AR-8600 Mark II

AOR
AR-8600 Mark II

Specifications

Prices

Desktop / mobile wide-band receiver, frequency range 0.1-3000 MHz all-mode. Optional slot cards for CTCSS, voice inverter, etc. Ideated in Japan, year of introduction 2002.

Reference market : amateur-radio

AR-8600 Mark II specifications

General

Frequency coverage [2]
0.1000 ~ 3000.0000 MHz
Mode
CW / LSB / USB / AM / FM / WFM
Tuning step
User-defined with 50 Hz resolution Moreover standard step of 8.333 KHz

Receiver

Sensitivity
SSB	1.5 uV (1.9~30 MHz, 10dB S/N) 0.3 uV (30~470 MHz, 10dB S/N)
AM	3.5 uV (0.5~1.9 MHz, 10dB S/N) 2.0 uV (1.9~30 MHz, 10dB S/N) 1.5 uV (30~470 MHz, 10dB S/N)
FM	0.7 uV (30~470 MHz, 12dB SINAD) 0.6 uV (470~1040 MHz, 12dB SINAD) 1.0 uV (1040~1300 MHz, 12dB SINAD) 3.5 uV (1300~2040 MHz, 12dB SINAD) 10.0 uV (2040~3000 MHz, 12dB SINAD)
WFM	1.0 uV (30~470 MHz, 12dB SINAD) 1.5 uV (470~1040 MHz, 12dB SINAD)
Selectivity
SSB	3 KHz (-6dB) 9 KHz (-60dB)
AM-N	3 KHz (-6dB) 9 KHz (-60dB)
AM	9 KHz (-6dB) 20 KHz (-40dB)
AM-W	12 KHz (-6dB) 25 KHz (-40dB)
FM-N	9 KHz (-6dB) 20 KHz (-40dB)
FM	12 KHz (-6dB) 25 KHz (-40dB)
FM-W	150 KHz (-3dB) 380 KHz (-40dB)
IF (Intermediate Frequency)
1°	754.85 MHz [1] 243.85 MHz [1]
2°	45.05 MHz
3°	455 KHz

Features

Memory
1000 regular memories in 20 banks 40 for programmed scan limits
Display
100 Hz frequency resolution 7-segments signal meter bar
Antenna
BNC 50Ω
Power supply
10.8 ~ 16 VDC external, 12 V nominal 9.6 VDC internal, NiCad battery (opt.)
Power consumption
400 mA typ 70 mA not active
Audio power
0.8 W on 8Ω
Audio output
Jack 3.5 mm external speaker Jack 3.5 mm line
Connections
RS232C-9 BNC (IF 10.7 MHz out)

Mechanical and environmental data

Operating temperature
from -5°C to +50°C
Dimensions
155 (W) x 57 (H) x 197 (D) mm
Weight
2kg

1° IF frequencies correlated to specific band segments.
Cellular blocked in the USA.

AR-8600 Mark II description :

AR 8600 Mark II is a compact desktop receiver, thanks to the possibility of being powered by internal batteries, it is suitable for vehicular or portable use. This AOR is mainly aimed for listeners who wish to monitor over a wide range of frequencies but which do not require full control functions. The front panel over the tune control is developed with a limited set of buttons and adjustments knobs. For this aspect it basically proposes an interface similar to that found in a portable scanner. Instead, the latter deviates from the flexibility due to the possibility of installing optional IF-filters for SSB (2.5 KHz) and AM (6 KHz), as well as additional functions on slot-cards (also AR-8200 compatible). The five cards available are:

VI8200
Voice inverter, adjustable in 157 steps
CT8200
CTCSS squelch and search decoder
TE8200
Notch filter, audio tone eliminator in 256 steps
RU8200
Audio recording and playback, 20 seconds approx, also with continuous loop
EM8200
Extended memory with 4000 memories, 160 search banks

AR-8600 Mark II other features :

Selection between different IF bandwidths for AM and FM modes, high frequency stability with TCXO (temperature compensated oscillator), IF output, AFC in FM mode (automatic frequency control), noise limiter, RF attenuator, separable ferrite antenna for medium waves, squelch, frequency display of both VFOs. The panoramic spectrum analyzer allows you to view the radio activity within a range from 100 KHz up to 10 MHz, a marker can be moved to one of the emissions so as to automatically tune the VFO, the track can also be saved for a subsequent recall. Multiple search options, the speed reaches 37 channels/second, and a wide range of customizable general memories with 12 alphanumeric characters. RS-232C connection for PC control.

AR-8600 Mark II performance and practical notes :

The AR 8600 Mark II is located in an intermediate position between a handheld scanner and a broadband communications receiver. The Performancesare interesting but they suffer from an unsatisfactory price / performance ratio. In this respect there is a parallel with another AOR model, the AR-One receiver similar for some technical solutions. the AR-8600 Mark II, second version therefore, offers a wide coverage of frequencies to the benefit of operators who are looking for a scanner to be used anywhere but with operating limits below 30 MHz due to the lack of PBT and notch filter. The addition of an optional Collins filter greatly improves selectivity but still fails to express comparable results to the equipment dedicated to HF, a poor rejection at the IF level and a not excellent RF dynamic-range determine a clear distinction. The functions on the slot-card have undeniably been an innovation at the time of introduction, the real potentialities and the improvements in the performances are however not of primary importance from a current point of view.

AR-8600 Mark II price

We have collected for your convenience the Aor AR8600 Mark-II sale price (US Dollar) and its trend over time. Useful to guarantee a cheaper purchase of this radio and to put it for sale in the second-hand market. Of course offers, accessories, warranty terms and conditions can lead to different figures.

Price	Date	Condition
USD 740.00 (541GBP)	2021-jun	Brand-new
USD 969.00	2018-oct	Brand-new
USD 1049.00 (895EUR)	2018-oct	Brand-new With option APCO25 and warranty extension

AR-8600 Mark II review

Sensitivity
Selectivity
Dynamic range
Spurious response
Audio
Signal functions
Control functions
User friendly
Stars: 1=insufficient \| 2=just sufficient \| 3=mediocre \| 4=good \| 5=excellent

Stefano

April-2 2024

For some extremely low HF-VHF-UHF signals it proves [AR8600 MK2] to be more selective and sensitive than other more expensive and more recent receivers. The display is small but better than its AOR-DV1 cousin.

[End post]

Sammy

April-19 2023

AR-8600-Mark-2, I have one great radio.

[End post]

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