IC-R8600 Wideband Receiver

Software defined receiver

Receiver performance
The R8600 has 11 discrete RF bandpass filters in the HF bands and 13 bandpass filters in the VHF/UHF bands. To prevent overflow, only the intended signal is passed, while it rejects any out of range strong interference signals. The R8600 provides +30dBm IP3 and 105 dB dynamic range at 14.1MHz. IP3 performance is +10dBm at 144 MHz and 0dBm at 440MHz.

Software demodulation in FPGA processing
The R8600 utilizes FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and DSP units for demodulation, decoding and most signal processing. Direct HF signals and intermediate frequency signals, which are converted from VHF/UHF signals, are digitized in a 14-bit A/D converter and transferred to the FPGA and DSP for optimal processing. The high-rate 122.88 MHz sampling frequency used for the A/D converter results in superior aliasing and image reception reduction.

Real-time spectrum scope
An industry first for desktop wideband receivers, the IC-R8600 has a high-resolution real-time spectrum scope with a waterfall screen. The display offers first class performance in resolution, maximum 30 frames per second fast sweep speed, ±2.5 MHz wide scope span (display range) and 110dB of dynamic range (at ±2.5 kHz span). The waterfall screen allows you to find weak signals by showing the spectrum change over time. Tap the spectrum scope or waterfall screen to select as the operating frequency. The peak search function finds several peak frequencies within the scope range, and helps you to select these.

The spectrum scope offers the simultaneous operations found in some of the more expensive rigs! This means you can use either the spectrum scope or the waterfall to quickly move to an intended signal while listening to the receiver audio. The ‘R8600’s touch screen introduces a "Magnify" function. When you first touch the scope screen around the intended signal, the touched part is magnified. A second touch of the scope screen changes the operating frequency and allows you to accurately tune.

Additional features

• SD card slot for received log, decode log and voice recording
• Screen capture function saves a screen shot in PNG or BMP format
• I/Q signal output for use with future firmware upgrade and third-party SDR software and/or external decoding
• Remote control function through IP network or USB cable
• Scans up to 100 channels per second in memory scan mode
  •  Program scan/fine program scan
  •  Priority scan
  •  Memory scan
  •  Selected memory scan
  •  Selected mode memory scan
  •  Auto memory write scan
• Three antenna connectors: SO-239, phono (RCA), type-N

Frequency coverage
0.010000–821.999999*, 851.000000–866.999999,896.000000–3000.000000 MHz *Guaranteed range: 0.100000–821.999999 MHz

Antenna connector
ANT 1 (0.01–3000 MHz): Type-N (50 Ω)
ANT 2 (0.01–30 MHz): PL-259 (50 Ω)
ANT 3 (0.01–30 MHz): RCA (500 Ω)

Frequency stability
Less than ±0.5 ppm (at 25˚C after warm up)

Mode
USB, LSB, CW, FSK, AM, FM, WFM, Digital (D-STAR, P25 Phase 1, NXDN, dPMR, DCR)

Number of channels
2000 regular with 100 groups, 200 auto memory write, 100 skip and 100 scan edge channels

Scan types
Programmed, memory, selected memory, selected mode, auto memory write, priority scan and Δf scan

Dimensions (W × H × D)(projections not included)
220 × 90 × 230 mm; 8.7 × 3.5 × 9.1 in

Weight (approximately)
4.3 kg; 9.5 lb

Operating temperature range
–10 ˚C to +60 ˚C; 14 ˚F to 140 ˚F