Excellent job of stating your position. I was concerned about the high price, too. But I went ahead and made the purchase. No regret at all. A truly great device. Many people spend that much on a mobile phone. My expectations are exceeded.
It is an expensive radio and yes the price will come down over time. A few points however. 1: QRP and digital are a perfect match, so your missing out on a lot if you’re only doing SSB. To each his own. 2: It’s the only QRP radio that enables you to do everything through a single cable (or no cable over Wi-Fi) such as accessing the integrated sound card, rig control, and GPS for location and time. 3: Ease of use is unmatched. 4: Fun. I own a lot of radios and have to say that the 705 is my absolute favorite to use at this time. Overall this radio is a game changer for QRP and will drive the industry in the right direction. If you can afford one, I can’t recommend it enough. If you can’t, the good news is that competitors will come and prices will fall overtime. Just my two cents.
@@KC2BKM He also mentioned competitors. Of which there are still *Zero*. So the price remains. I love my 705 and learn something new to do with it almost every week. Just started dabbing in the terminal (aka hotspot) mode where I can do Pure Digital over the internet when no digital repeaters are around. I have zero regrets, but if you have a dozen radios already, I totally get skipping it. But for a new ham, it's been awesome to have an all-in-one radio. I can run FT8 with my phone using SDR Control. If I want to rack up POTA contacts, I take a small padded lunchbox with the IC-705, a roll-up EFHW, and my phone in my pocket. That's it! It's an incredible radio to own during this part of the solar cycle.
I just got mine for Christmas and was watching videos on the 705. I noticed this prediction was two years old and couldn’t help but to attempt a funny comment. So far it’s worth every penny.
@@KC2BKM Great Xmas!! I literally don't have enough time in the day to do everything this radio is capable of. If you want another cheap upgrade in the future, I just got myself a Pi Zero 2 W and installed DigiPi 1.8 on it. What an awesome project. The 705 + a Pi Z2W both draw almost nothing in power. I could run all day on a 30/40w solar panel running tons and tons of different modes. Also, in terms of popularity, the 705 is the favorite radio of Josh from Ham Radio Crashcourse, and Mike from HamRadioTube. Anyone who complains about it usually has 5-6 radios already.
Thanks for all your videos Tracy. I have almost seen them all and they inform and entertain me very much indeed! Please keep making them and stay safe! Danny, PE1PDS
Thanks for sharing your thoughts which are similar to mine. I also only run QRP SSB when I'm out portable, but I have a Xiegu G90. Small radio, runs 20w and has a built in tuner.
I appreciate the video and you have some very good points that people should consider. I have both the 7300 and 9700 and have just added the 705 to my Icom/radio gear! I have many uses for the 705 in addition to QRP that I really love it for so in my case it will not just be sitting around when I am not able to operate QRP! While I agree that it is rather expensive and chances are the price will come down and may not make much sense to some it was just the radio I had been waiting several years for in my case! It sure will be interesting to see what Yaesu’s response will be to the 705. It took 4yrs for Yaesu to respond to the Icom 7300 with the FTDX10 and hopefully it will not take that long for them to respond to the 705! The manufacturer competitiveness really helps the HAM radio hobby with more innovative products do to the their competition with one another! I am very excited to see what the future holds for radios and gear that will be coming out! 73
In a way I agree with you, I do own a 705 and it's a fantastic radio with a great front end, I've had the radio since it's launch and now I've had it a while the initial novelty of the radio has worn off but it'll still make up the majority of my portable activity the rest of the time I'll still be using my trustee ft-817 for all the places I need a reasonably rugged radio, have owned a kx3 and still had it when I bought the 705 so had time to compare both radios side by side and on HF there's no difference on Rx but when it comes to ease of use and onboard facilities for me the 705 has it, thanks for the video Tracy looking forward for the next one, Adam G7CRQ
Tracy, I enjoy your videos and that includes this one as well. It’s nice to see a video take a contrary position based on well thought points like the ones you made. Like you, I enjoy operating outdoors and oftentimes bring along my wife (KI4HHI) to do SOTA & POTA. We’ve used an FT-817 for years and we still own it, but the 705 is our new go to portable radio. We were lucky enough to get one of the first US shipments in late summer of last year. Having an all-band, all-mode radio with a screen we can actually see (love the 817, but as I get older that little screen is tough to see) is incredible. In fact, I love the 705 so much it’s kind of hard to use the 7300 at home. Yes the 7300 has more TX power, but the 705 has more features and the recent firmware upgrade actually added even more features. Indeed, the price will come down once demand subsides. The 705 is so useful, I find myself putting it on a camera stand near my home computer and use it to work repeaters and listen to the radio (FM, air, SWL, etc.) while I’m working from home. I wondered about the usefulness of a spectrum scope, but now that I have it - it’s hard to use a radio without one. The 705 exceeded my expectations and even though I’ve had it for over five months, I’m still learning how to use all the features. The plug-and-play digital modes are incredibly useful compared to the kludgy sound-card interfaces needed for the 817 and 897. Although I’ll keep those legacy Yaesu models around, the 705 is our new favorite radio. We brought it to Winter Field Day last weekend and it was an instant hit. Using an EFHW 10/20/40 antenna, we made a contact from south of Atlanta (where we’re located) up to Gatineau, Quebec on 5 watts SSB using the 705. It’s a great rig, worth every dollar to us. Thanks for your videos and keep up the great work. 73 de KI4HHI es KI4ASK.
I have an FT 857D and an FT 897, both light enough for portable (from car to park bench) and appropriate antenna systems for portable as well. If I want QRP I have enough sense to turn down the power on either of these radios. I don't need a QRP only radio in my ling up. On the plus side, either of these radios will serve very well as a base station, and with a few quick disconnects they become portable/mobile. You defined the exact reason why, like you, I won't be buying the IC-705. Good review, and don't take so long between videos.
Yeah, if you do car portables and then maybe walk a bit, you may afford bringing almost anything. My use case is to walk whole day or do other things and just stop-by and operate for a while. I wouldn't bring an FT991a with me if I would want to walk longer or if radio operation wasn't the primary aim of the trip...
Hi Tracy. Just trying to get caught up on your videos. I’m commenting because I want you to know that I really appreciate your excellent videos and your gentlemenley (if that’s a word) presentations. Keep up the great work. 73, Bill K6HB from California
Another great video with fantastic points. I echo your predication and will continue to take along my trusty FT-818 for my SOTA activations until the IC-705 drops below the $1,000.00 price point.
Tracy, for cheap Luddites you're absolutely spot on, LOL! Your rationale is exactly why I wasn't an early adopter of the 705. I have a 7300 and a 9700 (and still using my 706MKIIG) but eventually succumbed to the lure of the 705's portability. I travel a lot and the 705's all mode, all band capability really fit a niche spot in my kit. Great video! 73
Hello Tracy, I for 95% agree with you, except for the fact that I'm not going to wait as you mention at the end of the video for the price to drop. I have an 818ND, I like things basic nowadays. One thing I can add is that in the past I had a fully stuffed KX3, the price for that was even higher than the IC-705 now. It turned out I didn't like taking such an expensive rig with me on vacation or in the field, too fragile. The end result is that I sold my KX3. 73, take care Gust ON6KE
The was i see it if u can afford it buy it .there is no comparison between the yeasu 817 or 818 on performance or features of the Icom 705.So i don't think its a waste of money to buy the Best QRP radio out there.I have the Elecraft KX3 and have 2700.00 invested in it and since I bought the icom 705 the Elecraft stays in the pelican case .
Tracy, you always do such thoughtful videos that are thoroughly enjoyable to watch. I remember commenting on what I believe to have been your first foray into outdoor ops when you sat in a tent on FD amidst a rainstorm with your beloved 817 and made contacts. As the line goes in Jeremiah Johnson, Will Geer to Robert Redford, "You've done well, pilgrim!" And, I must proudly admit that I have fallen prey to your analysis and recommendations for more than one product. With respect to your dearly departed 817, I may be doing so as well. The filtering for it (as with my IC-706MKIIG) does not keep up with what's on rigs these days. So someone will benefit from a great "starter set" as a new rig is being sought. (Probably an FT-891 because of the price.) But, my passion is building and, unlike you, I burn up more rolls of solder than logbooks. So thank you again for your wisdom from up there on the Great White North, eh!
Agree with you, Tracy! The 705 is much too expensive for what you get. As an 703 owner for nearly 10 years, all my wishes for an portable rig are fulfilled. I don't need DStar or WiFi nor a waterfall diagram in the field or on Mountaintop, i need a solid radio. I also own the 7300. It was 400€ cheaper here in Germany than the 705... Vy 73 de Stefan DG4RBS
I also prefer field/portable ops and have ruled a 705. Yes, it's pricey but that wasn't the killer for me, that was no 4m. Icom obviously decided, in their wisdom, to omit the 4m band which is supported on the 7300. As mentioned in the video it is a very feature rich rig, most of which I also may never use. I'm now retired and spent the last 20 years of my working life in IT, configuring servers and VOIP etc but I'm not the least bit interested in connecting any radio to the internet and talking to other Hams on "internet chat rooms". I'm certainly not against it as I'm sure it's attracted many new younger Hams into the hobby but for me it's just not radio. I'd much rather throw a wire up a mast or a tree, tune it and see what I can get!
I totally agree with your thoughts and assessment of the new Icom qrp rig. Having said that I spend part of every day playing with my 705 that I would probably not own if there was no pandemic/lockdown. I was not aware of the Lab599 rig until after I got the 705 or things may well be different with my shack and future portable ops. 73 and thanks for making good quality/interesting videos Tracy. You got me into qrp, something I never used to have much interest in other than having HF when camping.
I opted for a Lab599 TX-500 over an IC-705 or KX-3 because I wanted something rugged and water resistant. I can’t imagine spending that kind of money for a high-end radio and then having to worry about getting it wet. And like you, I think contacts can be made without the fancy features. Finally, I believe that 300-500 mAh draw on receive is a huge price to pay. The 110 mAH receive current of the TX-500 means three times more operating time, or 1/3rd the battery weight
I love QRP, SOTA and starting POTA/camping this spring. I have the FT818/SW3B/MTR3B/I705 and want a TX-500! Life’s too short to not have ALL the QRP radios. I’ll probably pick up another I705 when prices drop.
Yep, I agree wth you 100% Tracy. Absolutely stupid price for a QRP radio with no ATU. I don't need DStar or WiFi nor do I need a waterfall display in the field, in fact I don't need them anywhere I play radio. I have owned 2 FT-817D's and loved them, but I sold them and bought a KX3. That radio has all I will ever need.
