so i totally ditched the right-angle plugs on the mic/speaker connections about 2 days after I got my 705 - replaced them with straight plugs, have the full windcamp setup - frame and V2 antenna mount - no issues
Merry Christmas, Steve! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in this state of mind- possibly confused but not, angry but not, disturbed but not, just a logical thinker. I find you discovered that they solved one issue but created another. I hate when people do things half-assed too! This could of been solved if they had put this together themselves before you discovered it while producing this video. I have to say that your level of patience is completely off the charts and that’s the stuff great videos are made of. I enjoyed watching this video immensely because of your thoroughness. Mahalo-Todd WH6DWF
Hey Todd, Thanks! I was really hoping they fixed it this time. Super high-quality... non-matching products make me scratch my head. I can see in hindsight why they didn't include instructions.
My original wincamp rc1 mount causes terrible swr issues, interested in an alternative , thanks for making the video. Hoping without the coax it will be more reliable.
I will get this, even though I came up with a solution for the RC-1. This is much more compact. As far as the speaker/mic plug issue, maybe the best solution is to come up with a dual male to female plug with straight connectors that is like 4 or 6 inches long instead of having those 90 degree plugs right up against everything.
I've thought about swapping the plugs to straight plugs. Would make sense in this configuration. The only place those right angle plugs make sense to me is in a permanent mounted go-box
@@temporarilyoffline I'm wondering if the Icom OPC2144 would work. It doesn't specifically say it fits the 705, and it's still a right angle, but at least it's a single right and you can plug or unplug the other end at will.
Two things: 1. Put on the BNC/SO239 connector first, then mount the antenna mount pieces. That way you can get the BNC latched on easily. Then tighten down the little Allen wrench set screw. 2. The speaker/mic connection is the worst part of the radio (other than the manuals). I'm waiting on some connectors & other bits to make a single use mic for the radio. I don't need the speaker mic and if I need headphones, I use my iPhone BlueTooth earbuds. When I get the yet to arrive mic parts modified, I expect I'll have simple one plug mic. . . . At the same time, if Icom had made the mic & speaker connector spacing to match other speaker mics with that style of plug-in, well, all you'd have to do is get one of t hose cheap Chinese speaker mics (or have Icom provide a proper mic with the proper single plug hardware) and go that way. . . . The IC705 is a boffo radio, at least so far to me, but it does have it's "Why'd you do that?" flaws and questionable ergonomics. 73 de W8IJN
Also, the WindCamp wrap-around makes it impossible to mount the Begali Adventure IC-705 bracket to the radio, since the screw holding the bracket on the radio underneath uses the same 1/4-20 tripod thread on the bottom of the radio as the Begali bracket. My only way around that is machining another 1/4-20 threaded hole in the wrap around, which throws off the balance of the radio & bracket, not a workable solution the way I see it. Thus the HamGear3D frame is what I use now.
Agree it seems a bit odd. I don't have a 705 yet! The speaker mike connections look like they are right angle. Perhaps vertical extension, plug and jack, would allow a better connect/disconnect. Of course losing those is a down side.
Hi T.O.- I haven't tried the antenna mounts, but I didn't like any of the commercially offered cases for the 705, so I got some 5052 aluminum and bent and welded my own. I'll try to find a way to send a photo to you.
Not had a problem with the RC-2 as I only use the microphone socket but there is the option of using the trailing eight pin microphone adapter cable from ebay.
The RC-1 lacks two parts that would make it 100% compatible with the ARK-705 cage. It needs a spacer and a longer mounting screw to put it completely outside of the ARK-705. Without having the IC-705 and the ARK-705 in hand to get proper measurements, I would say that a spacer that is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long would be enough to clear the cage. That's it...an extra few bucks makes the two work together.
@@temporarilyoffline Not just looking at your video on how they don't fit together, but going to the Windcamp website and looking at the limited still images of how the RC-1 and ARK-705 are shaped and assembled.
I probably could have, but the products from the same company should have worked together out of the box - even if that meant including the extra hardware to make it happen.
