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 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.
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 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
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...
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!
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
I bought the Yaesu 818 shortly after it came out, and it’s my first (and only to date) qrp rig. I operate CW and really just love the radio. Has some annoying quirks, but I love it from the way it looks to the way it works! Great value in comparison too. The 705 looks amazing, but it’s just some thing I don’t need. I haven’t made a voice contact on the 818 yet, so maybe I should fix that!
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.
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 .
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
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.
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 :-)
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.
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
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...
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
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.
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 $600.00 I ever spent
Good predictions on the aftermarket accessories. I would add another prediction to your list: "I bought this QRP rig 10 years ago for 1800$. It is still brand new barely used, therefore, I am selling it for 1800$. WHAT A DEAL!"
I 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!
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
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...
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.
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!
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.
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.
I agree with your amp assessment. If I want relatively easy HF comms in the field I'll use my 706 MkIIG. When I want QRP and light weight then my 817. Right now the 706 gets a lot more use.
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 completely agree. I own a 7300 as a base station radio and was tossing up for the 705. I ended up getting a Yaesu FT-891. Why? Its a very small radio, fits in a backpack, works well with a good battery, has a great build quality and can give me up to 100w in the field should I require it but also allow me to work down to 5w when required ( which is hardly ever) The 705 is a great rig, but for 5w at nearly double the price of a FT891, I would have had buyers remorse. Unless your 705 has a solid 13.8v supply in the field, you are stuck with 5w. Do I need 2m/70cm? I already have that with my Yaesu FT3D. I dont work data modes as I am a voice man, chasing DX or unique stations. Great video as usual. Roc VK2LHC
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
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…
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 sales numbers for the 705 are pretty low. It’s may be awhile for a real “used” market to show up. Also the possibility for a 705MkII could happen. With tuner etc.
@@landonmiller6943 praise it all you want. It’s a great radio. The loud minority though isn’t a reflection of sales. Just look at the in stock numbers at the big 3. It hasn’t sold out since the initial burst or preorders. Qrp is a very small market. They are have already started the bundling in process, hats, lanterns etc. next will be a price cut or Icoms favorite. The painstakingly long rebate process.
@@forgetyourlife So you don't, in fact, know that sales of the IC-705 are low. Being in stock just means being in stock. It could just as easily mean Icom anticipated demand would be high and made a ton of them, which I, personally, believe to be the case. Icom got more feedback than any gear they've ever made when they announced it was forthcoming.
@@forgetyourlife And being in stock just means being in stock. And Icom got more feedback when they announced this rig than any other gear they've ever made by a wide margin and is likely churning them out as fast as they can.
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.
Unfortunately, if you find yourself in a grid-down situation, you'll be pulling well over 1 amp of receive current vs the IC-705 receive current of .3A. Daytime solar chargers work great to keep power going, however when night falls occurs that's when the cryin begins.
No ATU built in no sale as far as my thinking goes. Given the band coverage this is a serious omission especially at the price. Bet the next upgrade brings an ATU built in.
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.
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! 👍
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 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.
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,
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.
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
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 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 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
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
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'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
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.
Yeah the price sucks, I'm mainly interested in CW QRP SOTA, but I love the fact that I can play with SSB and VHF/UHF plus digital modes. For the tinkerer this is a great buy. I would buy this if I wanted a full featured HAM radio while backpacking (i.e. SOTA). But for field activation for POTA of whatever, if I can park my Jeep within walking distance of where I'm setting up, why not drag a Yaesu FTdx10 out to the picnic table?
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
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".
Pricey but amazing. There's really nothing out there like it. 6 months after buying a 705 I ended up selling my 7300 and buying a second 705 - yes they are that good!
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.
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!
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!
If anyone could get value out of this type of rig I would have thought it would be you. My KX3 is 10 years old now, so when you look at the pleasure/years versus the cost I think I’ve received good value. Having operated the 705 for quite a few hours, it’s a pleasure to use, but I haven’t made anymore contacts as a result. My KX3 was bought to use and I don’t have an alternative for outdoors. In summary just use the rig you want to, bells and whistles are great but don’t necessarily result in more contacts and above all else just enjoy and remember it’s the antenna that makes the real difference. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you for your excellent comment, Mike. You're right, I might be able to get value out of a 705. Sounds like that KX3 is doing a great job for you. Completely agree with your statement about the antenna.
The IC-705 has a lot of 'spurious emissions' (see manual). I know many radios do but at this price point I wouldnd't have expected quite so many in the amateur bands.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
There are also growing rumors that Yaesu has a replacement for the 818 - a competitor to the 705 - in the works. While some of this may be wishful thinking, one source I saw comment on this has been very reliable in the past. Yaesu doesn't need to match the 705 feature-for-feature, but introducing an all-mode rig with real weather/dust intrusion protection will capture a lot of the QRP market. This was the segment where the Lab599 Discovery was supposed to capture a lot of the market, but that project is turning out to be a production and marketing debacle.
Interesting comment, thank you for leaving it. I hadn't heard that Yaesu was working on a modern replacement for the 818. I certainly agree with you on having a durable, weather resistant box.