Good predictions on the aftermarket accessories. I would add another prediction to your list: "I bought this QRP rig 10 years ago for 1800$. It is still brand new barely used, therefore, I am selling it for 1800$. WHAT A DEAL!"
Very interesting watch, well thought out. I'm thinking about this radio from the point of view of just owning 1 radio... fun for portable and plug into an amp for use at a base. You have convinced me to wait and look around a bit more, so thanks for that!
I think you are spot on in your predictions. I was one of those fools (I mean early purchasers of the FT817 and I was one that regretted the lack of power. The most use I got out of the FT817 was when it became my in shack 2m SSB rig which had to be combined with .... you guessed it a small VHF 5watt in 45watt out AMP, that got me back to the point I was 2 years earlier with my IC 706mkii that had become my full-time HF mobile rig which was installed in such a way that wasn't easy to pull out of the truck.
As someone with a 703+ I was hoping to get a 705 to replace it but I had similar thoughts to you. Price was just too much for what I would use it for, doesn't have an antenna tuner like my 703, and I really like the remote head feature of the 703 when I'm backpacking. I can hold it easily with one hand. The 705 seems kinda bulky in comparison. But this is why they make different radios, everyone can find one that suits you best.
I love this video. Very fair and objective. You very clearly describe why the IC-705 isn't for you, whilst recognizing that it may be just the thing for others. Really appreciate this. So many people are diehard fanatics or haters, without reason. Radio selection is all about the operators needs and they types of operating they do. Well done, and thanks!
I think there are some great things (as you pointed out) about the rig, and I think I would make great use of it. But at $1400 I just can't see myself getting all the worth out of the radio even with the things I would use it for. Maybe in a number of years when it starts hitting the used market I'll pick one up.
I was thinking about getting one of those antennas. I ended up with a Chameleon and will give it a go. How do you like the Outbacker n terms of ease of set up, use, and making contacts? Thanks de KD2LMR
In another use case, the UK lower licence class is limited to 10watts, so it's the perfect base station that can be taken portable up a hill if desired. Compared to my FT818, the 705 is miles ahead, especially if you like digi modes. No need to buy the TNC & the the CW filter... and a modern battery. When you add it all up, the price difference isn't that much.
Good points - its basic market economics what you are describing (and as demonostrated by the earlier model), when people want something they will pay for it, and some will then fall away from it. I agree the 705 does have a high price, i have been using mine at home, mostly due to lockdown and not being able to get out (dstar feature), but for me its a great way to get into QRP once the lockdown ends yes the price tag is high, but I think if it gets me out and operating, making contacts then its doing its job (also a IC7300 owner). In the mean time I'm happy to familarize myself with it until I can get out.
The 705 needs to have a built in auto tuner. Even my KX2 has one! I almost bought a 705 this week, but stopped short when I saw the price with tax. I guess I will wait for a nice sale....
If I won one or someone gifted one to me I'd keep it but won't buy one. Thanks for your thoughts. It's a very nice rig but for the price it needs another 90 watts :-)
Hi Tracy, nice and thought out review as always,...I have followed yr channel for acouple of years now, and like yr consistentcy in yr reviews. I have to say Im after a superhet radio, as the sdr is taking over, I think my 897D(s) are supurb, I use my 991a as often as I can portable, the 705 n 7300 are both game changers in the hobby, for sure. But Im not interested, at least at the moment to buy. I may splash out on a new rig for the qth. I have 6 hf rigs and 3 are purchased used, including my base unit, FTdx3000, so sediments are are similiar. Even my diamond mobile antennas are hand me downs, but give excellent performance, In todays uncertain economic times, it is wise to tighten the belt and enjoy what we have,.. cheers as always, and 73
I'm binging some of your videos right now. i really like how you just talk in normal terms about these different radios. You don't blow smoke up my ass with technical terms and make a 30 minute sad-ham-proof video by covering all the technical terms and "gotcha" spots someone might try and poke holes in your shit with. Good stuff.
Very good video. I agree with you, the price is very high. I like the potential of VHF/UHF coming with 705 but yet I would like to see someone working some SSB satellites with this radio. I prefer KX2 as it is lighter, smaller and has an on-board ATU. Also, I would worry about this large display when caring the radio around.
I agree with all your points, Tracy. I see the latest price is $1250US and I just don't see what that brings to my contact count beyond the capabilities of my Xeigu G-90 or, the Yaesu FT-897D I had stuffed away in the closet until I saw your video on that radio. Are they "true" QRP radios? No, but I can always turn the power down to 5W out. If condx are found to be messy after setting up my outdoor station? I can always up the power to 20 or 100W and maybe not get "skunked" on POTA or SOTA contacts.
Thanks for the advice to wait a while for a price drop / second hand buy. I'm wanting to get my Foundation licence (10 watts max) so in a way there's not much point me getting a more powerful radio. Although a S/H Yeasu FT-897D is another i'm considering.
I couldn't agree more. I bought something even cheaper then the 817/818 that I absolutely love. The Xiegu G90 and it's a wonderful QRP and up to 20 watt radio with a built in tuner that will tune a wet noodle, if you need to. It's small enough and even has the band scope for those who enjoy the visual. I have a 7300 that I bought used for much less then new as a base station, after it had been on the market for 5 years. I too will wait until the price comes down and can be bought used, for much less. Even then, I will need to decide if I really need to part with my G90. Thanks for sharing your view point. 73 de KD2LMR.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the G90. The major issue I personally have with it is the tiny screen. I'm not sure my aging eyes could manage looking at that tiny display. 73 from VE3TWM.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I own both the 818 and a G90, both fun to play with. Your argument about screen size on the G90 doesn’t hold water, as the 818 is smaller. The biggest plus of the G90 for me is the integrated tune, and simple menu op big advantage of XIEGU.
On every Amateur radio I've owned *before the IC-7300* the RF Gain when rolled down, brought UP the needle on the meter to show how much quieting is being dialed in whereas a simple CB "RF Gain" is only a cheap variable attenuator and takes everything down when rolled down. A real RF Gain doesn't affect the S-reading of signals above the RF Gain quieting level setting and only softens the signals below the RF Gain quieting S-reading. I had 2 7300s, got rid of them, RF Gain & receiver selectivity issues, I doubt the 705 is any better/different.
Tracy, all good points. Truly. For a counterpoint, I don’t have any QRP rigs, and I wasn’t getting out with the IC-7200 I sold to buy my IC-705. I thought the rugged IC-7200 would be good to take out but I think I only ever did it once. The IC-705 will get me outdoors (and in fact, has done so a few times already). The display and functionality entice me to actually use it - for both SSB and digital modes - and that’s worth the extra cash I put out over the money I got for my IC-7200 collecting dust. I’m even home brewing my own end-fed half wave antennas, inspired by this new radio. 73, my friend.
Excellent points. I do wish iCOM, Yaesu, Kenwood, or even Alinco would make a radio comparable to the Xiegu G90. The demand for QRP radios is out there. The G90 has most of the features of the 705--minus the sound card and battery at nearly the fifth of the price. Plus the G90 is capable of 20 Watts and even has an ATU. For the price, the IC-705 should have included an ATU. With the 705, you're forced to still acquire a tuner (another 140 bucks or so) and carry an assortment of resonate wires (more stuff to carry).
Well, IC-705 does VHF/UHF, G90 doesn't. This is also an important point. For HF QRPers, there are plenty of choices. For those, who do VHF on mountain tops (SSB/CW, VHF is more than local FM/DV repeaters...), there is FT-817/8 and IC-705. Or some very old Yaesu 290R...
Excellent video, Tracy and thank you for giving your views. Clearly your intention was to expound the thinking behind your decision, thereby helping us to formulate our own views. It's like most things in ham radio, the answer is usually "it depends".
I actually won my IC-705 in a raffle from my ham club (PapaNet) and I own a 7300. Easy to operate and I know what it can do and the features are there if I need them. I also bought a AlexLoop Mag Antenna to use with the 705. No plans for an amp from this guy. I will be new to QRP and already did a QSO on it from San Diego to South Texas on 10W using my base antenna. Anxious to get out in the field and see what I can do getting out of the city and the high noise levels.
I have my IC-7100. It is a QRO rig, but if I want QRP, I can simply turn the power down to 5 watts. The 7100 is my base station. It is also my portable rig, and works great. I belong to a QRP club, just for the fellowship. We meet on Thursday nights for a net. I live 100 miles away from most of the group, and can hardly hear them. I like having full power if needed. I agree 100% with you. If I want to spend that kind of money, I will get a 7300. Thumbs up to you! 👍
Sir, it’s nice that you recognize the qualities of the IC-705. Likewise, nobody is forcing you to buy one either. Aren’t you glad, that you have the right and privilege to buy, or not to buy? Rejoice that others will adopt Amateur Radio, and QRP, as well…
I concur with you only about the price. 705 is going to open a new era where Yaesu & Kenwood and so on have a great gap yet. I have both 817 and 705 and, as normally happens when time flows, these are on two different planets. That's the way it is. Good video as always!
I have the IC-705 and enjoy it with a Pa500 amp/tuner (now I have spent a fortune😅). I operate in the field and this combo gives excellent power usage. My LiFeSO4 batteries last much longer. I also use the radio's hotspot to run with no wires from a tablet. Lots of money for lots of excellent features. Most of which are very oriented to us long duration field operators (sometimes for days using solar power. Anyway, it is very dependent on individual needs (usually is). You made great points and I learned, thank you. Doug N8VY
I know this video is a few years old, but here goes. The 817 opened up the world of QRP to a lot more people. It showed a lot of us that we could have fun going out to some isolated spot and throwing a wire up somewhere and then getting contacts from far away. For me it always feels like I have sort of broken the laws of physics when I am sat outside, using a battery and a bit of wire and talking to someone 12 hours drive away. I learned CW because why not, it made it even more fun, even more basic and as a result can now talk to people further than I have ever ventured. I have always appreciated that the person I am talking to is probably doing most of the work. I rarely use any effort to pull my contacts in, they on the other hand are probably fiddling knobs and tweaking settings to pull my signal up. When I learn how to talk with my ears I will buy a 705, or if I want to use a computer to type messages to people I will buy a 705. Until then, 817 will do just fine. It makes my contacts happy when they manage to hear me on a bit of wire and a few watts, because they know they have achieved something, especially when the contact is on SSB and you can hear the joy in their voices.
