| M0NYW |
Rating:    |
2023-03-06 | |
| Good all round QRP radio but..... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned a IC-705 since there release and overall it is a very good radio but if your a FT8 or other digital mode user be prepared for the noise level that rises when using a USB lead plugged into a PC or laptop.
Yes you can wind USB cables around ferrite cores but doesn't always work and still found noise level increased. Some have gone the wireless way but none of the other ICOM radios seem to suffer this problem.
Why ICOM didn't supply a USB lead or battery charger either.
In the end I sold it due the issue of noise, lack of ATU and wasnt to keen on the microphone connector and went back to my trusty IC-703 as prefer the size and layout of that radio. |
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| W9HAN |
Rating:      |
2023-03-02 | |
| Only one flaw in the perfect radio |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I absolutely love this radio in all respects and I agree with all of the positive remarks made before me. Everyone should own this radio. However, I did find one minor flaw with the US version.
The flaw...with the radio in FM broadcast receive mode there is an irritating display scan noise when the screen is lighted. When the automatic display shutoff kicks in and the screen goes black the irritating noise goes away. The strength of the FM station has no impact. And yes I am on the latest firmware 1.26. Yes the MARS mod was done by HRO pro's.
Wish list...2 BNC antenna ports one for VHF and higher and one for 6M and longer like on the FT-817.
Serial #12008725 |
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| K4SSS |
Rating:      |
2023-01-04 | |
| IC-705: A Shack In a Box Without a Wiring Mess |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Hi All.
It has been about 2 years since the FCC approved the IC-705 for US sale and I've owned mine for a year now. Since approved, the 705 has had about 6 firmware updates, from the original 1.20 firmware to the latest, Dec 30, 2022, version 1.32 firmware update, which I downloaded a few days ago without issue.
I still own a IC-706Mk2G, IC-703+, IC-7000, IC-7300, FT-817ND, and FT-991A, and since my IC-705 purchase I have compared the 705, as a receiver, countless times, side-by-side, to all of these rigs and it has proven itself as capable, and often much, much more. That, and the 705's Digital modes are simply without peer and separate it way beyond the rigs I've mentioned and I have yet to even make use of all the 705s digital capabilities. It's simply an amazing self-contained digital rig and I'm still learning its potential..!
One of the best 705 capabilities is that you can do without the myriad of wires often required to hook up digital modes with other rigs. Nope; you just use the 705s Bluetooth and connect it to everything from a handheld tablet to a headset and you're all set!! That, in combination with its extremely low standby/receive milliwatts draw makes it an extremely useful outdoor backpack rig.
The 705 also comes standard with GPS, and what seems to be way above the technical knowledge of the many supposed you tube Amateur Radio "know-it-alls" who have reviewed the 705 and fault it for being made of plastic versus being made of metal, here's a tech tip -- GPS signals just don't penetrate very well thru metal (hf rigs, buildings, etc), duh...
The Basic Manual covers, well, the basics, but the 200+ page Advanced Manual, provide via the enclosed DVD Disc, provides the user with a wealth of information regarding digital modes and configuring the 705 to your particular operating requirements. It's a long read but VERY informative!
The Icom IC-705 is about as fun and as technical as it gets and I recommend it without any reservation!
73 and a Happy New Year to All..! de Bob K4SSS
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| W8IJN |
Rating:      |
2022-11-09 | |
| Nice! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
This is a complete rewrite of my earlier review for the IC-705. I've had the radio on the bench now for some six months and, after all that time and using it, my attitude about the radio and my considerations of it have changed. Some greatly, some not so much.
Up front it's a keeper. I've worked the planet on it running CW and FT8 and I've snagged over 300 POTA parks on it from the house on SSB, CW and FT8. It hears well, it puts out a good signal and I consider it a good purchase. It's easy to use, it has more features and filters and modes than will ever figure on using, including D-Star. And the WIFI/BlueTooth features make it just a joy to operate.
However . . .
The main concerns I had about the radio from in front were the really poorly organized manuals. Yes, there are two of them: the "basic" manual of 100 pages and an "advanced" manual of about 240 pages. I think this is a "thing" with Icom, because it's the same manual structure that I've found for the 20 year old IC-718. I found Andrew Barron's "Radio Today" book on the radio much more instructive. Andrew's writing is succint easy to understand and he does a more lucid job of explaining how the radio works & how to get the most out of it. And I have to add that there are many helpful videos on YouTube explaining some of the stuff that Andrew's book doesn't cover. So yeah, the manuals aren't that great.
Then there is the matter of the speaker/microphone connection. It's just inelegant. Two different plugs, one a 3.5mm TRS for the speaker part of the mic and the other a 2.5mm TRRS for the microphone. The mic itself is good. It's the Y cable that plugs into the radio that just rubbed me the wrong way. I got a cheap mic and an appropriate TRRS jack and cable off eBay and made my own mic for the radio.
