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Reviews For: ICOM IC-706 - All flavors

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

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Review Summary For : ICOM IC-706 - All flavors
Reviews: 425MSRP: IC-706MKIIG
Description:
Ultra Compact HF/6 Meter/2 Meter/440MHz Transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/hf/#IC-706MKIIG
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
154254.4
KK0DJ Rating: 2007-05-19
Pretty Good Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Being a ham for over 25 years, I've had many many rigs. Though this rig has some of the downfalls that so many folks have pointed out, for being so small, it's easy to use, and is very versatile. Nothing is exemplary, but nothing is terrible either. I wish the speech processor was a simple item to access, that the DSP was better, but man, it's so easy to tote around and use. I get wonderful reports on transmit. I can tweak away a lot of the QRM and work the weak ones. The auto notch filter is so cool too. If you're looking for nirvanah, this ain't it, but if you're looking for a very dependable well designed rig that will meet most ham's needs, this is the ticket.
LU1DAW Rating: 2007-04-01
The Intermod in 2 meters kill the band. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
single 2, I have from months one MKIIG and I compare it with the 857D with ssb collins filter and I prefer the Yaesu, the Icom´s dsp does not work, like not be. Much is warmed up. Yaesu works much but cold.
I live in Barcelona city and have to much intermod in 2 meters, I can not use this band, that is incredible but in the yaesu this do not exist, I have a ic-2720 and have the some problem, is like e ICOM general problem, in other radios I do not have the some problem.
I personaly prefer the FT-857D with the ssb filter.
I put the Icom to sell on ebay.
The month that comes I have thought to buy the IC-7000 to compare, I hope that this problem of intermod this solving in this model.
73´s
Rodrigo
LU1DAW
M0TWA Rating: 2007-03-19
for size and price- NOT BAD! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Owned this radio from new ( 6 years ) and for its size and price its okay by me. The first radio supplied had to go back to Icom as it had output problems...radio was changed completely so can only assume that it was beyond repair... new one has showed its self to be a reliable shack in a box... however as with all shack in a box type radios compromises are made in the design. I have found that this radio performs better at UHF/VHF and for most of the time that is its role here in the shack. At HF this radio flounders on crowded noisy bands and if this is your main area of the hobby then the additional filters for ssb and cw are a must. This is the radio that I take with me on vacation/holiday and its an ideal size for slipping in the suit case. But I have often been sat trying to work 40 meters from the hotel qth and have wished that I had taken a dedicated HF with me instead of the 706... the radio is designed as a mobile tx/rx so when you place it on a larger than mobile antenna the problems start... the noise floor can be astonishingly high and broadcast break through annoying. But as I said...its a mobile radio..and wide rx so its to be expected.
Mine is fitted with the DSP unit... cant say that I am impressed with it as it only seems to adjust the received audio tone as opposed to removing unwanted audio content...would hate to think I had bought this as an option... would have been very disappointed. I have never had problems with finding my way around the menus and once you have set the perameters to the way you want you can forget most of them. I like CW and have found that in this mode the 706 gives a good account of its self...internal keyer seems fine for the speed/way I send... others may have a different oppinion... SSb operation is okay... You will get good audio reports.. and that is just with the stock fist microphone.. RX performance is okay... but make sure you have the optional filters...they make the difference.

Over all I give the radio a 4 (good) rating.. the 706mk2g tries hard to be all things to everyone..something that I think any shack in a box type radio will struggle to achieve... there will always be a short fall in at least one department of operation... for its size and price its got to be on your short list.
VE7REN Rating: 2007-03-08
excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
without a doubt,this radio is a excellent unit.better then my 857d i have,and a very capable little unit. plenty of feature,well laid out,clean and effective on all bands. highly recomended. i sold my 706 yrs ago,my mk2 a yr ago and fully regretted it after. now getting the mk2g back,has truly made me a believer on icoms 706 series as a radio to go in the history books as a leader in innovation of the multi rigs.
KD3GM Rating: 2007-02-11
1 Year Later & I Still Love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the 706 Mark II G for more than a year now and still love it! I am running it through an MFJ-993 IntelliTuner and it has never been mobile, but it would do just fine if I did run it mobil. Some of the negative comments about the menuing system can easily be overcome with a copy of Ham Radio Deluxe and a CI-V interface! Once you hook this rig up to a computer with a decent control software package it flies. VHF & UHF is a little deaf compared to the IC 910 and other dedicated 2M/70CM rigs for weak signal work, but but I didn't buy it to do heavy contesting with anyway. Quality mast mounted preamps will cure that problem if you really need to hear those weak DX signals. I get great audio and signal reports on HF even with the stock hand mic. It has a lot of fetures I have never used yet.

For the money the 706 Mark II G is an all-around great rig.
KG4HUP Rating: 2007-01-20
Great Little Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this rig for 7 years (706mk2g)an its been mobile,camping,base. I think if I could only have one rig this would be it. It offers alot for the price an its size. With the AH4 tuner an a battery your ready to go out an have fun! Mines been great. 73's Tom

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KG4HUP on 2001-11-11

This is a very nice rig. I have owned this unit for over a year an I have to say ( Great Job Icom). I have a Kenwood TS440SAT an really like it but the little IC706MK2G keeps working its way back on the desk. I have owned the IC725 an it was a good simple operating rig, but the 706 has so many features like ANF-NR-Band scope-NB-SWR Graph-Memory Pad-Tone Scan-Built in Keyer an thats just have of it. Its great for mobile, I use Hustler with tri-band adapter. Its great in the shack also I have this little unit driving my Ameritron Al-80A an hooked to a 6-element beam an get great report,140 countrys confirmed. Get the Fl-223 ssb filter. You cant go wrong with this unit!!!!
W0VET Rating: 2007-01-05
Good Used Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased used and abused at Burghardt's to compare with the 703 I've had for a couple of years. The menus are very similar and easy to program. So far, this rig has done everything I want it to do on HF and VHF.

Nothing unexpected has occured that has not been discussed on prior reviews. Because it is not new out of the box, I am reluctant to give a 5 rating: a strong 4.
CT1ITE Rating: 2006-12-10
Good Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this equipment (used) at 1 month ago and use it outside home working more than 24 hours continuously and haven't even one bad experience with it.
I suggest that you modify yours to be cooled because from factory this radio have too high temperatures working for more than one or two hours.
That's a very good and compact radio.
K5RIX Rating: 2006-11-14
Nasty CW Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My IC706MkII was bought new by me, and at the same time I bought and installed the 500 and 250 Hz CW filters. I have no problem with operating the radio.

It's pretty annoying on CW. The receive is fine, but the keying is monstrously bad. Either using the internal keyer or a straight key there is a big CLANK with each dit or dah. It makes it rather difficult to monitor your own fist.

All the other stuff is cool, yada yada... Pretty bad for CW sending.

I bought this rig mainly for its size to take on the road. It works fine, but the annoying keying just sucks.
VK3MDD Rating: 2006-09-27
good but hate the menu system Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
it worked flawlessly with good reports.
I personally did not find the radio intuitive and did not like the menu system.The instruction manual was never far from the rig.