Getting in touch with the IC-R8600

I have had the ICOM IC-R8600 for two weeks and I am still learning all about it. The learning curve is not steep... just long because the radio has so many features and options.

This is the first touch screen radio I have owned, so some of the features that I find so impressive might be old hat to folks who are familiar with touch screen radios, especially ICOM touch screen radios.

Anyway, my favorite touch screen feature is the ability to zoom and switch frequency to the zoomed area of the radio spectrum. For example, say I have the IC-R8600's spectrum scope set to display 1 MHz of a radio band and I spot a signal up the band that I wish to tune in.

Instead of spinning the tuning dial to move up the band, I simply touch the spectrum display in the general area of the signal of interest.

The display magnifies that portion of the band.

I touch the signal of interest in the magnified area...

...and voila!, the IC-R8600 tunes the radio to that signal.

Another cool feature of the IC-R8600 is the ability to capture screens like the ones above.

IC-R8600 is not so hot

Before purchasing the ICOM IC-R8600, I did a lot of research. I read all the reviews I could find and in general, most of them gave the radio high marks.

N9EWO's review gave me a little concern, but was not a deal-breaker and I bought the radio despite comments that the radio "runs quite warm almost near HOT after a 3 to 4 hours of operation (especially at the marked regulated 13.8 DC volts, screen saver off)!"

I am using a Powerwerx SS-30DV to power my IC-R8600 and it outputs 14.1 VDC, so in theory, my radio should run a bit warmer than it would at 13.8 VDC.

The radio is warm, but not "quite warm" and is far from running "almost near HOT" after 3 or 4 hours of operation, as well as after 8 to 10 hours. And this in a house with the AC off and the furnace maintaining a room temperature of 68℉.

Perhaps, N9EWO's radio was an early production model and the heat problem was fixed by the time ICOM produced my radio.

In any case, my IC-R8600 is not so hot.

The IC-R8600 and a Tale of Three Antennas

I have three antennas connected to my new ICOM IC-R8600 receiver:

‣ ICOM AH-7000 discone antenna for VHF and UHF

‣ Hy-Gain 18 AVT/WB-A vertical for HF

‣ Homebrew 80-meter inverted Vee for HF

Monday night, I heard a foreign-language station on 1700 kHz. It never identified and after an hour, it disappeared into the noise. Tuesday night, I checked 1700 and the station was there again, but it was much stronger than Monday night.

I switched between my two HF antennas, but there was not much difference. I inadvertently switched in the discone and I could hear it on the VHF/UHF antenna too, but at a lower signal level.

The IC-R8600 seemed to be so sensitive that it could hear HF signals on a VHF/UHF antenna!

I tuned the radio to the LW band. In the past using other radios, I could only hear LW activity with the 80-meter inverted Vee, but with the IC-R8600, I could also hear LW activity with the vertical antenna, but at a lower signal level. I switched to the discone and yes, I could also hear LW activity with the VHF/UHF antenna, but at a much lower signal strength.

Wow! The IC-R8600 is an amazing receiver!

By the way, I finally identified the mystery foreign-language station: Radio Mega, WJCC in Miami Springs, Florida, 1666 miles to the south-southwest. I first logged WJCC two years ago and have heard it occasionally since then, but never as strong as I have heard it with the IC-R8600! It was armchair copy last night.

ICOM IC-R8600

I have been a radio hobbyist for over 55 years and over that time, I have owned a lot of radios. Last Wednesday, UPS delivered my latest acquisition, an ICOM IC-R8600 10 kHz-3 GHz receiver and I believe it is the best receiver I have ever owned. (It should be since it is the most expensive radio I have ever owned! LOL)

According to Sherwood Engineering's highly-regarded receiver tests, the IC-R8600 is number 2  of 132 tested receivers and transceivers [sorted by Third-Order Dynamic Range Narrow Spaced or ARRL RMDR (Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range) if phase noise limited]. (The only better receiver is a transceiver.) After using the radio for less than a week, I concur with Sherwood's test results.

And last evening, I logged my first new station with the IC-R8600: WFAT on 700 kHz, a daytime-only operation transmitting 2500 watts from Athol, Massachusetts, 74 miles away.

I am still familiarizing myself with the 8600, slowly working my way through the manual in order to take in all the features the radio has to offer. And I plan to review those features in future installments of this blog, so please stay tuned.