Some folks have complained about the micro USB connector seeming a bit flimsy, which it certainly looks to be, but I haven't had any problems with that. Yet. And the chance of losing the micro SD card in the radio if it's not carefully inserted is another grumble, but the easy way out of that is to put a small tape tab on the card so you can extract it from the radio more easily anyway. So that's a nearly moot point.
After that, well, it's one helluva nice radio. It puts out 5W CW off the battery and 10W when using a 12V power source. Battery, power supply, whatever. The multiple mode-dependent filters, the dual PBT, the voice and keyer message memories, all of that make it well worth the expenditure.
And the simple one-cable USB connection for digital modes, well, let's be real: that just makes it soooo easy.
It's a keeper for sure. Definitely worth all the stars. |
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| WA6MOW |
Rating:      |
2022-08-16 | |
| High quality versatile QRP radio. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I only work cw but enjoy listening to all the frequencies that this radio covers. I own a KX2 and 5 other QRP radios so I have lots of rigs for comparison. MY big rigs include an Ftdx10, FT991, and 891 etc. I took all my rigs off the bench and decided to use this rig as my only rig to really find out what it is all about. Quite frankly, I think that I could use this rig as my only rig from this point on. I like the receiver, the scope, the simple menu system, the battery life, the amazing versatility. It is a really good desk rig as well as really good portable picnic bench rig. The build quality is superb compared to my KX2. The KX2 has a better form factor for back packing but the 705 will do the trick. I paid the same money for my loaded KX2 as I did for the 705. Between the two I would keep the 705 for its extreme versatility. The KX2 is a wonderful rig but it is really expensive considering its limited features. {no scope, limited band coverage, having to remove the battery to charge it}. There is no perfect radio and I probably will continue my search. The 705 comes very close. |
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| W9AC |
Rating:      |
2022-07-31 | |
| Great for Satellites |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| When two IC-705s are paired with SatPC32 software, they make a great satellite uplink/downlink combination. Menu system and setup is straightforward. A USB 2-way breakout cable synchronizes the two transceivers for automatic Doppler tracking. The built-in SDR panadapter is sensitive enough to see signals as the sats rise above the horizon. Excellent battery life between charges. For extended portable operation, a LiON or LiPO battery is easily added. The IC-705 combo setup offers much more flexibility than the IC-9700. |
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| N9ABC |
Rating:      |
2022-07-30 | |
| Great radio. Icon please add internal tuner option |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Great QRP radio that would be almost perfect if Icon offered an internal tuner option. Any external tuner adds weight and bulk when your in the field. |
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| OH2BF |
Rating:    |
2022-07-19 | |
| Excessive menus |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I only work CW and bought the radio for stand by emergencies as Elecraft KX3 was not available without a long delay.
I do not work DSTAR or any other digital modes. I do not work SSB.
I find the menu system very complicated and extremely hard to use. I could however configure the CW settings to my likenings.
The spectrum scope is not as good as in my old IC-756Pro3. I do not like the touch screen, I built the button system to launch the memories described in the manual.
I have the WiMo stand, and Elecraft T1 autotuner works fine.
10 watts is enough to make good CW QSOs, but the radio is very complicated to use. I would like to have something more easy to use. Something not SDR. |
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| VE4SA |
Rating:      |
2022-04-03 | |
| Amazing rig! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I was looking for a HF/VHF/UHF rig to replace my recently departed TS-2000. Having an assortment of amplifiers for all bands, and hoping for something portable to use as a second base, camping, and for a microwave transverter, this was a perfect solution.
The IC-705 has not disappointed. I have ran many tests and have not found any of the issues noted by some other reviews. There is no notable "display" noise when connecting a VHF resonant antenna directly to the antenna port. The output power is as advertised on all bands (tested with calibrated gear). Sensitivity and spectrum scope operation is excellent and comparable to the IC-7300 on HF. Like all SDR radios, you need to work the radio settings to avoid front end overload. The max TX frequency drift with a 10 watt carrier on the 70cm band is less than 5 Hz in 30 sec. I operate the radio remotely and in the shack with wfview software and various WSJT digital modes. The radio has performed excellent as an IF rig for 1296 transverter operation on EME and terrestrial work. I was able to 3D print a stand from thingiverse at our local library for $6. This rig has no competition in the QRP multiband category. If you only need HF QRP, there are cheaper options. With the added VHF, UHF, wifi, Bluetooth, D-star, GPS, and excellent performance, I think it is a winner. |
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| N1IG |
Rating:      |
2022-03-14 | |
| Great all around QRP rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| The radio just works great. Easy to configure and use, but will be easier if you at least browse through the manual first. Been given good audio reports on the SSB contacts I've made. The WiFi works as described, but wish it wasn't limited to 2.4g. I should have bought this earlier. |
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