AOR AR-8600mkII

Features:

It is challenging to characterise such a versatile receiver which offers compactness for mobile integration, the performance for base applications and trans-portability from the optional internal NiCad pack (BP8600).

Although many microprocessor features have been adopted from the trendsetting AR8200 Series-2 hand portable receiver, the AR8600 RF front-end is an all new design with preselection around VHF to ensure the highest levels of adjacent channel rejection with software spurii cancellation. In addition to a hinged telescopic whip aerial, the AR8600 is supplied with a detachable plug in medium wave bar aerial which locates on the rear chassis of the receiver for localised medium wave monitoring. An additional BNC socket is mounted on the rear chassis so that 10.7MHz i.f. output may be extracted for use with external spectrum display and vector analyser units such as the AOR SDU5500. The TCXO ensures high stability with minimal internal spurii and is usually only seen in top of the range (more expensive) table-top models such as the AR5000 and AR7030.

Centre stage is a custom multi-section back-lit LCD, numeric keypad, navigation keys, rotary tuning control and separate controls for volume and squelch control, the LCD can also display alpha-numeric text comments. The chassis is manufactured from two metal compartments, effectively a metal chassis inside a metal cabinet... this provides excellent screening characteristics and great robustness highlighting its multi application role. The front panel is also manufactured from die-cast aluminium.

The all important 8.33 kHz airband channel step is correctly implemented (eight-and-one-third, 33, 66, 00). Channel steps are provided in a menu and may be programmed. Step may be programmed by the operator in any receive mode using multiples of 50 Hz in any mode (i.e. 5 kHz, 12.5 kHz or even 1.25 kHz). Extensive step-adjust and frequency offset facilities are also provided (as per AR5000) to ensure tracking of the most obscure band plans, AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) is included for spot on tuning ensuring that nothing is missed. A wide frequency coverage is available from 530 kHz to 2040 MHz (no gaps) with actual minimum acceptable frequency of 100 kHz.

All mode receive: WFM, NFM, SFM (Super Narrow FM), WAM, AM, NAM (Wide, standard, Narrow AM), USB, LSB & CW. A 3.0 kHz SSB filter is employed with true carrier re-insertion resulting in non-offset frequency readout for easy tuning of SSB transmissions. An attenuator and noise limiter are also featured.

A meaningful band plan is factory programmed specific to market area, this ensures that the AR8600 automatically selects the correct receive mode and tuning step (although mode and tuning step may be manually selected at any time), the band plan may be edited via computer control.

A group of four front panel navigational keys provide a natural and intuitive path through the on-screen menus. Tuning is primarily accomplished via the main tuning dial, arrow keys and keypad. The back-lit LCD with contrast control provides operational data with the ability to add 12 character text comments to each memory channel, memory bank and search bank, a text search feature simplifies identification and recall of stored information.

Many text prompts aid operation making programming of search banks etc straight forward. Two frequencies may be displayed along with operating legends and high resolution signal meter and multi-function band scope. The band scope provides adjustable span width from 10 MHz to 100 kHz , you can move the marker, operate peak hold, transfer the marker frequency to VFO and save trace for later recall. Flexible dynamic memory bank layout is provided (memory banks may be varied in size between 10 and 90 channels each i.e. bank ‘A' 80 channels / bank ‘a' 20 channels with bank ‘B' 40 channels / bank ‘b' 60 channels etc). A total of 1,000 memories are provided in 20 memory banks, lockout, select scan, priority and auto store are also provided. In addition 40 search banks are provided with 50 pass channels per search bank and a further 50 for VFO search lockout. Comprehensive edit, move, swap and delete facilities are provided, it is possible to move whole memory & search banks. In addition you may write PROTECT memories, banks and search banks to prevent accidental over-writing of stored data including protection of the entire receiver! Scan & search rates provide a maximum of approximately 37 increments per second. Flash-ROM memory storage ensures that data is automatically saved without the need for a backup battery or capacitor.

Computer control is available via a standard 9-pin RS232 D-type connector on the rear chassis, just a standard RS232 cable is required for connection to a PC, the extensive RS232 command list is printed in the operating manual. A FREE software package is available as a download from the AOR web sites, this provides frequency control & management, searching, scanning, logging with support for geographic data from a GPS and audio recording to disk.

In addition, optional internal SLOT CARDS (which fit into the rear chassis of the AR8600) extend the capabilities even further, five cards may be fitted with two operational simultaneously. The slot cards are common to the AR8600, AR8200 and AR8200 Series-2.
Memory card - (increases storage to 4000 memories, 160 search banks),
CTCSS card - squelch and search,
Record chip card - (records up to 20 seconds of audio) with 'continuous loop' capability,
Tone Eliminator card - useful for scanning past transmission pilot tones,
Voice inverter card - demodulate analogue scrambling

Specifications:

Frequency Range 530 kHz to 2040 MHz (Cell blocked in the USA for FCC rules)
(Actual frequency input 100 kHz to 2040 MHz,
performance between 100 kHz to 530 kHz is not guaranteed).
Receive Modes WFM, NFM, SFM, WAM, AM, NAM, USB, LSB, CW
Sensitivity 530 kHz ~ 1.9 MHz
AM: 3.50 µV (10dB S/N)
1.9 MHz ~ 30 MHz
SSB: 2.00 µV (10dB S/N)
AM: 2.50 µV (10dB S/N)
30 MHz ~ 470 MHz
AM: 1.00 µV (10dB S/N)
NFM: 0.35 µV (12dB SINAD)
WFM: 1.00 µV (12dB SINAD)
470 MHz ~ 820 MHz
NFM: 0.50 µV (12dB SINAD)
820 MHz ~ 2040 MHz
NFM: 2.50 µV (12dB SINAD)

Selectivity: SSB/NAM
AM/SFM
WAM/NFM
WFM 3kHz (-6dB), 9kHz (-60dB)
9kHz (-6dB), 20kHz (-40dB)
12kHz (-6dB), 25kHz (-40dB)
150kHz (-3dB), 380kHz (-20dB)
Aerial connection 50 OHM BNC
i.f. output BNC 10.7MHz, bandwidth +/- 2MHz. Bandscope compatibility with the SDU5500 configured as OTHER companion radio (non-active)
Audio output 800mW (8 OHMS) MAX @ 10% THD.
Internal speaker, rear chassis 3.5mm socket, front panel 3.5mm socket
Power Consumption 400mA typical usage, 50mA on standby. 10.8 - 16V d.c. negative ground 9.6V from optional internal BP8600 NiCad
Dimensions 155(W) x 57(H) x 195(D) mm excluding projections
Weight 2kg approx (MW bar aerial included)
Memory channels 1,000 (20 banks)
Select scan channels 50
Priority channels 1
Search banks 40
PASS channels 50 per search bank + 50 for VFO search
Scan/Search Rate 37 increments per second maximum