Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Trying to save some money and desk space, I initially purchased a Yaesu VR5000. After five days it completely locked up and I had to "hard reset" the microprocessor, losing all memories. It was plagued with intermod / image rejection problems and was difficult to operate with the multilayered menus. It was returned and I ordered the R-8500.

After five minutes, it was obvious that I had made the correct decision in spending the additional money for the R-8500. If you are familiar with the operation of most modern amateur radio transceivers, you will quickly master the R-8500. The receiver sensitivity appears equivalent to my HF/VHF/UHF transceiver on all frequency bands. I have experienced no image rejection / intermod problems. Some might prefer a digital signal strength meter, but I enjoy the analog meter.

So far the noise blanker does not appear to be very effective. The relays that engage as the receiver scans are mildly annoying. It would be nice if a clock and bandwidth scope were integrated into the display. The display dimmer seems to be "all or nothing." Given the larger picture, these are all minor problems or perceived shortcomings.

The bottom line...the R-8500 is an expensive, but good general coverage receiver.

73,

Brad
AA5CH
NILVDAQ Rating: 2001-10-07
Sounds great, lotsa fun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
While considering nice FM stereo tuners for the hi-fi, such as McIntosh, Tandberg, or Magnum Dynalab, I stumbled upon communications receivers. The R8500 was one of the few to offer a stereo demodulator option, it cost no more than tuners restricted to the FM broadcast band, and it provided incredibly greater "toy appeal". After a couple of years with the R8500 I've become a radio hobbyist. I wholeheartedly recommend it for music listening through any high quality stereo system, but fire, ambulance, and police calls are much more interesting. Need a change of pace? Scan through the shortwave bands for news from around the world or listen to aircraft pilots talk to ground control. The R8500 opens a big window into an otherwise invisible world.

For the nuts and bolts, I use the ICOM discone antenna above 30 MHz and a Dressler active whip below. Both antennas are mounted on the roof and are pretty inconspicuous. Because RFI from home appliances and the serial interface can affect reception, most listening is done just with the R8500 playing through a bookshelf speaker. It took me a while to understand the jargon and what all the knobs and buttons did, but after climbing the learning curve, it's very easy to use. Performance and construction quality are first rate.

For me, the ICOM IC-R8500 was an excellent introduction into the radio hobby and one I'll not soon outgrow.
K3KZ Rating: 2000-07-08
Good all-'round unit Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well made radio with good "feel" to it.

To: N9PHL- In ur review of R-8500, you mention an "outboard sync. unit" from Sherwood Engineering
but they must call it something else.....can you provide further details ??
Sorry to communicate this way but no email found for N9PHL
N9PHL Rating: 2000-07-06
Solid Construction Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my 8500 for about a year and a half. I find its performance to be excellent on VHF and UHF and "okay" on HF. If you desire an "all in one receiver" as I did then you will most likely be happy with it. The physical construction, operating controls and display are professional quality. Very easy to operate - no complicated menu structures & hidden features. Connectivity on the back panel is wonderful including the ability to get discrimator audio out with just a jumper change - a real plus for trunking use - or high speed modem usage of any kind. HF utility performance is not bad but easily out classed by expensive HF radios. If you plan on listening to AM SW stuff you will want to buy the outboard sync. unit from Sherwood Engineering. VHF & UHF airband reception is great which is what I really bought the unit for in the first place. A little pricey but you only live once.