I am always concerned about going out with expensive radio gear. I am really tempted by the IC-705 but what I really want is a rugged radio with performance. Need a 21st century Clansman RT-320 with 21st century electronics.
Sir! Thank you for a great summary of which I totally agree. I have an IC-7300 sitting on my desk. It is a great and affordable rig that I use many days a week. When I operate QRP/P I am perfectly fine with my FT-817 or (preferably) IC-703. Thank you and 73 de SM5SYO.
I totally agree with your comments. I did purchase an IC-705 and the same day I purchased the FT-891 both reserved for portable operation. When I realised a decent 100 watt amplifier for the IC-705 cost as much or more as a complete FT-891, I chose to just buy a the FT-891 for higher power portable work, small enough to carry anywhere with my light weight 12V12AH battery. I also find it interesting how many hams split hairs on current draw as if going portable is like preparing to climb Mount Everest. While putting together a field portable capable station is cool, and current draw means longer or less operating times, I find very few operators as hard core in portable operation as the tendensy is for them to prepare as if it's a climb to the summit in some remote exotic location. Nice fantasy though.
I have the same combination of radios. I did try one of the cheap Chinese amps for my 705, but it was lighter and more convenient to just haul my FT891. I also think it’s strange how everyone fixates so much on weight and current draw, like you said, as if they’re going to be climbing Everest. I’m not sure how many hours some of these folks think they’re going to be spending on a summit calling cq!
Nice video. I'm a portable QRP guy as well but won't ever consider buying the 705. The main reason being something that no one is talking about- the color touchscreen. Most of my operating is outside in the sun. That color touchscreen is the worst choice for trying to read in direct sun, not to mention that I hate touchscreens. They're fancy, sure, but more expensive and more prone to failure compared to old fashioned buttons. My Elecraft KX3 is perfect for me, I can read the screen in direct sunlight and the current draw is still less than the 705. I can operate all weekend on a 10ah battery, plus the internal tuner is amazing on the kx3.
It might be a good idea to get a IC-705 and use it as both portable and base station. You could get a small amp to take the IC-705 to 100w and leave that at home as part of your base station. There's a fair deal of overlap between the IC-7300 and this right? Why not use the one IC-705 for both portable/QRP/SOTA and then just reconnect it when you get back home.
I have a kx3 fully loaded, kx2 fully loaded and the original 817. i use the kx2 mostly now. Though the 817 is the best imo as a ssb fm user. small and easy. i got into hf with the 817 and havent looked back.the kx3 sits at home because its too expensive to bring in the field. i was gonna get an ic 705 and would like to get one but i agree with you.
I have no chance of deploying a full power rig at my QTH (basically I am living in a concrete pit in a housing estate under the hill 500 m high effectively blocking all my south hemisphere especially in VHF/UHF ranges) so my only way of operation are field trips. To feed 100 W rig in the field is somewhat tricky, so QRP is my only option. And this one is (almost) perfect.
I know that the FT-818 is old but I already have a bunch of accessories laying around for it including a narrow filter and a tuner and you could actually buy 2 of them for the price of one IC-705 I mostly use my FT-891 also less money. these days with IF filtering that will most likely rival the filtering on the 705 and it will dial down to QRP. but can run 100 watts as well. Yes you will need an external battery, but I suspect that most 705's will need an external battery for long term use. If you really like the color display in the Icom, and the waterfall, I am sure that someone out there probably makes rig control software for the competition that will look just as good.
Definetely agree with you Tracy. My jaw hit the floor when the price was released for the IC-705 here in VK (much the same price as $CAD) and is actually dearer than the IC-7300. Had the price been less than the IC-7300 (say around AUD$1300), then it would have been an immediate buy for sure. I think the inclusion of DSTAR has pushed the price up to where it sits currently. Oh and the IC-703+ with the built in ATU is just too good a radio to retire!
The IC-7300 was around the same price as the IC-705 when it was first released and the IC-705 also covers VHF/UHF and includes GPS functionality, features the IC-7300 lacks. I think its priced fairly for what it's capable of.
If I had already an HF base station or QRP radio I'd agree in all points with you. I bought an IC 705 because I'm new to ham radio and wanted something that has all modes on all bands, a waterfall and direct pc connection capability. At best it should be portable so I can take it with me to my universitys club station. As I'm looking for my first radio before it was announced I wrote down what features I'd like to have and a few weeks later Icom served it. So far I'm very happy with it. It is exactly what I needed. So I could start amateur radio on low power on all bands with the rich feature set of the 7300 and could upgrade my TRX capabilitys with ongoing time through antennas and amplifiers. All in total I have all I want and still being cheaper than buying a SDR radio both for VHF/UHF and HF. The only wish I have is the support of 4m. Sadly it's only rx there...
Planning on getting a IC-7300 as a replacement for a series of faulty Xiego G90 that I tried. To be honest, its more radio that I will need. I am strictly a digital HF ham. I would gladly get rid of the fancy screen, the waterfall... to get access to an IQ stream out of my rig.
I've had lots of fun with my ageing 817 but wow my 705 blows it out of the water the gains over my 817nd are to big to list of you enjoy the hobby and qrp get the best you can afford
Thanks for the insights, much appreciated. I really lie this as a companion to my 7300, but like you point out it's alot of money for a qrp station. No interest in any amp, kind of defeats the purpose for me. I'll wait for a bit and let the price drop!
Tracy, you and I are thinking exactly alike concerning the IC-705. It's an amazing radio and I can certainly afford one, but I refuse to pay the outrageous price for features I will seldom if ever use. I am perfectly happy with my ICOM IC-703 and my Yaesu FT-817nd for all my QRP needs. I also enjoy my QRP monoband radios by Ten-Tec, MFJ and Oak Hills Research. For me less is more and as such the more I appreciate when I make a contact. Maybe when the price comes down I'll consider an IC-705.
Brilliant video! I also think it is funny that some QRO portable operators say they will never run QRP, and then use a POS antenna which turns their 100W into about 25W effective radiated power....by using an inefficient antenna, they ARE running QRP without even realizing it! 73 de N2MXX
Excellent and true Tracy , my 817 and Venus SW-3b does me and I just need a light weight battery to carry about er and the SNOW to Lift here my 73 Trig
Tracy. I agree with you. Price too high, too many nice to have, but not really necessary, features. That is how products get marketed these days. Most all current HF radios are good radios. They all have the features one needs to make contacts and have all about the same quality of build. To sell new radios, the manufacturers need what is called "product differentiation" and offer more stuff that they hope they will get the customer to want to have. Like waterfalls and scopes. When I do digital modes the Fldigi or WSJXT programs bring their own waterfalls and scopes. For SSB I just simply listen and turn the VFO knob on my current radio. My first, and still primary, rig is an Icom IC-7200. It is definitely ruggedly built. No lightweight, but works well as a base station and a portable radio. It has DSP, twin passband and a few other practical and useful(!) bells and whistles. And real knobs and dials! No hacking through computer menus. It does HF (160-10m) and 6m at 100w. For digital modes it has a USB port for both rig control AND audio. No audio interface is necessary. When I bought it in 2015 it cost around 900 Euros. My second rig is a Yaesu FT-891. Granted, it is lightweight, and it has a small footprint. It has no built-in sound card. An additional audio interface is required. Doing digital modes with the FT-891 in the field is an exercise in frustration with all the cables one must manage. The radio has good filters, RX is very good, the mic is also okay. The menu is long. If you don't use it often, you need to carry the manual with you in the field for reference. When I bought it the radio cost around 650 Euros. I would have liked to have purchased the Icom IC-7100, but it was and continues to be at least twice as expensive as the FT-891 here in Europe. In the US, the radios are comparatively priced. A ZLP Electronics MiniproSC audio interface costs about another 100 Euros. Both my current radios draw about 1 amp on RX vs. about 500ma with the IC-705. Big hairy deal. I still get about 5hrs of fun with my IC-7200 and FT-891 and a LiFePO4 12Ah battery, even more when I hook up my portable solar panel and Genasun mppt charge controller. I guess if you want to man pack a qrp radio up a mountain or along rugged trails, this kind of radio may be of interest. I would however be worried about lugging an 1800 buck radio through the wilds of back country. I would then rather carry a much cheaper Xiegu G90 (max 20w) or G105 (max 20w). I hear that there is also debate about the pros and cons of having a "shack in the box" that does everything from 70cm to 160m. I have not followed it closely so I don't know what the issues are. I guess if you want 2m or 70cm SSB capability this might be the only budget way to go. There are few new model VHF/UHF SSB capable radios on the market. Only the IC-9700 comes to mind, and it is not cheap - and definitely not portable. Vy 73 de SV0SGS
I'm going to have to agree with you here. I bought a Yaesu FT-817 and it has all the features I could ask for. The only thing I find myself missing from a base station rig is a "width" filter. I will probably be picking up a sotabeams laserbeam817. I have never had a spectrum scope or waterfall and I don't really think that I need one.
Hi Tracy - good video, however I have a different point of view. To use use a hypothetical, lets assume that you wait for 3 years for the IC-705 price to drop by USD 300 from USD 1295 down to USD 995. This means that for every month that you wait for the price to drop by USD 300 over 3 years, you are saving 300/36 = a savings for you of USD 8.33 per month during your wait. I bought my IC-705 and I am having a blast with "entertainment and fun value" from my IC-705. What is this entertainment value worth ? Well (for me) it is way, way, way more than USD 8.33 per month. Let's hypothesise with an entertainment value. I'm having at least USD 100 per month worth of entertainment value owning my IC-705. This means that during your 3 year wait, I have had USD 3600 worth of entertainment from my IC-705...and I will still have the capital value of the rig after the 3 year term. I enjoy your videos, and am a subscriber, but that is just the way I look at it. I'm in central Africa, and have been having a blast working Europe on the RS-44 satellite with my IC-705....taking it to the top of a local mountain to use on HF....listening to air band and FM broadcast. For me, the entertainment I am having with my IC-705 is worth the (more than) USD 2000 I paid to import it into Africa.
Hi John, sorry for the late response. You build a good, logical case in my estimation. Please note this video was intended to relate only to my situation. Thank you for being a subscriber and for adding to the conversation!
I'm completely new to ham and still don't really understand a lot of what I'm looking at as I poke around the market for what might be my first rig. I know from other hobbies that expecting exemplary performance in any area from a do-it-all option is a losing game, but the bit I've heard about the 705 has me wondering if it might at least be reasonably capable in most (if not necessarily all) fields, as a base transceiver and as a portable for when I travel or camp.
