Icom IC-705 Update, antennas & portable power

That's why they are so cheap and many true QRP folk don't need those bells and whistles anyway
G3SEA/KH6

 

The 705 is rumored to be water resistant- are the China ones?

 

I personally won’t be buying Or even considering anything Chinese anytime soon. It’s just a total non-starter for me right now. I’d rather pay more money for the Elecraft or the Icom. That’s just me. Ymmv. Cheers.

 

I would not be surprised if the 705 ends up being made in China or Thailand.

 

I would. Icom makes all their stuff in japan. Yaesu outsources a Small percentage of production. Kenwood I don’t know.

 

Including populating circuit boards?

 

Thanks. Yeah the idea is just using low-power radios which has a trickle-down effect. We can use smaller batteries, smaller off-grid sources to charge those batteries and basically just have a more efficient station. Hopefully it works in the long-term
73
Julian oh8stn

 

Same here...
Based on what little I've read on this rig, I do expect to have one in the future. Looks fun.

 

Yeah I have to admit being a newcomer to d-star. 1 I'm definitely interested in this radio because of its all-in-one HF capabilities. As I understand it though, DMR is cheap because of the commercial side of the DMR market. Anyway, no pony in that race but it's an interesting discussion.
73
Julian oh8stn

 

Good discussion guys. Perhaps the only reason many of us haven't jumped on the 7300 bandwagon for portable Ops, is its size and weight. Functionally speaking it's a magnificent radio. If the 705 offers the same advantages in a smaller package, there won't be any going back.

Great discussion.
Julian

 

The comparison to the KX to came from elecraft users themselves. I never open that can of worms and didn't see the point too. It's apples and oranges.
As far as sound chords go, I agree with you. I even made a video on using a sabrent to USB sound card as an audio interface. The only problem with using the sound card in that way is there a different wires one has to deploy. There's also the issue of getting audio levels correct. The goal of many operators like myself is to have only one system. Plug in the antenna, plug in the power supply, start operating. When you are up above the Arctic Circle trying to deploy radio station, the last thing you want to do you start fumbling and fiddling with unnecessary wires to an audio interface.
As far as resonant antennas and antenna tuners, I agree with you. I mentioned in the video that I wish this radio had an internal antenna tuner. Not having an internal antenna tuner is not a deal-breaker though. You focus on one particular antenna in your comment however I provided a variety of different antenna types which could be used with this radio for Rapid deployment scenarios. We can't pick and choose. If you're going to comment or make a counter argument, du Sol on everything I mentioned. The video is showing how I plan to deploy the 705, from my own personal perspective. Someone else may have a different perspective which is perfectly fine.

Anyway good comment and discussion.
73
Julian oh8stn

 

We've known since the beginning, the 705 doesn't have an internal tuner. If I said it in the video, it was an editing mistake.
73
Julian oh8stn

 

100% agreed. I only mentioned the elecraft radios because of the dozens of comments left on my videos from elecraft users.
73
Julian oh8stn

 

I liked your thread-starting video. Nicely done!
This rig will be a game-changer.

 

My poor PFR-3 has a built in tuner.....now I go back in my corner.
ps: great video!