Sony SRF-39FP Reception Report

Last night, I listened up and down the AM band with the Sony SRF-39FP radio I purchased on eBay and I was very impressed with what I heard. Besides all the usual suspects in the Northeast, the radio also heard all the flame throwers on the right side of the Mississippi: CHML, WLW, WSB, WHAS, WSCR, WJR, WGN, WLS, etc.

The radio is very sensitive even with its diminutive 1.75-inch ferrite antenna. It's selectivity was good, too, and it managed to keep the two nearest (2 and 4 miles away) AM transmitters in check.

Sony SRF-39FP

The mailman delivered the latest addition to my radio collection, a Sony SRF-39FP AM/FM Walkman. I purchased the radio on eBay for $20.

The New Yorker published an article about this radio describing it thusly, "The pocket analog radio, known by the bland model number SRF-39FP, is a Sony 'ultralight' model manufactured for prisons. Its clear housing is meant to prevent inmates from using it to smuggle contraband, and, at under thirty dollars, it is the most affordable Sony radio on the prison market."

The article added, "...the SRF-39FP is superior to virtually every other pocket analog radio, praising it for its large tuning thumbwheel, over-all sensitivity and audio quality, and, above all, its reputed indestructibility."

(You can read the entire The New Yorker article here.)

This afternoon, I tuned through the AM and FM bands and was impressed with the number of stations the Sony received. I will give it a workout tonight and I will let you know how the radio performs during nighttime conditions.

I own a lot of radios and this is the first one my wife described as "cool.

Working on my "new" radio

I began restoring my "new" RCA Victor Model 56X5 AM/SW wood cabinet receiver.

First thing I did was remove the chassis from the cabinet to inspect its innards. The components all look intact, but who knows what condition they are in. 

The only apparent issue is the pointer assembly of the frequency dial. All the pieces seem to be there, but the pointer is not on its track and I have not figured out how it is supposed to be positioned on the track.

I removed the crusty dried-out power cord with its missing insulation and obtained a new power cord to replace it.

I found a replacement for the missing tuning knob from Holy Moly Tubes via eBay. 

That's all for now.

My "New" Radio

A friend gifted me her family's old radio, a circa 1945 RCA Victor Model 56X5 AM and SW wood cabinet receiver. The cabinet has some wear and tear from being used, one knob is missing and the power cord is dried out and missing pieces of insulation, but it looks complete otherwise.

The radio cost $35 when it was new. That $35 equals $470 in 2017 dollars, so it was an expensive radio post-World War II.

I plan to replace the power cord real soon now, power it up and hope for the best, but I suspect it may require more work than just a new cord to get it up and running.

Channel Master 6515 “Super Fringe” AM radio

RadioJayAllen's latest post reviews an oldie, but goodie: the Channel Master 6515 “Super Fringe” AM radio.

The 6515 was my first transistor radio ― a circa 1960 Christmas gift from my parents.

Jay's review confirmed that the 6515 was an excellent receiver in its day. Back then, I didn't know a QSL from a Q-Tip, so I didn't know any better and did not log anything, but that radio pulled in stations from all over the left half of the USA and beyond.

Jay's review also revealed that the 6515 was an expensive radio. I had no idea my folks paid $60 for it ― that's about $480 in 2016 dollars!

I have no recollection what happened to my 6515 ― it is long gone. However, in a nostalgic moment, I acquired one via eBay for about $15 ― that's about $2 in 1960 dollars. 

Cosmetically, my eBay acquisition is in pretty good shape. Functionally, it needs some work. Replacing the electrolytic capacitors would probably bring it back to life... a project for another day.

Surfin’: Looking for Cosmophone

This week, Surfin’ revisits RigReference, RigPix, and Flickr and finds more radio photos (but none of Cosmophone).

Surfin’: Tricks Are for Hams

This week, Surfin’ demonstrates how ham radio can be a tricky, but well worth it.

Surfin’: Ultralight -- An Appetizing Radio Diet

This week, Surfin’ discovers ultralight radios, which are most definitely not your fathers’ transistor radio.

Surfin’: When One Thing (Music) Leads to Another (Radio)

This week, Surfin’ considers different way of assembling a software defined radio (SDR).

Surfin': Getting Small

This week, Surfin’ examines a radio that is so small, you need an electron microscope to see it.

Surfin': LOU on SDR and GPS

In this week’s Surfin’, we consider two initialisms that are on the cutting edge of Amateur Radio. After you read that, come back here to post your comments, if any.

By the way, Surfin’ is a weekly column published on ARRLWeb features Web sites related to Amateur Radio, specifically, and radio, in general. If you have any suggestions for Surfin’, please contact WA1LOU using the e-mail link to the right.