Yeah I just looked at it really closely and I don’t think it’ll work it would block the articulation if you spaced it up. And 100% percent agree with you, it should work straight out the box. The Peovi stuff is way expensive. The add on cage is $150
@@BadHorsie2 I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE that Peovi cage in anodized red or orange! I just can't justify it. The windcamp cage is very nice and functional on its own and the whole works fits nicely in a 50cal ammo can. Hard to beat.
fortunately, Amazon has these Windcamp ARK-705 in-stock now. Previously, they were shipping from China directly but that could be problematic since they are having Covid lockdowns over there. Looks like I'll skip the RC-2 and only buy Windcamp ARK-705
I really like the ARK-705. I'm a big fan for protection on all portable radios. It is super easy to trip over a wire and yank a radio across the field.
When I got my RC-1 on the surface it worked but seemed to be clunky in practice. The RC-2 looks a bit better thought out so it may work better. I have a PEOVI PV705-1 cage around my 705 which I like. Although is does not give me the same amount of protection as the cage you have, it functions well and looks like it will work just fine with the RC-2. So with that said I may just order the RC-2. Thanks for the Video and take care. Vic de KE8JWE
Should make an extension for both the handmics cables, and a lil plugin spot with RJ45 that can hook to any kind of breakout/mic(even the stock handmic :))
It be nice if you can put a dual antenna that you can switch back and forth like a 2 meter and 10 meter that we use on a regular basis. Hopfilly with out using an antenna tuner.
Nice vid thanks just received my antenna bracket also with no instructions thanks for making it easy for me to install mine! Not sure about the cage though!
I see a fix for this mic/spk cables interference with the bracket. We need a single cable plug with two jacks (like the baofeng data cable) that when plugged will exit straight down and has two female 3.5/2.5mm connectors where you plug the Icom mic/spk handset. 6in in length would be perfect and you can leave it plugged in the radio. Now, lets find someone who can makes it.
@@temporarilyoffline Yeah that's the one. If Icom made the Speaker/mic that comes with the IC705 with straight plugs instead of 90deg, using a cage wouldn't have been an issue.
Looks like an issue with the speaker mic .. WHY the right angle connectors ? even without the cage its a pain in the ass to connect both .. if they had straight connectors ZERO issues
switch the large black thumb screw at bottom with phillips screw u put at top. the black screw is used for the movable portion of the bracket. just a thought. de wb8idy 73
It's irritating that the Icom AH-705 does not clip on the back. Radio needs FIVE cables, two for the speaker mike, two or the ATU and one for external power. And I HATE the MICRO-USB for charging. The whole cell phone world has gone USB-C, Icom must have been asleep. G7VFY
It would irritate to hell out of me I don't know what I would do but I'm real picky about things like that especially if it was marking up my radio or causing it to have a dent I'd be very very pissed off 👍
it is amazing how all these products reinforce the horizontal configuration while tbe obvious solution is to go vertical. Icom created the 705 with a top facing antenna port and then crippled everything with landscape only display mode. How would you like to use your smart fone in landscape only? Why havent you ever added a right angle adapter to any of your 2m/440 HT's or put them in a horizontal cage? why don't the beltclips allow you to hang your dmr HTs on your belt horizontally? surely you could add a right angle sma... LOL! THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH ic 705 REMAINS A LACK OF VERTICAL "PORTRAIT" MODE OF THE DISPLAY. you are all suffering from collective failure of imagination. 73.
The antenna port on the 705 is side facing, not top facing. I would rather be forced to use landscape over vertical on my phone any day. Would be difficult to take photos or videos otherwise. The 705 is not an HT. The scope would be less useful in vertical mode, and the radio would be more likely to tip over. I suppose if it played tiktok videos, portrait mode would be useful. Being able to change the screen orientation would be nice, but I don't see there being much demand for it.
@@2025_Is_Going_To_Be_Great you're just another enforcer of the status-quo. fighting against the world of possibilities mind locked in the mediocrity of just good enough. Poor You. No, the antenna port is not side mounted until the optional rubber feet are installed by the user and the whole point is to not be forced into any orientation but to have a choice
so i totally ditched the right-angle plugs on the mic/speaker connections about 2 days after I got my 705 - replaced them with straight plugs, have the full windcamp setup - frame and V2 antenna mount - no issues
That would do it
What straight plugs did you use?
