The fabulous Icom R-8500

[KI4WCA]

Ever since I got my ticket, my scant radio room time has been dominated by rf emitting sessions.For decades, I just listened to the faint etheric emanations...and rejoiced when I heard a new exotic locale.Thousands of hours...listening.Dragging weak signals from the mud amid devastating static crashes and other QRN.So it has been a while since I fired up my Icom R-8500.What a fabulous rig...it offers a veritable smörgåsbord of spectrum and is wonderful on HF.I listened to transatlantic air traffic tonight as well as a smattering of other utilities.It has such a nice feel...and sounds so good I wondered how I could have not used it in so long.What a rig.I know many here use their amateur radios for SWL use....but a separate receiver sure is cool to have.Tomorrow I will fire up the Mackay Marine 3031A's .

I sure have neglected my hard core utility listening since I got my ticket....but not anymore.I forgot how fun it was!

I wonder if others have experienced the same thing.And if you operate a R-8500, I would like to hear from you.Thanks!

[WB2WIK]

I had an R-8500 for about a year, but sold it.

Its wideband coverage is pretty amazing, but it doesn't hear anything on HF that my other receivers don't hear at least as well or better. One thing it does that my other receivers don't do is cover below the AM broadcast band, to VLF stuff. Without a great antenna it's hard to hear "much" there, but it was interesting to listen to.

My 55 year-old Collins 75A4 is a better HF receiver than the 8500 (compared them side by side many times). But the 75A-4 won't cover the VLF bands nor the VHF and UHF bands up to about 1 GHz, which the 8500 did.

It's pretty cool, and I'm glad you like it also.

[KI4WCA]

I listened to aero beacons tonight.I love NDB beacon hunting.The 3031A's are better for that,however.Their audio is not as good either.I remember being dissapointed when I got my Drake R-8A because it was no better than my SP-600 for MW and lower frequency HF.But the drake has a killer notch...and deadly accurate display.But on the BCB, it remains nearly peerless.The VLF spectrum is critical to me and the 8500 is very good down there with a good antenna and some preselection.The SP-600 remains the only rig I have ever owned that just loves huge antennas.No preselection required.No worries about ESD either.
But the 8500 remains my weapon of choice for most HF dxing.The combination of my very good cans and the 8500's audio filter are remarkable.It is the ticket for utility intercept work...that I can listen to for many hours without fatique.I can't stand the Drake for more than 1 hour without a break.It is better than the SP-600 in this regard too...but not much.With a notch, it would be even better.
And it works great for wireless mics too on VHF!

[XU7ADQ]

I listened to aero beacons tonight.I love NDB beacon hunting.

Have a listen on 376KHz (PNP) for ours here - now THAT would be DX!

I can only just hear it here, and I'm 500m away!

[KI4WCA]

Have a listen on 376KHz (PNP) for ours here - now THAT would be DX!

I can only just hear it here, and I'm 500m away!

That would be good DX!!!!!!!

[XU7ADQ]

That would be good DX!!!!!!!

Funnily enough, today and for the next 7 days, we are conducting flight checks for all of our NAVAIDs, across the country.

Today we're doing the DVOR, DME, NDB and DSSR systems at VDPP, where we'll just overfly at 6-8000 ft to check signal, and then test the VOR by flying out bound on R588 at minimum route altitude until target loss, then climb to FL200 until 200 nm or target loss, no step climb. during outbound, checking the transponder with 3 random codes then check EM, HJ and COM, Tx1 and Tx2 switch over.

Flying over XU land at this time of year is beautiful, as the rains have turned the fields more shades of green than you can imagine, from almost fluorescent to the darkest of greens, and the jungle areas have transformed too.

Going to be doing a lot of 'air-time' this week - oh yeah...!

[2E0OZI]

I started as an SWL and utilities listener - used to listen for hours to the Star? network HF frequencies for aircraft particularly 11.175, while warming my toes on the fire and reading a book. Nice days. My setup was a FRG7700 attached to 200ft of insulated wire strung overe the tops of the trees in the apple orchard.

[N0AZZ]

I used many different receivers throughout the years from 1954 a floor model till today had maybe 20 or so different rigs. Today it seems that I have the best that I have ever had it is a SRD of all things and I am a knob twister by choice . My FTDX-5000MP does have the very best receiver on the market but I use it for HF/6m use the SDR is just fun to use and easy to find all signals on a band.

Finally last year I sold my vintage Sony CRF-320 receiver that I bought in 1974 wish I would have had 10 of them to sell. SWL will always be around everytime I get buro cards there are always SWL cards in with the QSL cards many of them very nice full color photos cards.

Now is this a great hobby or not?