There have been several reports that the Wuhan Virus has delayed the production. Even if it is at $1600, it will fly off the shelf. Add the internal tuner and expect to pay much more. Most of the portable/off the grid users have tuned antennas. The specs have just been made public. FCC type acceptance will delay it 2 to 3 months. The combination of a Raspberry Pi and this radio will make a portable operators dream. I expect OH8STN to get one and be making videos before Christmas. I will be buying one used, waiting for the bloom to get off the rose. This will make a great rig for QRP Field Day. Expect software for logging/digital modes/computer control to be HUGE.
73, Larry WB8LBZ
El Paso, TX
OH8STN is already very excited about getting an IC-705.
And being in Finland, he might get one before it's available in the US.
As for me, I think the 705 is a very sexy looking piece of gear.
And being a true SDR, it will be able to do some amazing things in the realm of receiver selectivity.
But I'm pretty well set with gear at this point that enables portable operation.
I don't need to drop another $1600 for a portable rig. I've already got an FT-857D, and an FT-817.
Both of my Yaesus have Collins Mechanical Filters in them for CW. The 857 has a 300Hz filter in it,
and the 817 has a 500Hz filter. And they both work very well with my solar/battery setup.
Now if one of my Yaesu rigs should happen to suffer a "tragic workplace accident", and end up
going to radio heaven, them maybe I'd consider a 705 as a replacement.
For reference, OH8STN also seems to really like the Xiegu G90. And although it's also an SDR and
can do all the really slick filtering, it costs 1/3 of the price of a 705. I just have this reluctance to
invest that kind of cash into a product directly from China, given China's historically poor to
non-existent customer service after the sale. Icom, on the other hand, will likely provide after-sale
support, and if history is any guide, that support will be infinitely superior to anything China has
done to date. I also understand that MFJ is a US distributor for Xiegu. Which might change the
equation a bit, since even MFJ's support is infinitely superior to anything China has ever done.
And that last statement should really tell just how bad any support has been from China.
73 de N8AUC
Eric