Anxiously waiting for the RC-3 video review. 🤦🏻♂️ Keep up the great work, TO!
I don't know man... is it a duty now?
@@temporarilyoffline Nah. But it's an honor on our end.
@@temporarilyoffline What was the antenna that you used with this ic-705? thanks in advance
@@rongorden3985 Here is a link:
geni.us/bSpdPmG
Merry Christmas, Steve!
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in this state of mind- possibly confused but not, angry but not, disturbed but not, just a logical thinker.
I find you discovered that they solved one issue but created another. I hate when people do things half-assed too! This could of been solved if they had put this together themselves before you discovered it while producing this video.
I have to say that your level of patience is completely off the charts and that’s the stuff great videos are made of. I enjoyed watching this video immensely because of your thoroughness. Mahalo-Todd WH6DWF
Hey Todd, Thanks! I was really hoping they fixed it this time. Super high-quality... non-matching products make me scratch my head. I can see in hindsight why they didn't include instructions.
I agree with Rodger, I will wait for the RC-3 and see how that comes out.
Stay tuned! Once I see it, I'll try it out.
My original wincamp rc1 mount causes terrible swr issues, interested in an alternative , thanks for making the video. Hoping without the coax it will be more reliable.
Interesting info. I don't think I've ever run without the windcamp connector... I wonder how mine is.
@@temporarilyoffline I've learned today on FB that windcamp don't always solder them connections properly which may be what's wrong with mine.
I have the same problem with SWR.
I will get this, even though I came up with a solution for the RC-1. This is much more compact. As far as the speaker/mic plug issue, maybe the best solution is to come up with a dual male to female plug with straight connectors that is like 4 or 6 inches long instead of having those 90 degree plugs right up against everything.
I've thought about swapping the plugs to straight plugs. Would make sense in this configuration. The only place those right angle plugs make sense to me is in a permanent mounted go-box
@@temporarilyoffline I'm wondering if the Icom OPC2144 would work. It doesn't specifically say it fits the 705, and it's still a right angle, but at least it's a single right and you can plug or unplug the other end at will.
@@W9HJBill I might work, but for the cost of these 3 items, one "shouldn't" have to add a 4th. I'm just grumbling though, not arguing.
@@temporarilyoffline
hint:
rotate the radio 90 degrees to be vertical.
demand addition of "portrait" display mode.
solved.
Two things: 1. Put on the BNC/SO239 connector first, then mount the antenna mount pieces. That way you can get the BNC latched on easily. Then tighten down the little Allen wrench set screw.
2. The speaker/mic connection is the worst part of the radio (other than the manuals). I'm waiting on some connectors & other bits to make a single use mic for the radio. I don't need the speaker mic and if I need headphones, I use my iPhone BlueTooth earbuds. When I get the yet to arrive mic parts modified, I expect I'll have simple one plug mic.
. . . At the same time, if Icom had made the mic & speaker connector spacing to match other speaker mics with that style of plug-in, well, all you'd have to do is get one of t hose cheap Chinese speaker mics (or have Icom provide a proper mic with the proper single plug hardware) and go that way.
. . . The IC705 is a boffo radio, at least so far to me, but it does have it's "Why'd you do that?" flaws and questionable ergonomics.
73 de W8IJN
Also, the WindCamp wrap-around makes it impossible to mount the Begali Adventure IC-705 bracket to the radio, since the screw holding the bracket on the radio underneath uses the same 1/4-20 tripod thread on the bottom of the radio as the Begali bracket. My only way around that is machining another 1/4-20 threaded hole in the wrap around, which throws off the balance of the radio & bracket, not a workable solution the way I see it. Thus the HamGear3D frame is what I use now.
That hamgear 3D frame is excellent also!
Agree it seems a bit odd. I don't have a 705 yet!
The speaker mike connections look like they are right angle. Perhaps vertical extension, plug and jack, would allow a better connect/disconnect. Of course losing those is a down side.
Exactly!
I would like to see an impedance chart on the 90 degree BNC to SO239. A good many of those can act pretty wonky as the frequency goes up!
Me too!
Basically I am waiting for the RC3 !
I've been happy with the rc2 and ark-705 combo. The rc3 would have to be pretty interesting!
Going to order that cage soon. Thanks for the review.
