Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Icom IC-703

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Icom IC-703
Reviews: 181MSRP: 400.00
Description:
QRP HF and 6 Meter all mode radio. Comes standard with Antenna Tuner, DSP, Keyer, Memory Keyer, Power Conservasion system.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/703/default.a
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001814.3
N6ILS Rating: 2005-03-07
Best Little Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This little radio is an absolute dream to play with. Its portability and feature packed virtues make it a must have rig. Anyone that is thinking about buying one of these will not be disappointed. I would not buy one as my first HF rig though. That first HF rig needs a least 100 watts. Other than that, you can't go wrong for $400.
N4VGD Rating: 2005-02-19
Fantastic! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.

In short, very nice. No problems at all. Was a great deal at $399.00 for the 160M-10M version. Did the bias adjustment and set the mic gain down from the default. Very happy with it so far.

Some Features
-------------
o Auto antenna tuner--tuned anything reasonable and some things that were not.
o TCXO standard--always right on freq.
o Excellent receive (the specs are on ARRL) with pretty good DSP.
o An ICOM ad in March 2005 QST claims "Newly Designed PA Unit." Maybe solves the driver problem that some are having.
o 500-600 mA current consumption.
o Fairly quiet relays for full/semi break-in.
o A little large for a QRP, but worth it for the larger display.
o Made in Japan--not China.




WB8CAC Rating: 2005-01-10
Very Nice Radio ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It was rough deciding between a 4 and 5 on this review. Sure, there are the driver and key jack issues. There's also the previously mentioned lack of a second filter slot. I knew of these issues before purchasing the radio so can't complain about them. I got the rig home, tested it to be sure it wasn't DOA then opened it up and did all of the published mods. It wasn't that difficult!

Now (and at a very good close out price) I have an extremely nice rig that I have made a lot of QRP CW contacts with, without a problem.

After adding a CW filter, the receiver is great. The antenna tuner has handled every weird looking chunk of antenna I've thrown at it. It is a joy to operate and easy to go portable or mobile with.

It doesn't have all the features of some of its $2000+ relatives, but it doesn't come with that price tag either.
K5UX Rating: 2005-01-07
Very good performance for the price! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am a casual CW operator that uses a 40 meter dipole in my attic. Like many of the previous reviewers, I have also owned a K2 and Argonaut V and really enjoyed those rigs. The internal tuner and post-IF DSP in the 703 are very good and really make it a pleasure to operate. The menu system is easy to learn and use. The memory keyer sure makes life easier when trying to create some activity on an otherwise dead band. I purchased my 703 from Memphis Amateur Electronics in Sept. 04 and performed the driver and keyer mods without difficulty. Although I have the FL52A and haven't noticed any filter blow-by, I wish I had gone with the Inrad 400 hz filter. Another plus for me with the 703 is everything other than the power supply is in one box with a small footprint. Of course my wish list would include another filter slot.
KB3DRW Rating: 2005-01-06
Picked over the others Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have just purchased the 703 Plus. I read all the horror stories and talked to several who owned them. So far I am happy. One question. Can someone send me the information to check the bias and the ground (the mod that everyone seems to be doing. Thanks, KB3DRW@msn.com
N8RQJ Rating: 2005-01-06
Great Rig!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have an 1800 series serial and love it.
I did all the mods and havent looked back.
I would recommend the 500 hz filter for CW work.
I cant wait to go camping this year.


N8RQJ
K2MEN Rating: 2004-11-27
Bias Adjust still needed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got one a few weeks ago. It was doa. I still had faith and returned it for another. Did the bias adjust (it was .60 from factory) down to .52v. Very touchy and hard to get exactly .50, so close enough.
What a great radio! I used it for a few days and had a blast. Great qrp rig and the price was only $360 at HRO on Icom day. Plan on a pricy cw filter though cuz it needs one.
Overall, good product for the money.

N5RMQ Rating: 2004-11-22
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got the radio new from HRO on thursday and thursday night I did the mod on the bias. Voltage was high, I was hoping Icom would have it corrected by now. If my old eyes and baseball mitt hands can perform this mod anyone should be able to do it. The only problem is the adjustment is verrrrrrry touchy and it took quite awile to get it to .5w .
Fired it up on Fri Sat and Sun and made some amazing contacts with 5w. I worked everywhere in the continental U.S. with excellent signal reports. The automatic antenna tuner just tickles me to death. It will tune my inverted V all across the band.
So far I love this radio, as time goes by and I figure out more of the features I will keep you posted. Get one , do the mod, and you will love it.
LW8DJI Rating: 2004-11-18
great radio!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
hello, she is one hurts that this radio so is been inferior single because the control of quality of icom failure in the control of bias of the exciting transistor, with exception of this item is an excellent equipment qrp to a very interesting price (I pay in the 399 U.S.A. dolares by the HF version) like is norm in icom the receiver is excellent, but dsp that works very well, to keyer electronic built-in, compressing of audio,y but important an excellent auto tuner to this is necessary to very add a consumption under as much in tx as in rx, that but can pedir?no we forget that icom became position of I have been 10 minutes to fit the current to him of bias to my radio. I have been owner of one yaesu ft 817 and to my way to see the equipment of icom it surpasses it in all sense, and it has a handling much but facil that the product of yaesu, for my is incomparable icom is a radio qrp really, the product of yaesu is an experiment with a view to to call the attention in hamfest, because in the reality the portability is relative, that is to say: the internal batteries are not used for anything because it devours them in awhile, do not have to tuner built-in, do not have dsp, do not have audio compressor ,of 5w of power for that reason I must say: like in the 781-746-756-7800 and 703, very well by icom it profit again
pardon by my ingles, but uses the altavista translator since my ingles is very poor
N9JQ Rating: 2004-11-11
Bias adjustment Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can answer my own question. After a phone call to Icom, the bias adjustment may or may not have been done on my radio at the factory.

But, the damage occurs when the radio is used in high temperatures (like in a hot car) or with a relatively high power supply voltage. In my case I'm fine since it's on my desk and with 12.2 volts.

Icom recommends running the radio and they will accomodate future repairs if caused by this bias problem and if they should / could have prevented it at the factory.