Icom: IC-705: New QRP rig from Icom in the works
- Thread starter prcguy
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Yes, thanks. Not much info on it yet. I emailed the mfr with some questions but no reply yet. The Discovery does not have a built in battery and possibly no antenna tuner but that's not a big problem, depending on price of course. If its a reasonable price and the reviews are good I'll get one of those also.
Mike:
Did you get a chance to check out the Discovery TC-500 QRP Transceiver I sent you info on? Or maybe I posted it on one of the forums, can't remember.
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WTF?! It appears I have been living under a rock. Still, I want to know what the power draw on this thing is. (That screen) This radio is the combination of many wants into one. I hope we see it within a year.
Regardless, I will enjoy this 705 for years to come during the ARRL VHF/UHF contests and every other reason I can find. “Hello, Bioenno Power, I’m going to need a bigger battery”.
Regardless, I will enjoy this 705 for years to come during the ARRL VHF/UHF contests and every other reason I can find. “Hello, Bioenno Power, I’m going to need a bigger battery”.
Nothing that I've seen so far quotes the current requirements. According to Ray Novak, Icom America sales manager, what they showed at Ham Fair is a pre-production radio. The specs and features are still a work in progress.
BTW, this radio was just announced to the world yesterday.
BTW, this radio was just announced to the world yesterday.
Low current consumption is an art in itself that Elecraft and Commradio seem to understand but few others do. I hope Icom can figure it out on this one. I believe the performance of this new radio will be stellar since Icom now has a few generations of direct conversion SDRs under their belt.
My guess is 2-3 amps when the display is on. When on battery, if that screen could go into some kind of power saver mode (Off) it would help. Just some intermittent display when settings are changed. I plan on using it with a foldable solar panel and a LiFePO4 battery and controller. Thus, I am not too far from driving it in which is typical for my QRP contesting. Anyways, we will wait and see. My 817ND may be on its last tour of duty.
If I was an avid backpacker, the KX2 would be the clear choice for me. prcguy, let me know when the rails you design for this 705 are available to purchase.
OH...wait, I just noticed something. As this uses the handheld battery on the back, I could use the belt clip! I will be the king at any amateur radio club meeting when I walk in with this hanging from my belt. "Breaker, Breaker...this is trouble maker".
It can't draw that much, the 705 is supposed to run off an existing HT battery according to the info and drawing 2 or 3 amps would kill that battery in less than an hour just receiving. I hope Icom gets this right so the radio can run at least a couple of hours on internal power.
Looking at the pictures I don't see a convenient way to attach side panels or handles, but if I get one that will be a priority.
Looking at the pictures I don't see a convenient way to attach side panels or handles, but if I get one that will be a priority.
My guess is 2-3 amps when the display is on. When on battery, if that screen could go into some kind of power saver mode (Off) it would help. Just some intermittent display when settings are changed. I plan on using it with a foldable solar panel and a LiFePO4 battery and controller. Thus, I am not too far from driving it in which is typical for my QRP contesting. Anyways, we will wait and see. My 817ND may be on its last tour of duty.
If I was an avid backpacker, the KX2 would be the clear choice for me. prcguy, let me know when the rails you design for this 705 are available to purchase.
OH...wait, I just noticed something. As this uses the handheld battery on the back, I could use the belt clip! I will be the king at any amateur radio club meeting when I walk in with this hanging from my belt. "Breaker, Breaker...this is trouble maker".
New info shows the Icom IC-705 does not have an internal antenna tuner for HF. That's a mistake on Icom's part and they should fix that real quick.
Yeah, I hope it does not draw that much. Well, well, well, a quick search and
- The 7300 specs show Rx: 0.9A typical (Standby), 1.25A (Maximum audio) That's fantastic!
- The 9700 specs show Rx: 1.2 A typical (Standby), Less than 1.8 A (Maximum audio) Not as fantastic, but encouraging.
As the 705 is designed for field use, one can hope that it may use a little less juice.
An internal tuner would indeed be nice. I have an LDG Z-817 tuner I could use if needed.
The potential rail mount points are two screws on each side that go in from the back. They are each in a well though, so I'm not sure longer screws would be satisfactory or would cause an issue. Well forget that. Another look and the accessory ports on each side may not have room if the rail mounts were too thick. Hmm...I wonder if a single piece that slipped in from the back may work with the screw points. Thin yet stronger due to a full frame. Anyways...
I noticed someone put an IC-SAT100 on the front of the mannequin that had the 705 in a backpack. I did some testing for several weeks recently and they work well enough. I do not have a need to justify their cost though. A Garmin SE+ is suitable for my needs in the middle of nowhere.
