IC-R8600_review_QST_2017.pdf

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1、QST Product Review QST Magazine is owned and published by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). iR8600 Wideband Receiver 2017 Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is a registered trademark of Icom Inc. 42484 Icom America expresses its gratitude to the ARRL for the permission to reprint and post this re

2、view on our Website. This product review remains the copyright of the ARRL. To join the ARRL, please visit: www.arrl.org QST Devoted entirely to Amateur Radio www.arrl.org Reprinted with permission from November 2017 QST Technical by Mark Spencer, WA8SME Icom IC-R8600 Communications Receiver A high-

3、performance broadband receiver, with SDR versatility. Product Review Mark J. Wilson, K1RO, k1roarrl.org Bottom Line Covering 10 kHz through 3 GHz and demodulating many popular analog and digital modes, the IC-R8600 can be used as a high- quality ham band receiver, or for lis- tening to many other ra

4、dio services. Its dynamic performance rivals top- tier amateur transceivers. Reviewed by Martin Ewing, AA6E Amateurs of a certain age will remember operating with sepa- rate receivers and transmitters. At one time, this was the only option. Since the 1970s, however, we generally purchase integrated

5、transceiv- ers. These combine the receiver and transmitter in a single box, simplifying station setup and saving cost. Why would you consider a standalone communications receiver today? Advanced amateur-friendly models, such as the IC-R8600, cover a very wide frequency range and support a variety of

6、 signal modulations and oper- ating modes. They allow you to scan wide swaths of spectrum, looking for interesting signals and diagnosing interference. In one compact box, you get a very good receiver for ham com- munications, a fine scanning monitor and shortwave listening (SWL) radio, and an excel

7、lent piece of test equip- ment. A receiver in this category will probably not be your first radio, but it can round out the capabilities of any ham shack. I used the earlier IC-R8500 for many years. Produced between 1996 and 2004, that radio covered 100 kHz to 2 GHz.1 When it departed my shack, it l

8、eft quite a gap and sellers scanning across wide bandwidths, searching for signals of interest that may have unknown frequencies. Technical Overview The IC-R8600 receiver covers the RF spec- trum from 10 kHz to 3000 MHz, with the usual US cell phone exclusions. Figure 1 shows a sim plified block dia

9、gram. Frequencies between 10 kHz and 30 MHz are direct sampled for SDR processing. Above 30 MHz, the radio converts the signal frequency two or three times in a double or triple superheterodyne scheme. To reduce spurious responses, some 11 RF band-pass filters (BPFs) are provided for HF bands, and 1

10、3 filters for the VHF/UHF bands. The analog/digital converter (A/D) samples at 122.88 MHz. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) converts the time samples to the frequency domain, for display on the spectrum scope (aka panadapter/waterfall display) or for further digital signal processing (DSP) and

11、 digital/analog conversion to produce a demodulated audio signal. As shown, there are three available antenna inputs. A type-N connector supports the radios full frequency range. When you are operating below 30 MHz, you can instead select a UHF or a phono connector. The N and UHF remorse! Now, after

12、 13 years, Icoms R8000 series resumes with the IC-R8600. The latest advances in soft- ware-defined radio (SDR) have brought many high-end features into the R8600s price range. This radio compares favorably with Icoms IC-R9500, now 11 years on the market and aimed at professional users at a higher pr

13、ice point.2 In addition to the classic communica- tions receiver and spectrum analyzer that monitors specific channels or bands, the R8600 is also a “scanner” radio, where the emphasis is on rapid Reprinted with permission from November 2017 QST ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio www.a

14、rrl.org Table 1 Icom IC-R8600, serial number 02001068 Manufacturers Specifications Measured in the ARRL Lab Frequency coverage: 0.01 821.999.999, As specified. 851 866.999999 MHz, 0.896 3.0 GHz. Power requirement: 13.8 V dc, 15%. At 13.8 V dc: 1.49 A (maximum volume, no signal). Off, 8 mA. Modes of

15、operation: SSB, CW, AM, FM, WFM As specified. FSK, D-STAR, P25, NXDN, dPMR, and DCR. Receiver Receiver Dynamic Testing Sensitivity (MDS): Preamp on, 500 Hz BW, Noise floor (MDS), 500 Hz bandwidth: 0.1 1.8 MHz, 113 dBm; 1.8 30 MHz, Preamp off Preamp on 121 dBm; 30 2,000 MHz, 117 dBm; 0.137 MHz 126 dB

