I still like my Kenwood TS-430. While this radio looks impressive, if it had the HF ham bands, it really would be an almost DC to daylight radio. I'm sure there are hams that will experiment with 10 ghz, I doubt the majority will. I wonder what the price will be on this thing.
The only region in the world with 220 as a ham band is Region 2 That's the reason MOST new radios don't include that band. The Americas are really the only ham market that uses that band, and the largest ham market in the world (Japan) does not nor does the EU have 220. Regions 1 and 3 have no access. Just not financially viable for the manufacturers to bother for just a single market (the Americas) Dave W7UUU
Right; kind of what I figured, Dave but wasn't sure about the band plans over there. I hope this rig is very successful in both sales and in stimulating activity on the microwaves in the coming years---that could be exciting! If I still lived in California where there was always a lot of UHF/SHF activity during contests I would snap up one of these rigs in a heartbeat (but may still do so down here on the Gulf to catch some tropo if this takes off as we would hope). 73, Jeff (old weak-signal nut) PS: Kudos to the videographer for a worthwhile and intelligent presentation, too!
Another way to look at this: VERY few hams were on 1296 until the Icom IC-9700 but now, it has become a viable contest band for a lot more hams (myself included). So if the IC-905 takes off in the same way, 2gig, 5gig, and 10gig could very well have the same effect: hams start buying this new rig as an extension to their band capabilities just like many of us did with the 9700, and before you know it, these SHF bands become far more viable than ever before! Dave W7UUU
So very true and I do hope to see that happen as well. The antennas for these bands are much smaller and can fit into a HOA scenario well as they look more like TV antennas (that can't be prohibited anywhere). Coincidentally, I'm almost finished putting my Create 50-1300MHz log periodic together: It's really no bigger than a large TV antenna (as rare as those are nowadays) and would be a good one to use for at least three or four bands that the IC-905 has. "Gentlemen, get out your diplexers!"
Let's hope ICOM (finally) eliminated ALC overshoot that is present in far too many if their new offerings.
Hopefully it won't need 300 bucks worth of aftermarket equipment to keep it from drifting like the 9700.
It is going to be funny if Icom comes out with a 220. Would not make since in everything they are developing they would not be developing for that market even it is only the Americas they sell. Probably pretty easy for them to come out with a 705-A for Americas with 220 added on. Or supply a 220 firm ware download for the band that would add it.
In my neck of the woods 10 gHz is deader than Elvis Presley, there have been Elvis sightings, but no 10 gHz activity There were 2, repeaters for this band in the entire state, they are both off the air.