- The 7300 specs show Rx: 0.9A typical (Standby), 1.25A (Maximum audio) That's fantastic!
- The 9700 specs show Rx: 1.2 A typical (Standby), Less than 1.8 A (Maximum audio) Not as fantastic, but encouraging.
As the 705 is designed for field use, one can hope that it may use a little less juice.
An internal tuner would indeed be nice. I have an LDG Z-817 tuner I could use if needed.
I noticed someone put an IC-SAT100 on the front of the mannequin that had the 705 in a backpack. I did some testing for several weeks recently and they work well enough. I do not have a need to justify their cost though. A Garmin SE+ is suitable for my needs in the middle of nowhere.
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I assume that including an internal tuner with the IC-705 would increase the size of the package or increase the price beyond what the Icom engineers/marketing people/product planners had in mind. Though, there will be endless comparisons against the KX2 or KX3 which have internal ATU options (+ $200 on the KX3).
And, I know that antennas are always a compromise and for a backpacker, size and weight figure into the compromises. That said, a resonant antenna beats an ATU every time.
And, I know that antennas are always a compromise and for a backpacker, size and weight figure into the compromises. That said, a resonant antenna beats an ATU every time.
Hit_Factor
Member
There is an autotune button lower right. Perhaps the new info isn't correct?
There is a statement from someone who saw the prototype "And talking about the antenna, it uses a BNC connector so you won’t have to change your cables when you sell your Elecraft KX3 to buy this. An internal antenna tuner is NOT included." So for now I would believe it has no tuner. There are a number of Icom radios with tuner buttons and no internal tuner, I have two IC-7100s in front of me right now that have buttons but no tuners.
Hit_Factor
Member
I did a little more digging and Ray Novak, SR Sales Manager at Icom first said yes to the tuner, then came back online and said no-tuner. The autotune button likely activates an external tuner if present.
I have a spare AH-4, NIB, maybe I'll find a use for it yet.
As W9BU says, nothing beats a resonant antenna.
I have a spare AH-4, NIB, maybe I'll find a use for it yet.
As W9BU says, nothing beats a resonant antenna.
Here is a brochure for the radio. https://icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/PDF/newsFile/IC-705_Tokyo_Hamfair.pdf
There is a port for a tuner on the right side.
I have an Icom AH-703 antenna I could use with this radio, or a Chameleon loop. You know, for times when I want to avoid an improved signal using a wire.
There is a port for a tuner on the right side.
I have an Icom AH-703 antenna I could use with this radio, or a Chameleon loop. You know, for times when I want to avoid an improved signal using a wire.
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The Icom AH-4 tuner would be bigger than the IC-705, I think something like the Elecraft T1 tuner would be more in line with a small QRP rig.
Hit_Factor
Member
I just looked it up. Far better solution than a AH-4. I wonder if Icom will release a similarly sized tuner?
The "Autotune" button on my IC-7300 is used to autotune a CW signal for best tone. I suspect that is the case with this one as well.
JPSan
Member
From the Tokoyo Ham Fair, the ICOM presentation on the 705, very interesting.
Update:
Looks like there is some new information out there spotted by OH8STN while he was fishing around the Icom website.
- Estimated release date is late March 2020 (Japan's fiscal year begins April 1)
- Cost 124,800 +tax currently equals $1138.77 U.S. dollars +tax ( Hello Elecraft, it's Icom calling )
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) including battery
I am so tempted to purchase this when it hits, but I'm going to try and wait until Fall 2020. While the price may drop slightly, I would prefer others weed out any potential issues first.
Looks like there is some new information out there spotted by OH8STN while he was fishing around the Icom website.
- Estimated release date is late March 2020 (Japan's fiscal year begins April 1)
- Cost 124,800 +tax currently equals $1138.77 U.S. dollars +tax ( Hello Elecraft, it's Icom calling )
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) including battery
I am so tempted to purchase this when it hits, but I'm going to try and wait until Fall 2020. While the price may drop slightly, I would prefer others weed out any potential issues first.
A very good question OM. Cost may be one reason, but having a genuine purposely-built low power radio, especially one that can run off batteries, with no QRO possibility is the main reason, at least for me. It's the real McCoy.
What's interesting is the number of QRP radios that are coming out even though sunspot numbers are non-existent these days. Perhaps the array of digital modes now gaining popularity that are reliable with very little power?
Here's an example of a kit from India that came out recently: Just ordered the new $149/$199 uBITX v 6.0 QRP transceiver
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