16、m 136 dBm 2 3 GHz, 115 dBm. 0.475 MHz 128 dBm 138 dBm 3.5 MHz 131 dBm 141 dBm 14 MHz 132 dBm 142 dBm 28 MHz 132 dBm 142 dBm 50 MHz 133 dBm 141 dBm 70 MHz 133 dBm 142 dBm 144 MHz 133 dBm 141 dBm 222 MHz 133 dBm 141 dBm 432 MHz 133 dBm 141 dBm 902 MHz 131 dBm 138 dBm 1,296 MHz 134 dBm 140 dBm 2,300 MH

17、z 133 dBm 137 dBm Noise figure: Not specified. 14 MHz, 5 dB; 144 MHz, 6 dB; 432 MHz, 6 dB; 1.3 GHz, 7 dB; 2.3 GHz, 10 dB. AM sensitivity: For 10 dB (S+N), 6 kHz BW, For 10 dB (S+N/N), 6 kHz bandwidth: 0.1 30 MHz, 7.96 V; 1.8 MHz 3 GHz, Preamp off Preamp on 6.32 V. 1.020 MHz 1.74 V 0.65 V 3.885 MHz 1

18、.82 V 0.60 V 29.0 MHz 1.78 V 0.50 V 50.4 MHz 1.64 V 0.68 V 120 MHz 1.64 V 0.68 V 144 MHz 1.64 V 0.68 V 430 MHz 1.74 V 0.68 V FM sensitivity: For 12 dB SINAD, 15 kHz BW, For 12 dB SINAD, 12 kHz bandwidth: 28 MHz 2 GHz, 0.5 V; 2 3 GHz, 0.8 V. Preamp off Preamp on 29 MHz 0.50 V 0.21 V 52 MHz 0.51 V 0.2

19、2 V 70 MHz 0.76 V 0.20 V 100 MHz 0.94 V 0.41 V (WFM) 146 MHz 0.53 V 0.22 V 162 MHz 0.54 V 0.24 V 223 MHz 0.57 V 0.23 V 440 MHz 0.56 V 0.23 V 902 MHz 0.71 V 0.29 V 1,296 MHz 0.41 V 0.23 V Blocking gain compression dynamic range: Blocking gain compression dynamic Not specified. range, 500 Hz bandwidth

20、: 20 kHz offset 5/2 kHz offset Preamp off/on Preamp off 3.5 MHz 123/113 dB 123/124 dB 14 MHz 124/115 dB 124/124 dB 50 MHz 122/114 dB 122/122 dB 144 MHz 121/114 dB 121/121 dB 440 MHz 122/116 dB 122/122 dB Reciprocal mixing dynamic range (500 Hz BW): 14 MHz, 20/5/2 kHz offset: 122/114/108 dB. Not spec

21、ified. ARRL Lab Two-Tone IMD Dynamic Range Testing (500 Hz bandwidth) Measured Measured Band/preamp Spacing IMD Level Input Level IMD DR 3.5 MHz/Off 20 kHz 131 dBm 32 dBm 99 dB 97 dBm 7 dBm 14 MHz/Off 20 kHz 132 dBm 29 dBm 103 dB 97 dBm 14 dBm 14 MHz/On 20 kHz 142 dBm 39 dBm 103 dB 97 dBm 33 dBm 14

22、MHz/Off 5 kHz 132 dBm 33 dBm 99 dB 97 dBm 19 dBm KEY: Dynamic range measurements with receiver preamp off. Third-order IMD measurements with IP+ on. FM sensitivity measurements with preamp on. *Noise limited at value shown. QS1711-PR121 70 cm 70 2 m 69 5090 FM Adjacent Channel Rejection (dB) ChRej 7

23、0 cm 70 2 m 69* 4070 FM 20 kHz Third-Order IMD Dynamic Range (dB) I3 20k 70 cm 76 2 m 81 6090 FM 10 MHz Third-Order IMD Dynamic Range (dB) I3 10M 23 cm 0.23 70 cm 0.23 2 m 0.22 0.50.1 FM Sensitivity (12 dB SINAD, V) SINAD FM 20 m 99 50110 2 kHz Third-Order IMD Dynamic Range (dB) I3 2k 70 cm 122 2 m

24、121 20 m 124 70140 2 kHz Blocking Gain Compression (dB) 2k BG 2k RM 108 60140 2 kHz Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range (dB) 70 cm 88 2 m 85 20 m 103 50110 I3 20k 20 kHz Third-Order IMD Dynamic Range (dB) 70 cm 116 2 m 114 20 m 115 70140 20 kHz Blocking Gain Compression (dB) 20k BG 60140 20 kHz Reciproc