I own a 705 and totally not agree with some of your reasons 'not' to buy the 705 although this is personal for every other ham operator: - Price, yes it is expensive but replaces a lot of other stuff I was using before. What is expensive? A 500$ radio, a 1000$ radio, a 5000$ radio. All budgets differ. - No, it is not sitting in my backpack for weeks unused, it is the main VHF/UHF radio for me and serves as IF exiter for my 2,4 GHz upconverter to work QO-100 - It even servers as IF panadapter for my FTdx5000MP. - My 705 runs hours on a daily basis. - I use a lot of its rich features not only to do POTA or SOTA. - Your 3th reason does not make sense to me as I use the 705 in different ways. And it serves as a backup for the 5000MP and why not adding an amp to it at home, I can still take it away in my pocket and enjoy it's 5 or 10 Watts in the field. And as with all stuff, the ones buying it as an early adapter they allways will pay the highest price and have to deal with bug and firmware updates until a product is fully grown. I guess you made your point in why you don't want to spend that amount of money on this 705, as for me, I saved money buying it using it in 3 ways on daily base. First it is the main VHF/UHF FM/Dstar radio, second it is a backup (less important) and is the exiter for my satellite uplink and above that it is my do it all field radio and portable radio. For that I could say I have 4 times a 350$ radio in one box? Makes it less expensive, not ;-) Last but not least, a 705 can do a lot of stuff, in many ways so when power grids, internet, telephone etc fall apart, the 705 can do it all, not only single side band ;-) Just my two cents.
I bought a used 705, yes they are out there already. I did a lot of research before I made this purchase. Granted I did get a lot of extras with it and for the price I couldn’t pass it up. My only other choice for QRP all band was the FT-818/817. I personally have not had good luck with Yeasu products so the 705 was my only other option. I suppose you could use a 706mkIIg but it’s seriously old technology and found it’s DSP more of a volume attenuator than a noise type filter. I will admit for the price point it should have included an internal antenna tuner. On another note I suppose I could’ve gone the cheap Chinese radio route but that’s just not my style as I’ve only ever owned 1 and it had problems within one week. Great video and it’s nice to here a con point of view video vs pro point of view.
Thanks for the great review. I was recently offered a slightly used IC-705 with a tuner and a lot of extras for $650.00 US. Thus why I'm researching reviews. So there's possible proof of your prediction.
had a ft- 817 years ago sold it 10 years after i bought ft-818 love the dam thing like you said small shack in the box added a filter and speech compressor so when find they out what i am using I love the your using what ? you sound great would never know you are QRP best $600.00 I ever spent
Hey Tracey, and thanks for the short review. I would add that, as a long time shortwave listener and inveterate knob turner, I am floored by so many modern bells and whistles these new rigs have, and at the same time all of the old time companies are going belly up because of cheap Chicom labor pumping out all these junk radios. I love my old low budget doorstop Kenwood TS140s, 100 watts out into a homemade antenna and no amps and tuners. KC3BXZ Joe 73
Ok, so for everyone out there that already owns a QRP rig, if you had to replace it because it was destroyed would you buy the same thing you had or buy a IC705?
@@cwqrpportable I have owned several Icom rigs in the last 30 years. I didn't like most of them, but that's just me. Everyone is different and that is a good thing.
@@lightnin_lou Yep, each to their own. I find Icom the most intuitive ham radio compared to say Yaesu. Elecraft is my personal favourite. I'm an HF cw op only.
Great to see another video! I also opted to not purchase a 705, and also not just because of the price. Instead, I went with the Lab599 Discovery TX-500, which finally arrived on my porch at the beginning of this year. It may not have all of the fancy features that the 705 has, or the nice additions of the KX2 such as internal tuner and battery, but it was less expensive and has more of a focus on rugged portability, light weight, and power consumption, which I really appreciate. It’s been a great little rig in my limited outdoor experience with it so far; I’m glad I was able to be patient with the company and wait these long months for it. 73, great content as always
Hi,you made some good points, positive and negative, but different people have different needs, unfortunately one size fits all,,,,,is not how amateur radio works,,,thanks from Rotterdam,
Hi Tracy, yet another great video Im in the same camp as you, I'm not a fan, looks over complex. RX is going to be better with the IF filtering than the 817, but the 817 is over 20 years old. I've got lots of DX with my 817 and QRP CW. As for an amp, why not just get a normal rig, with the bells and whistles -- then lug a huge battery to the campsite. I'll stick with my 817, 703 and KX2. Bill, G7PVZ
you make a lot of good points. I would predict that base desktop units with scanning waterfall screens start dropping these built in screens and just provide a link to a monitor, mobile or pad screen instead and even start selling them as tailored accessories. I was banking on the 705 and 7300 having better handling of noise and distortion than older tech (rather than buying a lesser ability only to find i still need to upgrade again) because i have bad reception where i am - which is really an antenna limitation problem. It was predicted that these would impact the second hand market for the generation they replaced but the prices of those don't look too reduced to me. The biggest drawback touches on a point you made. Having a large number of features lost in menu structures does not appeal to me. I don't want to spend my time searching for things every time i want to make an adjustment. I like all the controls upfront as much as possible although I recognise these do allow for some customisation. Its not just the price of the rigs but all the custom accessories you get dragged into buying.
Yes, look at the Yaesu FT-991A or the Icom IC-7100. If you're willing to look on the used market, check out the Icom IC-9100. If you don't mind not having a colour screen and a waterfall, it's a fabulous rig. They are rare, though.
I agree in many ways. Yes, some of these QRP rigs with the latest technology, known to hams, as bells and whistles, don't justify the much higher prices when they hit the market. I am sure if I had my ICOM 706 MK II G from 20 years ago, I could do most of what I operate, after almost 60 years as a ham, which I am quite satisfied with my much less, but still competent Yaesu FT-891, when I want to use 100 watts, and my Xiegu G-90, as being portable, and for mobile use with 20 watts. The thing I could not understand why when the Yaesu FT-818nd came out, they did not extend the receive VHF range to include the weather frequencies, etc. When I asked a Yaesu representative about this omission at their convention booth, they had no answer for that point. W2CH
Tnx, Tracy. I agree with you, to point, anyways... I have an 817ND, and had the regular one before that. I used it as my base station too till the sunspots went south, then I went back to my IC-7000. I still have my IC706 MKIIG for 'higher power' portable, but... My 100 AH deep cycle iss choost uh beeet moch for portable far from the car, (like 10 feet...) BUT it works to lower voltage than the 7000, so I keep it around for emergencies at home, anyways. I do have the HL45B for the 817, and that works nice, but a bit much to hook everything up portable. but can op from my 17 AH deep cycle for several hours at 45 W with much less bias current on TX. So, the 817 thinks I have divorced it any more... but good nooz! the sunspots are coming back, even if grudgingly... Like you, when I turn a rig on I want to TALK to somebody, like ssb or some times fm. So, I like it SIMPLE on portable, like my 817 and maybe an external battery with my original ldg 817 tuner and a dipole. Sometimes only a set of lith AA's internal for a good 3 - 4 hours of operating with a resonant dipole only. Not much worse than an HT... but with soooo much more range and possibilities! Yeah, I like portable and the 817 do it ALL for NO extra cost! And Y a 7300, either? My 7000 does it all and is much smaller. It sits atop my LDG AT 200 PRO 2 on the side of the table, and the switching PS is on the chair under the table. I have an 80 - 40 Trap Dipole outside with a 6M spaced under that, for all band ops, and a Diamond X- 200 at 25' for fm. Complete, fully functional, with no room wasted. I bin happeee with that setup for ever, well, since the first 706 came out anyways. 73, 72, Jerry wa2omu
I see what your saying about the amp. But for someone like me that has limited room and budget the idea that I can use it on the shack as a full time rig with amp and use it portable is good. I suppose it would be over kill if I already had a HF base
Excellent job of stating your position. I was concerned about the high price, too. But I went ahead and made the purchase. No regret at all. A truly great device. Many people spend that much on a mobile phone. My expectations are exceeded.
Tom thanks. I have problems installing the base station, but I would gladly buy a 705 for frequent trips at the price of an iPhone 12. 73! R2FBF
High price? This is the cheapest hobby I have lol!!
Great point about the Mobile Phone price Tom, and in 2 years your phone will be outdated too...
@@stacksmasher Divorcing is your other hobby?
@@markvermaat652 I've always maintained kids are a hobby!
It is an expensive radio and yes the price will come down over time. A few points however. 1: QRP and digital are a perfect match, so your missing out on a lot if you’re only doing SSB. To each his own. 2: It’s the only QRP radio that enables you to do everything through a single cable (or no cable over Wi-Fi) such as accessing the integrated sound card, rig control, and GPS for location and time. 3: Ease of use is unmatched. 4: Fun. I own a lot of radios and have to say that the 705 is my absolute favorite to use at this time. Overall this radio is a game changer for QRP and will drive the industry in the right direction. If you can afford one, I can’t recommend it enough. If you can’t, the good news is that competitors will come and prices will fall overtime. Just my two cents.
All good points!
"Its an expensive radio and the price will come down over time" said drunk Nostrodamus lol.
@@KC2BKM He also mentioned competitors. Of which there are still *Zero*. So the price remains. I love my 705 and learn something new to do with it almost every week. Just started dabbing in the terminal (aka hotspot) mode where I can do Pure Digital over the internet when no digital repeaters are around. I have zero regrets, but if you have a dozen radios already, I totally get skipping it. But for a new ham, it's been awesome to have an all-in-one radio. I can run FT8 with my phone using SDR Control. If I want to rack up POTA contacts, I take a small padded lunchbox with the IC-705, a roll-up EFHW, and my phone in my pocket. That's it! It's an incredible radio to own during this part of the solar cycle.
I just got mine for Christmas and was watching videos on the 705. I noticed this prediction was two years old and couldn’t help but to attempt a funny comment. So far it’s worth every penny.
@@KC2BKM Great Xmas!! I literally don't have enough time in the day to do everything this radio is capable of. If you want another cheap upgrade in the future, I just got myself a Pi Zero 2 W and installed DigiPi 1.8 on it. What an awesome project. The 705 + a Pi Z2W both draw almost nothing in power. I could run all day on a 30/40w solar panel running tons and tons of different modes.
Also, in terms of popularity, the 705 is the favorite radio of Josh from Ham Radio Crashcourse, and Mike from HamRadioTube.
Anyone who complains about it usually has 5-6 radios already.