You got it dude!
Both speaker and and mic jack for when the case is on..
I have no issues with the case or the antenna setup
Awesome, thanks for watching
"let's make the IC-750 an absolute monstrosity to work with."
"right"
Use that blue tool to remove mic plugs - N5LL
Thanks! Good thing they put that in the documentation!
Indeed. Swing and a miss for Windcamp. Why not make a bracket that attaches to the ARK-705 directly?
Exactly, I don't get it. The RC2 is better, but not best.
Hi T.O.- I haven't tried the antenna mounts, but I didn't like any of the commercially offered cases for the 705, so I got some 5052 aluminum and bent and welded my own. I'll try to find a way to send a photo to you.
That sounds awesome, send it to me in TOADs discord (link in description) or email me
Not had a problem with the RC-2 as I only use the microphone socket but there is the option of using the trailing eight pin microphone adapter cable from ebay.
Good Idea, Thanks!
Use the rc1 "longer" ground screw for more room on Mike plug
Hard to see on camera, but its the U channel that supports the BNC that is in the way.
Wonderful Video!! I
Thank you very much!
The RC-1 lacks two parts that would make it 100% compatible with the ARK-705 cage. It needs a spacer and a longer mounting screw to put it completely outside of the ARK-705. Without having the IC-705 and the ARK-705 in hand to get proper measurements, I would say that a spacer that is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long would be enough to clear the cage. That's it...an extra few bucks makes the two work together.
Amazing you could figure out from a video what a team of engineers with a budget couldn't get right!
@@temporarilyoffline Not just looking at your video on how they don't fit together, but going to the Windcamp website and looking at the limited still images of how the RC-1 and ARK-705 are shaped and assembled.
Why not just run a right angle BNC to to PL259? Are they really so limp that they just fall over constantly?
BNC doesn't have a concept of "stick here" the connector freely rotates by design. If you get one that sticks "now", it won't forever.
Put the Philips screw into the ground on the radio and use the thumb screw for the angle adjustment.
Since then I've added a lead with a single Anderson powerpole to the ground connector - now it integrates nicely with the rest of my antenna systems.
You could’ve used the longer ground screw from the RC-1 and used a couple of small washers under it to space the bracket out?
I probably could have, but the products from the same company should have worked together out of the box - even if that meant including the extra hardware to make it happen.
Yeah I just looked at it really closely and I don’t think it’ll work it would block the articulation if you spaced it up. And 100% percent agree with you, it should work straight out the box. The Peovi stuff is way expensive. The add on cage is $150
@@BadHorsie2 I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE that Peovi cage in anodized red or orange! I just can't justify it. The windcamp cage is very nice and functional on its own and the whole works fits nicely in a 50cal ammo can. Hard to beat.
Where can we find your RED Front Cage ?
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/uUEhg8oF-g0/v-deo.html
fortunately, Amazon has these Windcamp ARK-705 in-stock now. Previously, they were shipping from China directly but that could be problematic since they are having Covid lockdowns over there. Looks like I'll skip the RC-2 and only buy Windcamp ARK-705
I really like the ARK-705. I'm a big fan for protection on all portable radios. It is super easy to trip over a wire and yank a radio across the field.
When I got my RC-1 on the surface it worked but seemed to be clunky in practice. The RC-2 looks a bit better thought out so it may work better. I have a PEOVI PV705-1 cage around my 705 which I like. Although is does not give me the same amount of protection as the cage you have, it functions well and looks like it will work just fine with the RC-2. So with that said I may just order the RC-2. Thanks for the Video and take care. Vic de KE8JWE
You welcome Vic, let me know if it all fits together.
Should make an extension for both the handmics cables, and a lil plugin spot with RJ45 that can hook to any kind of breakout/mic(even the stock handmic :))
Maybe add dip switch, or something to turn the handmic speaker on/off
That would be great
@@temporarilyoffline Get 3d printing, shouldnt be too hard with a RJ45 Keystone + some wires :P
@@nekotherion7317 exactly!
It be nice if you can put a dual antenna that you can switch back and forth like a 2 meter and 10 meter that we use on a regular basis. Hopfilly with out using an antenna tuner.
They make a diplexer that will let you switch like that.
