ICOM IC-705: A slightly different perspective

I totally agree with all your points! Folks get goo-goo-eyed over novel features when tried-and-true tech is rarely going to let you down.

 

Nice Radio , BUT , Bad Timing On Icoms Part . The Bands Are At Their Worst For QRP , Which I Operate Also . Ten Watts Is Not Going To Cut It Now ! So Expect Fue Contects . I'm
Sure The Price Will Be Out Of This World !! Wonder How Many Rigs Icom Will Sell ? Time Will Tell. Don't Get Me Wrong , I Love QRP , But It's Tuff Now . 73's

 

I think this radio will sell well, and will sell to the segment intended. I hear what you are saying about wet, grimy and harsh. I don't think they had this in mind when the design of this radio was laid out. More like, primped, coddled and POTA ( like me ) and not SOTA. You would be nuts to take this up a big summit, and it certainly can't get wet with some drizzle up there like an 817 can. I am sure someone will come up with some nifty plastic convers for it...but is certainly more of a park bench radio, just like in their promo vids.

 

My Icom id-51a Plus has weather alert built in and my Icom ic-T70HD has weather reception built in as well. My Yaesu FT-818nd will tune all VHF NWS weather radio stations. All of those radios are portable.

73 de KØGMK

 

@K0GMK ..Interesting, my FT-818ND does not cover the 162Mhz NWS WX frequencies, are they different in your area?

 

Good overview Julian. I watch all of your videos and get something out of each one of them.

I am on the list for one of these.

 

Nope. Now is Kenwood's turn.

 

I won't be an early adopter, I did that with the 9700. I think this will be another Barn Burner radio. I will be available for one of these that might pop up on the used market after the bloom is off the rose. It will be fun to tinker with.

73, Larry WB8LBZ
El Paso, TX

 

Whoops. My mistake. The FT-818nd will NOT tune the 162Mhz frequencies. Apologies.

73 de KØGMK

 

Hey no worries, though I was perhaps missing out on really useful mod ...

 

100 watt version??

 

Depending upon your preference, that would either be the Yaesu FT-991A or the combination of the IC-7300 and IC-9700.

I am fairly sure that a 100w radio of this size and band capabilities would melt.

 

I would expect a 100 watt version to be closer in size to an Icom 7300, but still do the multi-bands.

 

The FT-991A is pretty much what you are describing. It is better in some ways and worse in others than the 7300. I would call it a wash, but where I live the 991A's better noise reduction makes it a clear choice.

Of course, for anyone who insists on only buying a single corporate brand this information is useless.

 

I think the 10 watt limit is based on Japanese entry-level license limitations.