Thanks for all your videos Tracy. I have almost seen them all and they inform and entertain me very much indeed! Please keep making them and stay safe! Danny, PE1PDS
Thanks for sharing your thoughts which are similar to mine. I also only run QRP SSB when I'm out portable, but I have a Xiegu G90. Small radio, runs 20w and has a built in tuner.
I have the same rig. 20w SSB will surprise you with a good antenna.
I appreciate the video and you have some very good points that people should consider. I have both the 7300 and 9700 and have just added the 705 to my Icom/radio gear! I have many uses for the 705 in addition to QRP that I really love it for so in my case it will not just be sitting around when I am not able to operate QRP! While I agree that it is rather expensive and chances are the price will come down and may not make much sense to some it was just the radio I had been waiting several years for in my case! It sure will be interesting to see what Yaesu’s response will be to the 705. It took 4yrs for Yaesu to respond to the Icom 7300 with the FTDX10 and hopefully it will not take that long for them to respond to the 705! The manufacturer competitiveness really helps the HAM radio hobby with more innovative products do to the their competition with one another! I am very excited to see what the future holds for radios and gear that will be coming out! 73
Well at least a yesu radius will keep working after a year or two
Great channel! Always look forward to your topics.
In a way I agree with you, I do own a 705 and it's a fantastic radio with a great front end, I've had the radio since it's launch and now I've had it a while the initial novelty of the radio has worn off but it'll still make up the majority of my portable activity the rest of the time I'll still be using my trustee ft-817 for all the places I need a reasonably rugged radio, have owned a kx3 and still had it when I bought the 705 so had time to compare both radios side by side and on HF there's no difference on Rx but when it comes to ease of use and onboard facilities for me the 705 has it, thanks for the video Tracy looking forward for the next one, Adam G7CRQ
Tracy, I enjoy your videos and that includes this one as well. It’s nice to see a video take a contrary position based on well thought points like the ones you made. Like you, I enjoy operating outdoors and oftentimes bring along my wife (KI4HHI) to do SOTA & POTA. We’ve used an FT-817 for years and we still own it, but the 705 is our new go to portable radio. We were lucky enough to get one of the first US shipments in late summer of last year. Having an all-band, all-mode radio with a screen we can actually see (love the 817, but as I get older that little screen is tough to see) is incredible. In fact, I love the 705 so much it’s kind of hard to use the 7300 at home. Yes the 7300 has more TX power, but the 705 has more features and the recent firmware upgrade actually added even more features. Indeed, the price will come down once demand subsides. The 705 is so useful, I find myself putting it on a camera stand near my home computer and use it to work repeaters and listen to the radio (FM, air, SWL, etc.) while I’m working from home. I wondered about the usefulness of a spectrum scope, but now that I have it - it’s hard to use a radio without one. The 705 exceeded my expectations and even though I’ve had it for over five months, I’m still learning how to use all the features. The plug-and-play digital modes are incredibly useful compared to the kludgy sound-card interfaces needed for the 817 and 897. Although I’ll keep those legacy Yaesu models around, the 705 is our new favorite radio. We brought it to Winter Field Day last weekend and it was an instant hit. Using an EFHW 10/20/40 antenna, we made a contact from south of Atlanta (where we’re located) up to Gatineau, Quebec on 5 watts SSB using the 705. It’s a great rig, worth every dollar to us. Thanks for your videos and keep up the great work. 73 de KI4HHI es KI4ASK.
Indeed, it's a fantastic little rig and priced very reasonably.
I have an FT 857D and an FT 897, both light enough for portable (from car to park bench) and appropriate antenna systems for portable as well. If I want QRP I have enough sense to turn down the power on either of these radios. I don't need a QRP only radio in my ling up. On the plus side, either of these radios will serve very well as a base station, and with a few quick disconnects they become portable/mobile. You defined the exact reason why, like you, I won't be buying the IC-705. Good review, and don't take so long between videos.
100% agree with you!
Yeah, if you do car portables and then maybe walk a bit, you may afford bringing almost anything. My use case is to walk whole day or do other things and just stop-by and operate for a while. I wouldn't bring an FT991a with me if I would want to walk longer or if radio operation wasn't the primary aim of the trip...
Great job.Excellent points . As kx3 owner with a lot of $ tied up in it, but infrequent use, I can totally understand your logic 73 Paul W2ECK
Thank you so much for taking the time to make and post this excellent video.... 73's
You're welcome! 73 from VE3TWM.
Hi Tracy. Just trying to get caught up on your videos. I’m commenting because I want you to know that I really appreciate your excellent videos and your gentlemenley (if that’s a word) presentations. Keep up the great work.
73, Bill K6HB from California
Thank you very much, Bill! 73 from VE3TWM.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir 😎
Another great video with fantastic points. I echo your predication and will continue to take along my trusty FT-818 for my SOTA activations until the IC-705 drops below the $1,000.00 price point.
Thank you! I hope people reading this will check out your UA-cam channel as you've done some interesting stuff.
You know you want one, that's why you felt compelled to make a video about it. You only live once, just get one! I am.
You're not wrong 😀
Tracy, for cheap Luddites you're absolutely spot on, LOL! Your rationale is exactly why I wasn't an early adopter of the 705. I have a 7300 and a 9700 (and still using my 706MKIIG) but eventually succumbed to the lure of the 705's portability. I travel a lot and the 705's all mode, all band capability really fit a niche spot in my kit. Great video! 73
Thank you for your comment! The 705 IS a great rig and I hope you enjoy yours fully. 73 from VE3TWM.
Hello Tracy, I for 95% agree with you, except for the fact that I'm not going to wait as you mention at the end of the video for the price to drop. I have an 818ND, I like things basic nowadays. One thing I can add is that in the past I had a fully stuffed KX3, the price for that was even higher than the IC-705 now.
It turned out I didn't like taking such an expensive rig with me on vacation or in the field, too fragile. The end result is that I sold my KX3.
73, take care
Gust ON6KE
The was i see it if u can afford it buy it .there is no comparison between the yeasu 817 or 818 on performance or features of the Icom 705.So i don't think its a waste of money to buy the Best QRP radio out there.I have the Elecraft KX3 and have 2700.00 invested in it and since I bought the icom 705 the Elecraft stays in the pelican case .
u?
Tracy, you always do such thoughtful videos that are thoroughly enjoyable to watch. I remember commenting on what I believe to have been your first foray into outdoor ops when you sat in a tent on FD amidst a rainstorm with your beloved 817 and made contacts.
As the line goes in Jeremiah Johnson, Will Geer to Robert Redford, "You've done well, pilgrim!"
And, I must proudly admit that I have fallen prey to your analysis and recommendations for more than one product.
With respect to your dearly departed 817, I may be doing so as well. The filtering for it (as with my IC-706MKIIG) does not keep up with what's on rigs these days. So someone will benefit from a great "starter set" as a new rig is being sought. (Probably an FT-891 because of the price.)
But, my passion is building and, unlike you, I burn up more rolls of solder than logbooks.
So thank you again for your wisdom from up there on the Great White North, eh!
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment, I really appreciate it.
By the way, I bought my 817 back from the ham I sold it to. I missed it!
Agree with you, Tracy!
The 705 is much too expensive for what you get.
As an 703 owner for nearly 10 years, all my wishes for an portable rig are fulfilled.
I don't need DStar or WiFi nor a waterfall diagram in the field or on Mountaintop, i need a solid radio.
I also own the 7300. It was 400€ cheaper here in Germany than the 705...
Vy 73 de Stefan DG4RBS
I also prefer field/portable ops and have ruled a 705. Yes, it's pricey but that wasn't the killer for me, that was no 4m. Icom obviously decided, in their wisdom, to omit the 4m band which is supported on the 7300. As mentioned in the video it is a very feature rich rig, most of which I also may never use. I'm now retired and spent the last 20 years of my working life in IT, configuring servers and VOIP etc but I'm not the least bit interested in connecting any radio to the internet and talking to other Hams on "internet chat rooms". I'm certainly not against it as I'm sure it's attracted many new younger Hams into the hobby but for me it's just not radio. I'd much rather throw a wire up a mast or a tree, tune it and see what I can get!
But after the mars-mod, the transceiver works on the 4m band also!
@@Didi1.275 It will receive on 4m but there is no power output on transmit.
@@phils2180 i dont't have an instrument for measuring but an other receiver 8meter far from the 705 received the signal as well.
I totally agree with your thoughts and assessment of the new Icom qrp rig. Having said that I spend part of every day playing with my 705 that I would probably not own if there was no pandemic/lockdown. I was not aware of the Lab599 rig until after I got the 705 or things may well be different with my shack and future portable ops. 73 and thanks for making good quality/interesting videos Tracy. You got me into qrp, something I never used to have much interest in other than having HF when camping.
I opted for a Lab599 TX-500 over an IC-705 or KX-3 because I wanted something rugged and water resistant. I can’t imagine spending that kind of money for a high-end radio and then having to worry about getting it wet. And like you, I think contacts can be made without the fancy features. Finally, I believe that 300-500 mAh draw on receive is a huge price to pay. The 110 mAH receive current of the TX-500 means three times more operating time, or 1/3rd the battery weight
I love QRP, SOTA and starting POTA/camping this spring. I have the FT818/SW3B/MTR3B/I705 and want a TX-500! Life’s too short to not have ALL the QRP radios. I’ll probably pick up another I705 when prices drop.
Yep, I agree wth you 100% Tracy. Absolutely stupid price for a QRP radio with no ATU. I don't need DStar or WiFi nor do I need a waterfall display in the field, in fact I don't need them anywhere I play radio. I have owned 2 FT-817D's and loved them, but I sold them and bought a KX3. That radio has all I will ever need.
Good predictions on the aftermarket accessories.
I would add another prediction to your list:
"I bought this QRP rig 10 years ago for 1800$. It is still brand new barely used, therefore, I am selling it for 1800$. WHAT A DEAL!"
I really don't get the criticism that the IC-705 lacks a tuner. It's a QRP rig, use a resonant antenna.
Very interesting watch, well thought out. I'm thinking about this radio from the point of view of just owning 1 radio... fun for portable and plug into an amp for use at a base. You have convinced me to wait and look around a bit more, so thanks for that!
Thank you for watching and good luck with your search!
I think you are spot on in your predictions.
I was one of those fools (I mean early purchasers of the FT817 and I was one that regretted the lack of power.