Have you come across a screw that can be placed in the bottom to allow a tripod mount to attach to the wind camp mount?
I don't see why you couldn't remove the large windcamp screw and thread though a long tripod screw?
You installed the screw contrary.
Thanks for letting me know. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I wish they would make a cover over the screen for the ark.
That would be great!
Nice vid thanks just received my antenna bracket also with no instructions thanks for making it easy for me to install mine! Not sure about the cage though!
Any time Ronald!
I see a fix for this mic/spk cables interference with the bracket. We need a single cable plug with two jacks (like the baofeng data cable) that when plugged will exit straight down and has two female 3.5/2.5mm connectors where you plug the Icom mic/spk handset. 6in in length would be perfect and you can leave it plugged in the radio. Now, lets find someone who can makes it.
I bet it's the same cable as the id-5x HTs take
@@temporarilyoffline Yeah that's the one. If Icom made the Speaker/mic that comes with the IC705 with straight plugs instead of 90deg, using a cage wouldn't have been an issue.
Looks like an issue with the speaker mic .. WHY the right angle connectors ? even without the cage its a pain in the ass to connect both .. if they had straight connectors ZERO issues
Agreed! I don't know why they made them right angle
switch the large black thumb screw at bottom with phillips screw u put at top. the black screw is used for the movable portion of the bracket. just a thought. de wb8idy 73
I can agree with that.
Struggling to find a source for a straight 3-6" M-F 2.5mm TRRS extension for the mic. Anyone have a link? (the 3.5mm TRS speaker plug is easy to find)
I can't find any either... I'd probably build one from a larger cable. I can't even find 4 pole "solder on repair" parts.
Sorted I love my Peovi
I don't know about leaving the back uncovered... maybe I'll just out it in a go-box
👍👍👍👍👍👍
👍👍👍👍👍👍
I ended up doing the same thing .
Great minds think a like!
Good cage, shame there's an issue with the leads 😢
Good video though 👌
It's a minor issue...
It's irritating that the Icom AH-705 does not clip on the back. Radio needs FIVE cables, two for the speaker mike, two or the ATU and one for external power. And I HATE the MICRO-USB for charging. The whole cell phone world has gone USB-C, Icom must have been asleep. G7VFY
Agreed
It would irritate to hell out of me I don't know what I would do but I'm real picky about things like that especially if it was marking up my radio or causing it to have a dent I'd be very very pissed off 👍
Exactly. I like things to be nice, but I also like to use them. The cage helps to protect the radio, so I'm happy.
another solution looking for a problem?
Pretty much
Caution....I had a problem and contacted tnem.....never received a reply. Customer service terrible
Is that strike 3 or 4?
it is amazing how all these products reinforce the horizontal configuration while tbe obvious solution is to go vertical.
Icom created the 705 with a top facing antenna port and then crippled everything with landscape only display mode.
How would you like to use your smart fone in landscape only?
Why havent you ever added a right angle adapter to any of your 2m/440 HT's or put them in a horizontal cage?
why don't the beltclips allow you to hang your dmr HTs on your belt horizontally? surely you could add a right angle sma... LOL!
THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH ic 705 REMAINS A LACK OF VERTICAL "PORTRAIT" MODE OF THE DISPLAY.
you are all suffering from collective failure of imagination.
73.
I'm right there with you!
The antenna port on the 705 is side facing, not top facing.
I would rather be forced to use landscape over vertical on my phone any day. Would be difficult to take photos or videos otherwise.
The 705 is not an HT.
The scope would be less useful in vertical mode, and the radio would be more likely to tip over. I suppose if it played tiktok videos, portrait mode would be useful.
Being able to change the screen orientation would be nice, but I don't see there being much demand for it.
@@2025_Is_Going_To_Be_Great
you're just another enforcer of the status-quo.
fighting against the world of possibilities mind locked in the mediocrity of just good enough.
Poor You.
No, the antenna port is not side mounted until the optional rubber feet are installed by the user and the whole point is to not be forced into any orientation but to have a choice
i think the blue device is used to pry up mic and ptt plugs because u cant grab with your fingers. de wb8idy just a thought 73
It could be... if only I could figure out where I put it...
Yup. Works well