25、al Mixing Dynamic Range (dB) 20k RM 122 Icom IC-R8600 Key Measurements Summary QST Devoted entirely to Amateur Radio www.arrl.org Reprinted with permission from November 2017 QST Measured Measured Band/preamp Spacing IMD Level Input Level IMD DR 14 MHz/Off 2 kHz 132 dBm 33 dBm 99 dB 97 dBm 19 dBm 50

26、 MHz/Off 20 kHz 133 dBm 50 dBm 83 dB 97 dBm 24 dBm 50 MHz/On 20 kHz 141 dBm 55 dBm 86 dB 97 dBm 35 dBm 144 MHz/Off 20 kHz 133 dBm 48 dBm 85 dB 97 dBm 28 dBm 144 MHz/On 20 kHz 141 dBm 56 dBm 85 dB 97 dBm 35 dBm 432 MHz 20 kHz 131 dBm 43 dBm 88 dB 97 dBm 33 dBm Spectral sensitivity: Not specified. Wat

27、erfall and panoramic display, preamp off/on, 107/121 dBm. Tuning dial accuracy: Not specified. Standalone, without 10 MHz reference signal input, with tuning dial set to 10 MHz, 0 Hz; 50 MHz, +12 Hz; 500 MHz, +122 Hz; 1 GHz, +245 Hz; 2 GHz, +488 Hz; 3 GHz, +730 Hz. (Tuning dial reads high by listed

28、amount.) Second-order intercept point: Not specified. Preamp off/on: 14 MHz, +71/+67 dBm; 21 MHz, +77/+59 dBm; 50 MHz, +85/+85 dBm; 144 MHz, +65/+65 dBm; 432 MHz, +91/+79 dBm. FM adjacent channel selectivity: Not specified. 29 MHz, 85 dB; 52 and 70 MHz, 68 dB; 144 and 223 MHz, 69 dB; 440 MHz, 70 dB.

29、 FM two-tone third-order dynamic range: 20 kHz spacing: 29 MHz, 85 dB*; 52 and Not specified. 70 MHz, 68 dB*; 144 MHz, 69 dB*; 223 MHz, 69 dB*; 440 MHz, 70 dB. 10 MHz spacing: 29 MHz, 91 dB, 52 MHz, 79 dB; 70 MHz, 91 dB; 144 MHz, 81 dB; 223 MHz, 84 dB; 440 MHz, 76 dB. Squelch sensitivity: Not specif

30、ied. Preamp on: 29 MHz, 0.09 V; 52 MHz, 0.13 V; 70 MHz, 0.11 V; 144 and 223 MHz, 0.12 V; 440, 902, 1,296 MHz, 0.13 V; maximum squelch 13 mV. SSB squelch, preamp off: 14 MHz, 2.06 V. Signal strength meter accuracy: Not specified. For S-9 level input, preamp off/on: 14 MHz, 82.1/31.6 V; 50 MHz, 82.1/3

31、3.1 V; 144 MHz, 78.4/43.6 V; 432 MHz, 88.0/40.2 V; 1 GHz, 132/55.5 V; 2 GHz, 184/146 V; 3 GHz, 103/65.2 V. DSP noise reduction: Not specified. 5 dB.* Notch filter depth: Not specified. Manual notch, 57 dB; auto notch, 65 dB. IF/audio response: Not specified. Range (bandwidth) at 6 dB points: CW (500

32、 Hz): 344 851 Hz (507 Hz) USB: (2.4 kHz): 242 2,750 Hz (2,408 Hz) LSB: (2.4 kHz): 242 2,750 Hz (2,408 Hz) AM: (6 kHz): 150 3,150 Hz (6,000 Hz). Audio output: 2 W at 10% THD, 8 load. 2.3 W at 10% THD into 8 . THD at 1 VRMS, 0.4%. Signal processing delay time: Not specified. 15 ms. Size (height, width

33、, depth): 4.0 8.6 10.5 inches (including protrusions). Weight: 9.5 lbs. Price: IC-R8600, $2,499; AD-55NS power supply, $59; CS-R8600 programming software, $80. Third-order IMD dynamic range data taken with IP+ on. See Lab Notes sidebar. 97 dBm (S-5) level measurements taken at threshold of ADC overl