The most use I got out of the FT817 was when it became my in shack 2m SSB rig which had to be combined with .... you guessed it a small VHF 5watt in 45watt out AMP, that got me back to the point I was 2 years earlier with my IC 706mkii that had become my full-time HF mobile rig which was installed in such a way that wasn't easy to pull out of the truck.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
As someone with a 703+ I was hoping to get a 705 to replace it but I had similar thoughts to you. Price was just too much for what I would use it for, doesn't have an antenna tuner like my 703, and I really like the remote head feature of the 703 when I'm backpacking. I can hold it easily with one hand. The 705 seems kinda bulky in comparison. But this is why they make different radios, everyone can find one that suits you best.
I love this video. Very fair and objective. You very clearly describe why the IC-705 isn't for you, whilst recognizing that it may be just the thing for others. Really appreciate this. So many people are diehard fanatics or haters, without reason.
Radio selection is all about the operators needs and they types of operating they do. Well done, and thanks!
I think there are some great things (as you pointed out) about the rig, and I think I would make great use of it. But at $1400 I just can't see myself getting all the worth out of the radio even with the things I would use it for. Maybe in a number of years when it starts hitting the used market I'll pick one up.
Very happy with my Yaesu 817. Did some Euro contacts from Marconi Beach in Cape Cod with an Outbacker Joey. I agree with you about this rig.
I was thinking about getting one of those antennas. I ended up with a Chameleon and will give it a go. How do you like the Outbacker n terms of ease of set up, use, and making contacts? Thanks de KD2LMR
In another use case, the UK lower licence class is limited to 10watts, so it's the perfect base station that can be taken portable up a hill if desired. Compared to my FT818, the 705 is miles ahead, especially if you like digi modes. No need to buy the TNC & the the CW filter... and a modern battery. When you add it all up, the price difference isn't that much.
Hi Tracey, I too have the same thoughts as you. Would like to see a rig to replace the discontinued FT-857
73 de Geoff vk3sq
Good points - its basic market economics what you are describing (and as demonostrated by the earlier model), when people want something they will pay for it, and some will then fall away from it. I agree the 705 does have a high price, i have been using mine at home, mostly due to lockdown and not being able to get out (dstar feature), but for me its a great way to get into QRP once the lockdown ends yes the price tag is high, but I think if it gets me out and operating, making contacts then its doing its job (also a IC7300 owner). In the mean time I'm happy to familarize myself with it until I can get out.
The 705 needs to have a built in auto tuner. Even my KX2 has one! I almost bought a 705 this week, but stopped short when I saw the price with tax. I guess I will wait for a nice sale....
The 705 does NOT need to have a built in auto tuner. Resonant antennas are not that hard.
If I won one or someone gifted one to me I'd keep it but won't buy one. Thanks for your thoughts. It's a very nice rig but for the price it needs another 90 watts :-)
Hi Tracy, nice and thought out review as always,...I have followed yr channel for acouple of years now, and like yr consistentcy in yr reviews. I have to say Im after a superhet radio, as the sdr is taking over, I think my 897D(s) are supurb, I use my 991a as often as I can portable, the 705 n 7300 are both game changers in the hobby, for sure. But Im not interested, at least at the moment to buy. I may splash out on a new rig for the qth. I have 6 hf rigs and 3 are purchased used, including my base unit, FTdx3000, so sediments are are similiar. Even my diamond mobile antennas are hand me downs, but give excellent performance, In todays uncertain economic times, it is wise to tighten the belt and enjoy what we have,.. cheers as always, and 73
Have you looked at the LAB599 Discovery? Looks nice. Half the price. Still kinda expensive, but it caught my eye.
I'm binging some of your videos right now. i really like how you just talk in normal terms about these different radios. You don't blow smoke up my ass with technical terms and make a 30 minute sad-ham-proof video by covering all the technical terms and "gotcha" spots someone might try and poke holes in your shit with. Good stuff.
Thank you!
Very good video. I agree with you, the price is very high. I like the potential of VHF/UHF coming with 705 but yet I would like to see someone working some SSB satellites with this radio. I prefer KX2 as it is lighter, smaller and has an on-board ATU. Also, I would worry about this large display when caring the radio around.
I agree with all your points, Tracy. I see the latest price is $1250US and I just don't see what that brings to my contact count beyond the capabilities of my Xeigu G-90 or, the Yaesu FT-897D I had stuffed away in the closet until I saw your video on that radio. Are they "true" QRP radios? No, but I can always turn the power down to 5W out. If condx are found to be messy after setting up my outdoor station? I can always up the power to 20 or 100W and maybe not get "skunked" on POTA or SOTA contacts.
Thanks for the advice to wait a while for a price drop / second hand buy. I'm wanting to get my Foundation licence (10 watts max) so in a way there's not much point me getting a more powerful radio. Although a S/H Yeasu FT-897D is another i'm considering.
I couldn't agree more. I bought something even cheaper then the 817/818 that I absolutely love. The Xiegu G90 and it's a wonderful QRP and up to 20 watt radio with a built in tuner that will tune a wet noodle, if you need to. It's small enough and even has the band scope for those who enjoy the visual. I have a 7300 that I bought used for much less then new as a base station, after it had been on the market for 5 years. I too will wait until the price comes down and can be bought used, for much less. Even then, I will need to decide if I really need to part with my G90. Thanks for sharing your view point. 73 de KD2LMR.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the G90. The major issue I personally have with it is the tiny screen. I'm not sure my aging eyes could manage looking at that tiny display. 73 from VE3TWM.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I own both the 818 and a G90, both fun to play with. Your argument about screen size on the G90 doesn’t hold water, as the 818 is smaller. The biggest plus of the G90 for me is the integrated tune, and simple menu op big advantage of XIEGU.
On every Amateur radio I've owned *before the IC-7300* the RF Gain when rolled down, brought UP the needle on the meter to show how much quieting is being dialed in whereas a simple CB "RF Gain" is only a cheap variable attenuator and takes everything down when rolled down.
A real RF Gain doesn't affect the S-reading of signals above the RF Gain quieting level setting and only softens the signals below the RF Gain quieting S-reading.
I had 2 7300s, got rid of them, RF Gain & receiver selectivity issues, I doubt the 705 is any better/different.
Tracy, all good points. Truly. For a counterpoint, I don’t have any QRP rigs, and I wasn’t getting out with the IC-7200 I sold to buy my IC-705. I thought the rugged IC-7200 would be good to take out but I think I only ever did it once. The IC-705 will get me outdoors (and in fact, has done so a few times already). The display and functionality entice me to actually use it - for both SSB and digital modes - and that’s worth the extra cash I put out over the money I got for my IC-7200 collecting dust. I’m even home brewing my own end-fed half wave antennas, inspired by this new radio. 73, my friend.
Good points, Kevin! I can absolutely see how a rig like the 705 could reignite one's passion. 73 from your friend VE3TWM.
Excellent points. I do wish iCOM, Yaesu, Kenwood, or even Alinco would make a radio comparable to the Xiegu G90. The demand for QRP radios is out there. The G90 has most of the features of the 705--minus the sound card and battery at nearly the fifth of the price. Plus the G90 is capable of 20 Watts and even has an ATU. For the price, the IC-705 should have included an ATU. With the 705, you're forced to still acquire a tuner (another 140 bucks or so) and carry an assortment of resonate wires (more stuff to carry).
Well, IC-705 does VHF/UHF, G90 doesn't. This is also an important point. For HF QRPers, there are plenty of choices. For those, who do VHF on mountain tops (SSB/CW, VHF is more than local FM/DV repeaters...), there is FT-817/8 and IC-705. Or some very old Yaesu 290R...
Excellent video, Tracy and thank you for giving your views. Clearly your intention was to expound the thinking behind your decision, thereby helping us to formulate our own views. It's like most things in ham radio, the answer is usually "it depends".
I actually won my IC-705 in a raffle from my ham club (PapaNet) and I own a 7300. Easy to operate and I know what it can do and the features are there if I need them. I also bought a AlexLoop Mag Antenna to use with the 705. No plans for an amp from this guy. I will be new to QRP and already did a QSO on it from San Diego to South Texas on 10W using my base antenna. Anxious to get out in the field and see what I can do getting out of the city and the high noise levels.
I have my IC-7100. It is a QRO rig, but if I want QRP, I can simply turn the power down to 5 watts. The 7100 is my base station. It is also my portable rig, and works great. I belong to a QRP club, just for the fellowship. We meet on Thursday nights for a net. I live 100 miles away from most of the group, and can hardly hear them. I like having full power if needed. I agree 100% with you. If I want to spend that kind of money, I will get a 7300. Thumbs up to you! 👍
Sir, it’s nice that you recognize the qualities of the IC-705. Likewise, nobody is forcing you to buy one either. Aren’t you glad, that you have the right and privilege to buy, or not to buy? Rejoice that others will adopt Amateur Radio, and QRP, as well…
Couldn't agree with you more!
Glad I found your video - considering a Xiegu G90 to start with. The IC-705 seems like overkill for a mobile rig.
I concur with you only about the price. 705 is going to open a new era where Yaesu & Kenwood and so on have a great gap yet. I have both 817 and 705 and, as normally happens when time flows, these are on two different planets. That's the way it is. Good video as always!
I have the IC-705 and enjoy it with a Pa500 amp/tuner (now I have spent a fortune😅). I operate in the field and this combo gives excellent power usage. My LiFeSO4 batteries last much longer. I also use the radio's hotspot to run with no wires from a tablet. Lots of money for lots of excellent features. Most of which are very oriented to us long duration field operators (sometimes for days using solar power. Anyway, it is very dependent on individual needs (usually is). You made great points and I learned, thank you. Doug N8VY
Hi Doug, thank you for sharing your thoughts. That's a great station you've got there.
I'm with you, although I do mainly VHF QRP. But I have an Elecraft K2, KX3 and Icom 703 already. I'll wait.
I know this video is a few years old, but here goes. The 817 opened up the world of QRP to a lot more people. It showed a lot of us that we could have fun going out to some isolated spot and throwing a wire up somewhere and then getting contacts from far away. For me it always feels like I have sort of broken the laws of physics when I am sat outside, using a battery and a bit of wire and talking to someone 12 hours drive away. I learned CW because why not, it made it even more fun, even more basic and as a result can now talk to people further than I have ever ventured. I have always appreciated that the person I am talking to is probably doing most of the work. I rarely use any effort to pull my contacts in, they on the other hand are probably fiddling knobs and tweaking settings to pull my signal up. When I learn how to talk with my ears I will buy a 705, or if I want to use a computer to type messages to people I will buy a 705. Until then, 817 will do just fine. It makes my contacts happy when they manage to hear me on a bit of wire and a few watts, because they know they have achieved something, especially when the contact is on SSB and you can hear the joy in their voices.
