I tried many ways to transport my Icom IC-705, so you don't have to

[CT7ALW]

Hi all,

As it probably happened to many of you, I didn’t know exactly how to transport my 705 on a backpack.

Here are the things I tried:

A case for a Bluetooth speaker

I read online, somewhere, that a case for the Bluetooth speaker Marshal Middleton makes a good case for the IC-705 (sorry but I don’t remember where I read that).

My review of it is that it’s a bit on the looser side. Maybe it would be perfect if I had the Windcamp cage, which I don’t. You can also use the hand-mic to pad the empty space.

If you’re curious, this is the screen cover. Much recommended. I ordered it from JLC3DP.

A water bottle bag

Again, somewhere around the internet, in a place that I also forgot where, I read that a water bottle bag is a good way to transport the radio.

I don’t agree. At least not the one I got from Aliexpress. It’s definitely too thin. I wouldn’t trust my radio with it, not even with the 3D printed cover.

A camera bag

This is a good option, protection-wise. A thick-padded camera bag protects the radio quite well. I didn’t find one perfectly sized for the radio, though. So it’s a bit big and a bit heavy. On the up-side, it can transport most of my accessories as well, including my external battery.

A dedicated 3D-printed case

This is my favourite so-far. This is the model. Since I don’t have an atual 3D printer, I bought a print from a Spanish colleage on Wallapop. I got it in high-vis orange, with my callsign printed on it.

This is what I will use in the next activations. The radio fits tightly and really feels protected. It’s not as heavy as it looks either.

[MW0PJE]

Have you tried Icom’s LC-192 backpack?

It looks nice for keeping everything organised but not sure how good it is for hiking any distance.

[VK3YY]

I’ve been using this protector from Makerworld. It printed nicely on the Bambu Labs printer. It’s been on a few activations now tucked away in the pack. I put the mic. in a separate lightweight plastic box so that it doesn’t get tangled up. It would be nice to integrate the mic with the protector somehow.

https://makerworld.com/en/models/2585450-icom-ic-705-shield-v2-front-cover#profileId-2852039

Glenn VK3YY.

[EI3KA]

The Windcamp ‘Touring Series’ bag is pretty good and you can leave everything connected, but it would probably fit better with a cage installed.

The Lowepro DroneGuard CS150 fits it like a glove and is much sturdier than the Lowepro bags that are sold for the KX2.

John EI3KA

[CT7ALW]

I use a hiking backpack, with water, food, etc, so it’s not really a good option for me.

[CT7ALW]

I like that bag! Thanks for the tip!

[G1ZAR]

I just use a cheap “Lock n Lock” box and some foam packing with some adaptors & a patch lead. All the remaining accessories (power leads, Mike, etc) go in a padded envelope and then put the lot into my normal backpack.

[PE4WJ]

Just saw this one in the Technik Museum Speyer (DL) that has even used in space by an astronaut last year on board a Dragon capsule. Pragmatic solution for sure!

73,

DL/PE4WJ

[G8CPZ]

I can’t help thinking the Icom IC-705 is less ‘rucksack friendly’ than say the Elecraft KX2, e.g. volume: 1560 cm³ vs 410 cm³ ; weight (with battery) : 1100g vs ~500g ; form factor: front-facing touchscreen brick vs ultra-thin trail rig ; ATU: external (extra weight/cables) vs internal.

Now I admit I’m biased; I’ve had a KX2 for about 10 years and think it’s the best thing for SOTA activating since sliced bread, whereas I’ve only seen an IC-705 on videos. The KX2 lends itself to lots of packing solutions; my default is in a customer-made bubble-wrap pouch inside a large transparent toilet bag (along with battery, paddles, earphones, logbook, cables), although a small Lowepro bag works for non-rain days.

[PE4WJ]

I tend to agree. After seeing one today in the museum I realized that it is rather big. I am probably biased like you, as I have a KX3 which is not as small as the KX2 but still smaller than a 705. Still I think the KX3 has too many knobs hi but I digress…

73,

Wouter Jan DL/PE4WJ

[GM4LLD]

I carry the radio in a rucksack with walking gear, batteries, water, chocolate (mmmmmm!) and antennas. For 17 years my FT817 was just in its Yaesu leatherette case and no extra padding. No damage happened over many hundreds of activations. I think people are over protective TBH.

I splashed out a few months back and bought a nice Lowepro case for my KX2. Just big enough for the KX2 and its power cable. Mic and paddle live elsewhere in the bag. I need to get something for the 705 as it travels in a “super high quality” travel bag made from bubble wrap and wrapping tape. Seems to survive.

Pictures of KX2 and 705 with AA cell for scale.

[IU1KGS]

I have a KX3, a KX2 and an IC-705, they’re radio for different uses with partial overlaps.

The KX2 feels flimsy, I constantly worry about its wobbly knobs, dust getting under the display and moisture ingress from the many gaps in the panels, but it’s the lightest and most portable, you don’t feel it,

The KX3 with its many “unnecessary” knobs it’s ergonomic perfection, very rarely you have to reach for some nested menus, the battery situation is… poor.