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
As an outsider looking to get into amateur radio, the IC-705 has made my decision on what to buy so much harder. I'm happy to spend more money on good equipment, but with the caveat that I want the least amount of equipment for a solid capability with maximum versatility. I thought the IC-705 would be my answer, but the community seems very divided. The loudest argument against the IC-705 is the inevitable disappointment that comes with range anxiety - the counter to which is to buy accessory amplifiers and tuners. This usually follows common criticism about spending more money than a proper base station just to get close to base station performance. So yes, it costs more to upgrade a IC-705 to be modestly suitable as a base station, but then you have a base station that can also *become* a field friendly QRP kit. Then you consider the new features that the IC-705 brings to the table over older base stations. I also do not buy into the argument of "I don't use those features, so I don't want them", because the whole attraction of this hobby are the exciting possibilities for resilient and independent communication. How can you not be excited about the potential of advanced communications without infrastructure? So help me out here, what am I missing from my poorly informed newbie analysis?
First things first...making a decision on which radio to buy is a major part of the fun of ham radio 😀 You make a lot of good points. And don't forget, the first radio you buy won't likely be the last. So make the best decision based on what you know today, enjoy the rig, then decide what you'd like in your next one! Hope this helps.
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!
I really don't get the criticism that the IC-705 lacks a tuner. It's a QRP rig, use a resonant antenna.
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 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.
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 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
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...
I bought the Yaesu ft891 just for the extra power, the small size and because I can read the screen
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.
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
I bought the Yaesu 818 shortly after it came out, and it’s my first (and only to date) qrp rig. I operate CW and really just love the radio. Has some annoying quirks, but I love it from the way it looks to the way it works! Great value in comparison too. The 705 looks amazing, but it’s just some thing I don’t need.
I haven’t made a voice contact on the 818 yet, so maybe I should fix that!
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.
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?
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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 RUclips channel as you've done some interesting stuff.
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.
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.
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.
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 :-)
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.
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
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...
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.
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.
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 😀
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 $600.00 I ever spent
Thank you for your comment! Those 818/817's still deliver good performance.
If you need a use for the IC-705 when not out portable, use it on D-Star in terminal or access point mode.
Good predictions on the aftermarket accessories.
I would add another prediction to your list:
"I bought this QRP rig 10 years ago for 1800$. It is still brand new barely used, therefore, I am selling it for 1800$. WHAT A DEAL!"
I 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!
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
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.
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.
Why not have an amp at home and also take this radio out in the field for QRP?
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!
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.
With all this inflation in 2022...not so sure if price is going to drop ?
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!
I agree with your amp assessment. If I want relatively easy HF comms in the field I'll use my 706 MkIIG. When I want QRP and light weight then my 817. Right now the 706 gets a lot more use.
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!
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.
Great video. Great voice and cadence. Very clear presentation. So watchable. Annoyance level zero. RUclipsrs take note.
Thank you very much!
I completely agree. I own a 7300 as a base station radio and was tossing up for the 705. I ended up getting a Yaesu FT-891. Why? Its a very small radio, fits in a backpack, works well with a good battery, has a great build quality and can give me up to 100w in the field should I require it but also allow me to work down to 5w when required ( which is hardly ever) The 705 is a great rig, but for 5w at nearly double the price of a FT891, I would have had buyers remorse. Unless your 705 has a solid 13.8v supply in the field, you are stuck with 5w. Do I need 2m/70cm? I already have that with my Yaesu FT3D. I dont work data modes as I am a voice man, chasing DX or unique stations. Great video as usual. Roc VK2LHC
Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, Roc!
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
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!
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 sales numbers for the 705 are pretty low. It’s may be awhile for a real “used” market to show up. Also the possibility for a 705MkII could happen. With tuner etc.
How do you know this?
All the new owners of this incredible little QRP rig (including me) have been singing its praises.
@@landonmiller6943 praise it all you want. It’s a great radio. The loud minority though isn’t a reflection of sales. Just look at the in stock numbers at the big 3. It hasn’t sold out since the initial burst or preorders. Qrp is a very small market. They are have already started the bundling in process, hats, lanterns etc. next will be a price cut or Icoms favorite. The painstakingly long rebate process.
@@forgetyourlife So you don't, in fact, know that sales of the IC-705 are low.
Being in stock just means being in stock. It could just as easily mean Icom anticipated demand would be high and made a ton of them, which I, personally, believe to be the case. Icom got more feedback than any gear they've ever made when they announced it was forthcoming.
@@landonmiller6943 I know people that work at one of the big 3. It’s also pretty obvious unless your in denial? Qrp sales are always low. Fact.
@@forgetyourlife And being in stock just means being in stock. And Icom got more feedback when they announced this rig than any other gear they've ever made by a wide margin and is likely churning them out as fast as they can.
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.
Unfortunately, if you find yourself in a grid-down situation, you'll be pulling well over 1 amp of receive current vs the IC-705 receive current of .3A. Daytime solar chargers work great to keep power going, however when night falls occurs that's when the cryin begins.
Interesting point. Important to note that the 705's receive current can swell depending upon what features are activated.