I am always concerned about going out with expensive radio gear. I am really tempted by the IC-705 but what I really want is a rugged radio with performance. Need a 21st century Clansman RT-320 with 21st century electronics.
Totally agree with you. I like the 705 but it’s just not for me. It doesn’t add anything that I don’t already use.
Sir! Thank you for a great summary of which I totally agree. I have an IC-7300 sitting on my desk. It is a great and affordable rig that I use many days a week. When I operate QRP/P I am perfectly fine with my FT-817 or (preferably) IC-703. Thank you and 73 de SM5SYO.
Thank you! 73 from VE3TWM.
I totally agree with your comments. I did purchase an IC-705 and the same day I purchased the FT-891 both reserved for portable operation. When I realised a decent 100 watt amplifier for the IC-705 cost as much or more as a complete FT-891, I chose to just buy a the FT-891 for higher power portable work, small enough to carry anywhere with my light weight 12V12AH battery. I also find it interesting how many hams split hairs on current draw as if going portable is like preparing to climb Mount Everest. While putting together a field portable capable station is cool, and current draw means longer or less operating times, I find very few operators as hard core in portable operation as the tendensy is for them to prepare as if it's a climb to the summit in some remote exotic location. Nice fantasy though.
Good points, thank you for your comment!
I have the same combination of radios. I did try one of the cheap Chinese amps for my 705, but it was lighter and more convenient to just haul my FT891. I also think it’s strange how everyone fixates so much on weight and current draw, like you said, as if they’re going to be climbing Everest. I’m not sure how many hours some of these folks think they’re going to be spending on a summit calling cq!
Great video. Great voice and cadence. Very clear presentation. So watchable. Annoyance level zero. UA-camrs take note.
Thank you very much!
Nice video. I'm a portable QRP guy as well but won't ever consider buying the 705. The main reason being something that no one is talking about- the color touchscreen. Most of my operating is outside in the sun. That color touchscreen is the worst choice for trying to read in direct sun, not to mention that I hate touchscreens. They're fancy, sure, but more expensive and more prone to failure compared to old fashioned buttons. My Elecraft KX3 is perfect for me, I can read the screen in direct sunlight and the current draw is still less than the 705. I can operate all weekend on a 10ah battery, plus the internal tuner is amazing on the kx3.
Great points!
It might be a good idea to get a IC-705 and use it as both portable and base station. You could get a small amp to take the IC-705 to 100w and leave that at home as part of your base station. There's a fair deal of overlap between the IC-7300 and this right? Why not use the one IC-705 for both portable/QRP/SOTA and then just reconnect it when you get back home.
That is a great point.
I have a kx3 fully loaded, kx2 fully loaded and the original 817. i use the kx2 mostly now. Though the 817 is the best imo as a ssb fm user. small and easy. i got into hf with the 817 and havent looked back.the kx3 sits at home because its too expensive to bring in the field. i was gonna get an ic 705 and would like to get one but i agree with you.
I have no chance of deploying a full power rig at my QTH (basically I am living in a concrete pit in a housing estate under the hill 500 m high effectively blocking all my south hemisphere especially in VHF/UHF ranges) so my only way of operation are field trips. To feed 100 W rig in the field is somewhat tricky, so QRP is my only option. And this one is (almost) perfect.
Agreed, it's a great rig.
I know that the FT-818 is old but I already have a bunch of accessories laying around for it including a narrow filter and a tuner and you could actually buy 2 of them for the price of one IC-705 I mostly use my FT-891 also less money. these days with IF filtering that will most likely rival the filtering on the 705 and it will dial down to QRP. but can run 100 watts as well. Yes you will need an external battery, but I suspect that most 705's will need an external battery for long term use. If you really like the color display in the Icom, and the waterfall, I am sure that someone out there probably makes rig control software for the competition that will look just as good.
Definetely agree with you Tracy.
My jaw hit the floor when the price was released for the IC-705 here in VK (much the same price as $CAD) and is actually dearer than the IC-7300.
Had the price been less than the IC-7300 (say around AUD$1300), then it would have been an immediate buy for sure.
I think the inclusion of DSTAR has pushed the price up to where it sits currently.
Oh and the IC-703+ with the built in ATU is just too good a radio to retire!
The IC-7300 was around the same price as the IC-705 when it was first released and the IC-705 also covers VHF/UHF and includes GPS functionality, features the IC-7300 lacks. I think its priced fairly for what it's capable of.
If I had already an HF base station or QRP radio I'd agree in all points with you. I bought an IC 705 because I'm new to ham radio and wanted something that has all modes on all bands, a waterfall and direct pc connection capability. At best it should be portable so I can take it with me to my universitys club station. As I'm looking for my first radio before it was announced I wrote down what features I'd like to have and a few weeks later Icom served it. So far I'm very happy with it. It is exactly what I needed.
So I could start amateur radio on low power on all bands with the rich feature set of the 7300 and could upgrade my TRX capabilitys with ongoing time through antennas and amplifiers. All in total I have all I want and still being cheaper than buying a SDR radio both for VHF/UHF and HF. The only wish I have is the support of 4m. Sadly it's only rx there...
You've made some good points, Franz! Thank you for adding to the conversation.
Planning on getting a IC-7300 as a replacement for a series of faulty Xiego G90 that I tried. To be honest, its more radio that I will need. I am strictly a digital HF ham. I would gladly get rid of the fancy screen, the waterfall... to get access to an IQ stream out of my rig.
Well put and well explained. I couldn't agree more. 73's de Eric.
Thank you, Eric! 73 from VE3TWM.
I've had lots of fun with my ageing 817 but wow my 705 blows it out of the water the gains over my 817nd are to big to list of you enjoy the hobby and qrp get the best you can afford
Thanks for the insights, much appreciated. I really lie this as a companion to my 7300, but like you point out it's alot of money for a qrp station. No interest in any amp, kind of defeats the purpose for me. I'll wait for a bit and let the price drop!
Tracy, you and I are thinking exactly alike concerning the IC-705. It's an amazing radio and I can certainly afford one, but I refuse to pay the outrageous price for features I will seldom if ever use. I am perfectly happy with my ICOM IC-703 and my Yaesu FT-817nd for all my QRP needs. I also enjoy my QRP monoband radios by Ten-Tec, MFJ and Oak Hills Research. For me less is more and as such the more I appreciate when I make a contact. Maybe when the price comes down I'll consider an IC-705.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Brilliant video! I also think it is funny that some QRO portable operators say they will never run QRP, and then use a POS antenna which turns their 100W into about 25W effective radiated power....by using an inefficient antenna, they ARE running QRP without even realizing it! 73 de N2MXX
Excellent and true Tracy , my 817 and Venus SW-3b does me and I just need a light weight battery to carry about er and the SNOW to Lift here my 73 Trig
Hi Trig, always nice to hear from you! Hope you can get out soon. 73 from VE3TWM.
Title should be (why I'm going to miss out on such a great radio.)
Jerk
hey Tracy NIce and terrific review fantastic Tracy you numero uno thanks
With all this inflation in 2022...not so sure if price is going to drop ?
Tracy. I agree with you. Price too high, too many nice to have, but not really necessary, features. That is how products get marketed these days. Most all current HF radios are good radios. They all have the features one needs to make contacts and have all about the same quality of build. To sell new radios, the manufacturers need what is called "product differentiation" and offer more stuff that they hope they will get the customer to want to have. Like waterfalls and scopes. When I do digital modes the Fldigi or WSJXT programs bring their own waterfalls and scopes. For SSB I just simply listen and turn the VFO knob on my current radio.
My first, and still primary, rig is an Icom IC-7200. It is definitely ruggedly built. No lightweight, but works well as a base station and a portable radio. It has DSP, twin passband and a few other practical and useful(!) bells and whistles. And real knobs and dials! No hacking through computer menus. It does HF (160-10m) and 6m at 100w. For digital modes it has a USB port for both rig control AND audio. No audio interface is necessary. When I bought it in 2015 it cost around 900 Euros.
My second rig is a Yaesu FT-891. Granted, it is lightweight, and it has a small footprint. It has no built-in sound card. An additional audio interface is required. Doing digital modes with the FT-891 in the field is an exercise in frustration with all the cables one must manage. The radio has good filters, RX is very good, the mic is also okay. The menu is long. If you don't use it often, you need to carry the manual with you in the field for reference. When I bought it the radio cost around 650 Euros. I would have liked to have purchased the Icom IC-7100, but it was and continues to be at least twice as expensive as the FT-891 here in Europe. In the US, the radios are comparatively priced. A ZLP Electronics MiniproSC audio interface costs about another 100 Euros.
Both my current radios draw about 1 amp on RX vs. about 500ma with the IC-705. Big hairy deal. I still get about 5hrs of fun with my IC-7200 and FT-891 and a LiFePO4 12Ah battery, even more when I hook up my portable solar panel and Genasun mppt charge controller.
I guess if you want to man pack a qrp radio up a mountain or along rugged trails, this kind of radio may be of interest. I would however be worried about lugging an 1800 buck radio through the wilds of back country. I would then rather carry a much cheaper Xiegu G90 (max 20w) or G105 (max 20w).
I hear that there is also debate about the pros and cons of having a "shack in the box" that does everything from 70cm to 160m. I have not followed it closely so I don't know what the issues are. I guess if you want 2m or 70cm SSB capability this might be the only budget way to go. There are few new model VHF/UHF SSB capable radios on the market. Only the IC-9700 comes to mind, and it is not cheap - and definitely not portable.
Vy 73 de SV0SGS
I'm going to have to agree with you here. I bought a Yaesu FT-817 and it has all the features I could ask for. The only thing I find myself missing from a base station rig is a "width" filter. I will probably be picking up a sotabeams laserbeam817. I have never had a spectrum scope or waterfall and I don't really think that I need one.
Pick up a SOTAbeams speech compressor to! The difference is remarkable.