Both Elecrafts are incredible CW machines and the ATUs a can match the proverbial wet noodle.

The IC-705 is a 7300 and a 9700 (yes, it’s an hyperbole, don’t @ me) in a small portable form factor, it’s excellent for any kind of weak signals work and it’s also a superb general communication receiver for DC to daylight and my personal impression not based on hard facts is that it’s way better than the Elecrafts on SSB.

Edit: I have the plexiglass cover and the side rails on the KX3, not on the KX2 because I don’t really like the invasive procedure to replace the standard side panels, it would definitely give me more peace of mind about its perceived flimsiness.

[G8CPZ]

@GM4LLD

chocolate (mmmmmm!) and antennas

I stow my chocolate and antennas in separate bags to avoid a sticky end.

Now that you’ve started a general show-and-tell, here are my transport solutions:

1. Dry-summer-only:
   

   
   
   Contents of my LowePro bag: KX2 with KXPD2 (attached), Palm Mini straight key (with extension 1m-long audio jack cable), Palm Pico paddles, 12v external battery lead, clip-over-ear earphones, two pencils, spare SO239-BNC adapter.

2. Rest of the year:
   

   
   
   During transport, the KX2 goes in the aforementioned custom bubble-wrap pouch (just like in Andy’s photo above accept my superior pouch has a flap that folds in to protect the end of the KX2).

@IU1KGS

give me more peace of mind about its perceived flimsiness.

I posted many times on ‘perceived flimsiness’ - whether it is my KX2 or FT817, carried triple-wrapped (bubble-wrap pouch, in dry bag/toilet bag then surrounded by other things in the rucksack) I’ve never had a problem.

The real risk is when you are operating where it could be dragged (by its cables by you moving) and falling onto rocks : always operate it low to the ground on something soft like your rucksack.

[CT7ALW]

I know a few folk with both KX3 and KX2 radios. For SOTA, the KX2 especially is a different league.

I also have a Xiegu X6100 and I typically carry it using one of these. Could perhaps fit a KX2 quite well…

If course the 705 is heavier and bulkier… It’s also lighter on the wallet and not made of unobtainium… For anything but the most extreme long hikes I think it’s fine. A good opportunity for myself to loose a few kg to compensate…

[VK3YY]

@G8CPZ

I can’t help thinking the Icom IC-705 is less ‘rucksack friendly’ than say the Elecraft KX2

They are very different radios and difficult to compare. Agree, the 705 is an awkward shape, heavier and larger but it does do 6m/2m/70cm. I’ve found the spectrum scope handy on the 2m challenge to see what else is happening. The receive audio is nice and speaker loud enough in the field.
If I wasn’t activating on 2m, I’d probably take the KX2 although it’s speaker is not great in the field and the encoders are starting to fail. I worry about moisture ingress on the KX2.

Glenn VK3YY.

[M0LEP]

@IU1KGS

The KX3 with its many “unnecessary” knobs it’s ergonomic perfection, very rarely you have to reach for some nested menus, the battery situation is… poor.

My KX3 no longer has internal batteries. I think it will stay that way, given the reason it no longer has them. Safer that way. While they could be charged without opening the case…

My back-up is a QMX (mid-band), but so far I’ve never had to use it.

I have an FTX-1 but I doubt I’ll ever seperate it from the Optima, so the battery it came with will likely never see use. The battery alone weighs 400 grams, which is more than one of my 3x18650 packs plus my QMX, and only 70 grams less than my 2 metres transverter (for the KX3) and an extra battery pack.

[PE4WJ]

The KX3 does have 6m, but no higher bands unless one were to install the tranaverter for 2m. I agree that the knobs have a flimsy feeling, and the case made out of bent sheet metal certainly allows FOD ingress through the many slits (I expect the KX2 to be no better here) so in that perspective the 705 might be better?

73,

DL/PE4WJ

[M0LEP]

@PE4WJ

install the tranaverter for 2m

…or get a transverter to connect it to (link edited into my post two up-thread).

[VK3YY]

@M0LEP

…or get a transverter to connect it to (link edited into my post two up-thread).

I’ve got the same transverter for the KX2, but sadly I haven’t tried it in the field yet!

[GM4LLD]

705 and KX2 owner. My 705 was essentially bought for transverter driving. But it does get used on HF as well. It’s different to the KX2 but I wouldn’t be without either. The spectrum display has been useful on 13cm work looking for marginal signals.

The 705 does feel more solid but my KX2 has been dropped and kicked and still is fine apart from some case dings. The KX2 does seem to draw moisture under the plexiglass screen when it’s damp which is off putting at first. The fix is Kapton tape over the unused openings in the case. And for use when it’s wet (rain, drizzle etc.) I used Josh WU7H’s idea: a disposable clear shower cap. I have a few in the bag and should it get a bit damp, out comes the shower cap over the KX2. Job done.