34、oad. *Measurements are noise limited at the value indicated. *See Lab Notes sidebar. Default values; bandwidth and cutoff frequencies are adjustable. Manufacturers Specifications Measured in the ARRL Lab connectors support a 50 coax con- nection, while the phono jack is nomi- nally 500 , intended fo

35、r long-wire (probably non-resonant) antennas. You can direct audio output to a built- in or external speaker, a headphone jack, a constant-level “line” output, or as digital audio to your computer or other device over USB or ethernet. You can view digital mode decoded text output on screen, or you c

36、an direct output to an external device COM port over USB. You may also store up to 32 GB of video screenshots, audio, or decoded data on an SD memory card. The R8600 will internally decode FSK (RTTY) signals, along with a number of data modes. For ham use, the radios main data mode of interest is pr

37、obably D-STAR. Other modes (P25, NXDN, dPMR, and DCR) are generally used by other radio services. Unfortunately, there is no support for the digital voice modes DMR or C4FM (Yaesu System Fusion) or other common data modes, such as PSK31. The radio offers a number of extra signal output options. An a

38、nalog 10.7 MHz IF output with 10 MHz fixed bandwidth, allows you to connect alternative back-end equipment. There is a dedicated USB jack for output of complex I/Q IF data, and a 12 kHz dig- ital IF output can be taken from a 18-inch phone jack or either a front or rear USB connection. User Interfac

39、e A key feature of any modern radio gear is the user interface. With SDR tech- niques, you can control and monitor operation through a full complement of buttons, knobs, touchscreens, or even from remote computers. The R8600 controls closely resemble other recent Icom products, such as the IC-7300,

40、so many users will find the scope, mem- ory, and scan system very familiar. The R8600 sports an attractive 4.3-inch color touchscreen display that can be configured to show operating condi- Reprinted with permission from November 2017 QST ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio www.arrl.org

41、 QS1711-Prodrev01 10 kHz Below 30 MHz 30 MHz 1,100 MHz 1,100 MHz 3,000 MHz Band-pass filter First LO Band-pass filter Band-pass filter First LO Second LO Band-pass filter Band-pass filter Second LO Band-pass filter Third LO A/DFPGADSPD/A Audio Digitization and demodulation Spectrum scope IF IF RF An

42、t1 (N) Ant2 (SO-239) Ant3 (Phone) Figure 1 IC-R8600 simplified block diagram. See text for discussion. Adapted from Icom tions. There is also a spectrum scope/ waterfall that will show up to 5 MHz of spectrum typically centered on the cur- rent operating frequency. You can nar- row the spectrum disp

43、lay range down to 5 kHz, giving a useful frequency res- olution of about 10 Hz, which is the minimum VFO step size. (VFO resolu- tion is actually 1 Hz, but 10 Hz is the step accessible from the normal con- trols. You can get 1 Hz settings via the touchscreen “zoom” function.) If you want to preserve

44、 a screen dis- play, there is a convenient screenshot option to store .png or .bmp files with 480 272 resolution on an SD card. Alas, there is no support for an external video display. There is, however, an output to drive an external signal strength meter. Three multifunction (turn/push) con- trols

45、 are assigned to scanning control (Dial A), audio/RF gain and squelch (Dial B), and memory selection (Dial C). Other functions are selected either by screen touches or by physical but- tons. The main tuning knob has a good feel with three rather different settings low friction, high friction, and (m

46、y favorite) a step detent action. The signal-strength meter displays as a bar graph that is notable because it sup- ports four different scales. One is the classic “S-meter,” which displays S-1 to S-9 and up to S-9 + 60 dB. This is meant to observe the normal conven- tion that S-9 is 50 V, with a ch

47、ange of 1 S-unit corresponding to 6 dB, although the R8600 did not conform to this convention (see the “Lab Notes” sidebar). You can alternatively select a dBm scale that shows 0 dBm for a 1 mW input level. Unlike the S-meter, the dBm reading does not vary as you switch in the preamp or attenuators.

48、 It is meant to represent the actual power level at the input connector. You can also view absolute voltage (dB) in either 50 terminated or open-circuit modes. Other Features The 10 MHz internal frequency refer- ence is specified to be better than 0.5 ppm. A back panel connector will supply this reference to external equip- ment. Optionally, this connector can accept a reference from an external 10 MHz source. Note that a 1 ppm off- set at 3 GHz is 3 kHz, so a high-quality external reference may be needed if you want full accuracy and stability at the highest freque