You can't take it with you, just get one . The audio coming out of these radios is amazing, even noticeable on fm. Go on treat yourself.
No ATU built in no sale as far as my thinking goes. Given the band coverage this is a serious omission especially at the price. Bet the next upgrade brings an ATU built in.
They have an atu now, it connects below the antenna and is operated remotely. However, I prefer a manual atu, or work with resonant antennas.
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.
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! 👍
The price reflects packing the features of a base rig into a portable
Title should be (why I'm going to miss out on such a great radio.)
Jerk
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 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.
100 percent true, damn costly and no inbuilt tuner. happy with my 20 year old Yaesu 817ND 73
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,
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.
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
Glad I found your video - considering a Xiegu G90 to start with. The IC-705 seems like overkill for a mobile rig.
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.
My sentiments exactly! Well said on all points.
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 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.
As others have said, the 705 is a great radio. Well worth a look.
You called it. I own an FT817ND and am in no hurry to buy another QRP radio - even as nice as an IC705. It's too rich for my price budget.
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
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.
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
Wideband FM on VHF? As in - wide enough to fully grab & decode NOAA APT at 137MHz? Sounds like JUST what I want...
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.
Yeah the price sucks, I'm mainly interested in CW QRP SOTA, but I love the fact that I can play with SSB and VHF/UHF plus digital modes. For the tinkerer this is a great buy. I would buy this if I wanted a full featured HAM radio while backpacking (i.e. SOTA). But for field activation for POTA of whatever, if I can park my Jeep within walking distance of where I'm setting up, why not drag a Yaesu FTdx10 out to the picnic table?
Great points!
Great channel! Always look forward to your topics.
These are all great points. I wish the price drop theory aged a little better though. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! Me too re: the price drop.
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 😎
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".
Pricey but amazing. There's really nothing out there like it. 6 months after buying a 705 I ended up selling my 7300 and buying a second 705 - yes they are that good!
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I'm still intrigued by this rig.
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!
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!
Hey.... that picture at 5:00, i've seen that before.
Have you looked at the LAB599 Discovery? Looks nice. Half the price. Still kinda expensive, but it caught my eye.
How about a Xiegu X5105?
The 5105 is an fascinating 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!
If anyone could get value out of this type of rig I would have thought it would be you. My KX3 is 10 years old now, so when you look at the pleasure/years versus the cost I think I’ve received good value. Having operated the 705 for quite a few hours, it’s a pleasure to use, but I haven’t made anymore contacts as a result. My KX3 was bought to use and I don’t have an alternative for outdoors. In summary just use the rig you want to, bells and whistles are great but don’t necessarily result in more contacts and above all else just enjoy and remember it’s the antenna that makes the real difference. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you for your excellent comment, Mike. You're right, I might be able to get value out of a 705.
Sounds like that KX3 is doing a great job for you.
Completely agree with your statement about the antenna.
The IC-705 has a lot of 'spurious emissions' (see manual).
I know many radios do but at this price point I wouldnd't have expected quite so many in the amateur bands.
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.
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
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 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.
Thank you!
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.
There are also growing rumors that Yaesu has a replacement for the 818 - a competitor to the 705 - in the works. While some of this may be wishful thinking, one source I saw comment on this has been very reliable in the past. Yaesu doesn't need to match the 705 feature-for-feature, but introducing an all-mode rig with real weather/dust intrusion protection will capture a lot of the QRP market. This was the segment where the Lab599 Discovery was supposed to capture a lot of the market, but that project is turning out to be a production and marketing debacle.
Interesting comment, thank you for leaving it. I hadn't heard that Yaesu was working on a modern replacement for the 818. I certainly agree with you on having a durable, weather resistant box.
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.
A QRP with 100 watt amp uses less power than a full 100 watt rig.
Not sure why exactly.
Better use of power maybe.
73s
That is interesting, isn't it? 73 from VE3TWM.
As an outsider looking to get into amateur radio, the IC-705 has made my decision on what to buy so much harder. I'm happy to spend more money on good equipment, but with the caveat that I want the least amount of equipment for a solid capability with maximum versatility. I thought the IC-705 would be my answer, but the community seems very divided. The loudest argument against the IC-705 is the inevitable disappointment that comes with range anxiety - the counter to which is to buy accessory amplifiers and tuners. This usually follows common criticism about spending more money than a proper base station just to get close to base station performance. So yes, it costs more to upgrade a IC-705 to be modestly suitable as a base station, but then you have a base station that can also *become* a field friendly QRP kit. Then you consider the new features that the IC-705 brings to the table over older base stations. I also do not buy into the argument of "I don't use those features, so I don't want them", because the whole attraction of this hobby are the exciting possibilities for resilient and independent communication. How can you not be excited about the potential of advanced communications without infrastructure? So help me out here, what am I missing from my poorly informed newbie analysis?
First things first...making a decision on which radio to buy is a major part of the fun of ham radio 😀 You make a lot of good points. And don't forget, the first radio you buy won't likely be the last. So make the best decision based on what you know today, enjoy the rig, then decide what you'd like in your next one! Hope this helps.