Choosing the Best Battery for Icom IC-705

In this video, we take a look at how to make an informed decision when buying a battery.
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[@pc4ad]

The price-difference per watt-hour is quite shocking
Well done Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out Anton 👍

[@scottmajors4430]

Another very helpful video, Ape - short, detailed and quite instructive. Appreciate all you do for the ham radio community. Thanks.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out Scott, glad you like the videos 👍

[@mikemcdonald5147]

good explanation of the two batteries and price difference per watt and amp. Thanks for doing this.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching Mike 👍

[@georgewashington7444]

0 seconds ago
I use the 705 for SOTA/POTA. For a one hour activation either CW/Phone and 50/50 duty cycle.I am seeing 60% power left in 705 battery. 5w always gets me the required contacts. I have a couple Bioenno’s but think I’ll order another BP-272 (light weight no connecting stuff up) for SOTA hikes. That should be plenty for 2-3 summits in a day.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the comment and checking out the video George.

[@m1geo]

One important note on the IC-705 is that the TX power drops rapidly below 12V EXT IN. So when your 3S LiPo gets flat, your TX power falls fast.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info George 👍

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Ape,
Great summary on the capacities of those batteries. You and the family stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Don, have a safe and happy holiday season 👍

[@wild-radio7373]

Hecka appreciate you going into the weeds and really explaining these batteries 😎 Thank you Sir♡

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked it Aname, thanks for watching 👍

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Great video professor!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out FEP 👍

[@KM4ACK]

Great explanation. 👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out Jason 👍

[@Siskiyous6]

Thank you Mr Ape.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out LC 👍

[@hamradiotube]

Look at Ape busting out the maths! Crazy the price difference between the 2. Bioenno all the things!

[@TheSmokinApe]

That was more like spelling than math!

[@alanb76]

Good coverage on the batteries, they each have their advantages. I mark my various batteries (12V and USB) with watt-hours to help when selecting for a particular task. Knowing the power requirements of the load makes for quick operation time estimating.
The Icom 703 has no room for internal batteries (at least mine doesn't). Icom made the 703 by taking the 706 and removing the power amp and adding the tuner, essentially. The plus included 6 meters while the regular 703 did not.
The Icom AH-705 tuner is basically the famous AH-4 redesigned for lower power and battery operation and packed into a much smaller case. It has a bit more technology than most autotuners giving it wider range and in many cases faster/smarter tuning.
73 de w6akb

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info and for watching Alan 👍

[@ag1382]

Enjoyed the content on this video. As a side bar, I have been using a KX2 for several years and had the opportunity to handle a 705 a week ago. Wow, it is much bigger than I expected. Definitely would not fit in a pocket.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It would have to be a big pocket! Thanks for checking out the video AG.

[@forgetyourlife]

yes, A real brick. In size and weight.

[@AG8000]

Eremit lifepo4 6 Amp/h for 50 $

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

What about power density vs electron flow at X temperature ☺️ great topic Ape

[@TheSmokinApe]

I typically pick them based off prettiest color 👍

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

@@TheSmokinApe hey the brighter colors might not be as good as the dark colored sun absorbing one ☺️

[@marcopaglionicoin3ufw952]

Hi, a question but when you use the bioenno or the traditional RC lipo, is the original 705 excluded? Do we need to act on the menu set? or how does it work? Thanks for your answer.
Marco in3ufw

[@TheSmokinApe]

What happens with mine is that the radio will charge the internal battery AND let me operate with 10w

[@DominicMazoch]

Is the Icom battery the same as one use in a handheld?

[@TheSmokinApe]

As the 51a I believe

[@paulhastings3109]

Tnxs for the video on mah

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Paul 👍

[@ronniet5680]

I have to save this

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out Ronnie 👍

[@DominicMazoch]

Why did they not put the standard AH3/4 tuner port on this radio? Negative for me becausevI have LDG tunets already?
And the cost of the internal battery not worth it. And the external battery gives more flexibility to power more items.
The 703/+ had an internal battery option, I think. Not worth by cost/benefits.
I use a Jackery batterysystem from HFT. Can power the 703 on light duty cycle on SSB for over 24 hours at 10w output radio.

[@tangjinbh4fdj970]

Hi. I am just wondering do you have any recommendations for chargers/ power supplier for the ic-705? Thanks

[@TheSmokinApe]

I use the MFJ-4230DMP to power most of my Ham Shack but the 705 I generally run off of a 12v 12AH battery from Bioenno.

[@tangjinbh4fdj970]

@@TheSmokinApe Thank you so much. Another question is have you tried using a signal stick on an icom 705?

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@tangjinbh4fdj970 I haven’t, but have seen people do it, only for VHF and UHF 👍

[@tangjinbh4fdj970]

@@TheSmokinApe thanks!!

[@vladtepes481]

You need to get your units right. Amps is not equal to Amp hrs . Watts is not equal to Wh. You are correct is saying that Handitalkie batteries are expensive.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked the video…

[@barrykery1175]

I liked your video. The battery Icom uses is a joke. Just like the battery setup in my Elecraft KX3. That battery is good enough to keep the clock going and make two or three quick Q's. What Icom should have done is make a new battery enclosure and for the battery use three 18650 LiPo batteries. The voltage would have been higher and the amp hour rating would have been doubled. Three of those batteries would have fit in the pretty much the same size package as the battery Icom used.
I use an external 6 ah LiPo battery that is 11.4 volts. Cost is around $70. The only thing I have to do is put Anderson Power Poles on the battery terminals. You can get a 10 ah LiPo for under $100 if one shops around.
Thanks for posting. It brings light to what I see as a battery issue.
Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking out the video Barry, I agree that the 18650 route would have been the way to go...

[@AG8000]

You get for 99$ the BP-307 battery