Hi Tracy - good video, however I have a different point of view. To use use a hypothetical, lets assume that you wait for 3 years for the IC-705 price to drop by USD 300 from USD 1295 down to USD 995. This means that for every month that you wait for the price to drop by USD 300 over 3 years, you are saving 300/36 = a savings for you of USD 8.33 per month during your wait. I bought my IC-705 and I am having a blast with "entertainment and fun value" from my IC-705. What is this entertainment value worth ? Well (for me) it is way, way, way more than USD 8.33 per month. Let's hypothesise with an entertainment value. I'm having at least USD 100 per month worth of entertainment value owning my IC-705. This means that during your 3 year wait, I have had USD 3600 worth of entertainment from my IC-705...and I will still have the capital value of the rig after the 3 year term. I enjoy your videos, and am a subscriber, but that is just the way I look at it. I'm in central Africa, and have been having a blast working Europe on the RS-44 satellite with my IC-705....taking it to the top of a local mountain to use on HF....listening to air band and FM broadcast. For me, the entertainment I am having with my IC-705 is worth the (more than) USD 2000 I paid to import it into Africa.
Hi John, sorry for the late response.
You build a good, logical case in my estimation. Please note this video was intended to relate only to my situation. Thank you for being a subscriber and for adding to the conversation!
I'm completely new to ham and still don't really understand a lot of what I'm looking at as I poke around the market for what might be my first rig. I know from other hobbies that expecting exemplary performance in any area from a do-it-all option is a losing game, but the bit I've heard about the 705 has me wondering if it might at least be reasonably capable in most (if not necessarily all) fields, as a base transceiver and as a portable for when I travel or camp.
I think that use case makes sense!
I own a 705 and totally not agree with some of your reasons 'not' to buy the 705 although this is personal for every other ham operator:
- Price, yes it is expensive but replaces a lot of other stuff I was using before. What is expensive? A 500$ radio, a 1000$ radio, a 5000$ radio. All budgets differ.
- No, it is not sitting in my backpack for weeks unused, it is the main VHF/UHF radio for me and serves as IF exiter for my 2,4 GHz upconverter to work QO-100
- It even servers as IF panadapter for my FTdx5000MP.
- My 705 runs hours on a daily basis.
- I use a lot of its rich features not only to do POTA or SOTA.
- Your 3th reason does not make sense to me as I use the 705 in different ways. And it serves as a backup for the 5000MP and why not adding an amp to it at home, I can still take it away in my pocket and enjoy it's 5 or 10 Watts in the field. And as with all stuff, the ones buying it as an early adapter they allways will pay the highest price and have to deal with bug and firmware updates until a product is fully grown.
I guess you made your point in why you don't want to spend that amount of money on this 705, as for me, I saved money buying it using it in 3 ways on daily base. First it is the main VHF/UHF FM/Dstar radio, second it is a backup (less important) and is the exiter for my satellite uplink and above that it is my do it all field radio and portable radio. For that I could say I have 4 times a 350$ radio in one box? Makes it less expensive, not ;-)
Last but not least, a 705 can do a lot of stuff, in many ways so when power grids, internet, telephone etc fall apart, the 705 can do it all, not only single side band ;-)
Just my two cents.
I bought a used 705, yes they are out there already. I did a lot of research before I made this purchase. Granted I did get a lot of extras with it and for the price I couldn’t pass it up. My only other choice for QRP all band was the FT-818/817. I personally have not had good luck with Yeasu products so the 705 was my only other option. I suppose you could use a 706mkIIg but it’s seriously old technology and found it’s DSP more of a volume attenuator than a noise type filter. I will admit for the price point it should have included an internal antenna tuner. On another note I suppose I could’ve gone the cheap Chinese radio route but that’s just not my style as I’ve only ever owned 1 and it had problems within one week. Great video and it’s nice to here a con point of view video vs pro point of view.
Did you get your 705 on eham?
@@swashington942 no eBay
Thanks for the great review. I was recently offered a slightly used IC-705 with a tuner and a lot of extras for $650.00 US. Thus why I'm researching reviews. So there's possible proof of your prediction.
You can’t leave us hanging like that. Did you end up taking the bite? For what you listed and the price that is a steal. Inquiring minds want to know.
had a ft- 817 years ago sold it 10 years after i bought ft-818 love the dam thing like you said small shack in the box added a filter and speech compressor so when find they out what i am using I love the your using what ? you sound great would never know you are QRP best $600.00 I ever spent
Thank you for your comment! Those 818/817's still deliver good performance.
Hey Tracey, and thanks for the short review. I would add that, as a long time shortwave listener and inveterate knob turner, I am floored by so many modern bells and whistles these new rigs have, and at the same time all of the old time companies are going belly up because of cheap Chicom labor pumping out all these junk radios. I love my old low budget doorstop Kenwood TS140s, 100 watts out into a homemade antenna and no amps and tuners. KC3BXZ Joe 73
Hi Joe, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I know what you mean. 73 from VE3TWM.
As others have said, the 705 is a great radio. Well worth a look.
Ok, so for everyone out there that already owns a QRP rig, if you had to replace it because it was destroyed would you buy the same thing you had or buy a IC705?
No. Not a Icon fan boy. Always had issues with Icom.
@@lightnin_lou Try an Icom then if you're not an Icon fan. I think you'll like them.....
@@cwqrpportable I have owned several Icom rigs in the last 30 years. I didn't like most of them, but that's just me. Everyone is different and that is a good thing.
@@lightnin_lou Yep, each to their own. I find Icom the most intuitive ham radio compared to say Yaesu. Elecraft is my personal favourite. I'm an HF cw op only.
Great to see another video! I also opted to not purchase a 705, and also not just because of the price. Instead, I went with the Lab599 Discovery TX-500, which finally arrived on my porch at the beginning of this year. It may not have all of the fancy features that the 705 has, or the nice additions of the KX2 such as internal tuner and battery, but it was less expensive and has more of a focus on rugged portability, light weight, and power consumption, which I really appreciate. It’s been a great little rig in my limited outdoor experience with it so far; I’m glad I was able to be patient with the company and wait these long months for it. 73, great content as always
I had a Lab599 on order as well, but got tired of waiting four months on backorder. Paid the difference and got the IC 705 and I am glad I did.
Hi,you made some good points, positive and negative, but different people have different needs, unfortunately one size fits all,,,,,is not how amateur radio works,,,thanks from Rotterdam,
Hi Tracy, yet another great video
Im in the same camp as you, I'm not a fan, looks over complex. RX is going to be better with the IF filtering than the 817, but the 817 is over 20 years old. I've got lots of DX with my 817 and QRP CW.
As for an amp, why not just get a normal rig, with the bells and whistles -- then lug a huge battery to the campsite.
I'll stick with my 817, 703 and KX2.
Bill, G7PVZ
Thank you, Bill! You can make a lot of contacts with the rigs you listed. Great collection you have there.
It works on the bench just as well as the field.
you make a lot of good points. I would predict that base desktop units with scanning waterfall screens start dropping these built in screens and just provide a link to a monitor, mobile or pad screen instead and even start selling them as tailored accessories. I was banking on the 705 and 7300 having better handling of noise and distortion than older tech (rather than buying a lesser ability only to find i still need to upgrade again) because i have bad reception where i am - which is really an antenna limitation problem. It was predicted that these would impact the second hand market for the generation they replaced but the prices of those don't look too reduced to me. The biggest drawback touches on a point you made. Having a large number of features lost in menu structures does not appeal to me. I don't want to spend my time searching for things every time i want to make an adjustment. I like all the controls upfront as much as possible although I recognise these do allow for some customisation. Its not just the price of the rigs but all the custom accessories you get dragged into buying.
I agree with you, well put.
Is there a higher power base station with HF/VHF/UHF range but higher power than the 705? I am new to the hobby and looking at what's out there. Pete.
Yes, look at the Yaesu FT-991A or the Icom IC-7100. If you're willing to look on the used market, check out the Icom IC-9100. If you don't mind not having a colour screen and a waterfall, it's a fabulous rig. They are rare, though.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Thanks very much for your reply. It's very helpful to have some possibilities to look at.
I agree in many ways. Yes, some of these
QRP rigs with the latest technology, known to hams, as bells and whistles,
don't justify the much higher prices when
they hit the market. I am sure if I had my
ICOM 706 MK II G from 20 years ago,
I could do most of what I operate, after
almost 60 years as a ham, which I am
quite satisfied with my much less, but
still competent Yaesu FT-891, when I
want to use 100 watts, and my Xiegu
G-90, as being portable, and for mobile
use with 20 watts.
The thing I could not understand why
when the Yaesu FT-818nd came out,
they did not extend the receive VHF
range to include the weather frequencies,
etc. When I asked a Yaesu representative
about this omission at their convention
booth, they had no answer for that point.
W2CH
Tnx, Tracy. I agree with you, to point, anyways... I have an 817ND, and had the regular one before that. I used it as my base station too till the sunspots went south, then I went back to my IC-7000. I still have my IC706 MKIIG for 'higher power' portable, but... My 100 AH deep cycle iss choost uh beeet moch for portable far from the car, (like 10 feet...) BUT it works to lower voltage than the 7000, so I keep it around for emergencies at home, anyways. I do have the HL45B for the 817, and that works nice, but a bit much to hook everything up portable. but can op from my 17 AH deep cycle for several hours at 45 W with much less bias current on TX. So, the 817 thinks I have divorced it any more... but good nooz! the sunspots are coming back, even if grudgingly... Like you, when I turn a rig on I want to TALK to somebody, like ssb or some times fm. So, I like it SIMPLE on portable, like my 817 and maybe an external battery with my original ldg 817 tuner and a dipole. Sometimes only a set of lith AA's internal for a good 3 - 4 hours of operating with a resonant dipole only. Not much worse than an HT... but with soooo much more range and possibilities! Yeah, I like portable and the 817 do it ALL for NO extra cost! And Y a 7300, either? My 7000 does it all and is much smaller. It sits atop my LDG AT 200 PRO 2 on the side of the table, and the switching PS is on the chair under the table. I have an 80 - 40 Trap Dipole outside with a 6M spaced under that, for all band ops, and a Diamond X- 200 at 25' for fm. Complete, fully functional, with no room wasted. I bin happeee with that setup for ever, well, since the first 706 came out anyways. 73, 72, Jerry wa2omu
Hi Jerry, thank you for sharing your experience. That's a great set of gear you have there. 73 from VE3TWM.
Why not have an amp at home and also take this radio out in the field for QRP?
this would be awesome for off roaders with GMRS license that sometimes need CB
I see what your saying about the amp. But for someone like me that has limited room and budget the idea that I can use it on the shack as a full time rig with amp and use it portable is good. I suppose it would be over kill if I already had a HF base
I 100% agree with you. Your use case makes perfect sense.
So if you did not have your other radio's for QRP etc.. Would you buy one ???
maybe 😀