No contest, KX2 wins. Well it seems to weigh nothing compared to the 705 and the 705 doesn’t have an ATU.
I learned this because I took my 705 out on it’s 1st proper activation… I needed 70cm from it for the 13cm transverter. So I had the 705 with its depleted Uranium casing, a recently acquired a Doradus 13cm plate antenna (550gm but 18dBi gain) ) and all the 13cms gear. AND… a tuner for HF. Oh boy was that bag heavy. A thought also made by Alan MM0VPM @MM0VPM who hasn’t had his 817 out for a while.
OK, it performed perfectly and I had 3 QSOs on 13cm including one which really shows that this “new” antenna has much more gain than the previous one I was using. Here’s a route profile from Jack GM4COX in IO85CR to me on GM/SS-093. Some significant rock between us, probably some diffraction involved. But 93km over an obstructed path works for me
OK, the 705 worked and after 13cm I worked some HF. Then I had to carry all the gear back down. As Alan MM0VPM said “is that hire-a-sherpa company still running?”
I agree that there’s no contest from a weight point of view, but I much prefer using the 705 over the KX2 after the heavy lifting is done. Icom might not have put an ATU in the 705, but the dedicated one they designed for it is excellent.
Yes, the 705 buttons and feel are better. Whenever I use my KX2 I feel one good sneeze and it’ll fall to bits.
I suppose I’d forgotten how much junk tags along for a uWave activation. For HF, KX2, bit of wire and a paddle and you’re done. Not the case for 13cm, transverter, transverter battery, power cable, IF cable (tvtr to 705), 13cm antenna, feeder, PTT lead, spare antenna (as something always breaks). 5/16th spanner in case SMA get too tight. And on and on.
Anyway today was like COVID had never happened… GM4COX, MM0GLM and (this time) MM0VPM all out playing 13cm, it felt it was 2018 again
Having used a KX2 recently for the first time, I was surprised how “open” the case is for a /P radio. There are holes all over it, and it wasn’t long before there was water creeping behind the screen perspex, into the internal microphone and the random other holes on the side (for the optional paddle, etc.)
The IC-705 has small rubber bungs over all of the connectors (aside from power/antenna) and feels a lot safer to use in a gentle drizzle for a quick activation.
I put clear tape over a lot of the holes. My KX2 has seen A LOT of rain. I have literally poured water out of the case more than once (radio was off with no battery installed). Still going strong 7 years, >500 summits later. I always carry a clear showercap (which we call a ‘KX Condom’ around here), and that keeps the radio dry in a light drizzle. Mine once fell about 4 feet off a log onto some rocks. Aside from the paintwork… no damage. I have also had it shutdown due to heat on more than one occasion (you have to keep it out of direct sunlight at all times… black isn’t a great color for a field rig).
Had the pleasure of using an IC 705 on 2 activations the other day. It went very well but I did notice how much bigger it is compared to my KX3. I did not carry it in my back pack so could not compare weight to my radios.
My KX3 look pretty venerable in its tin box a bit like the KX2 but last year I opened up the case on the radio for first time in 10 years. Much to my surprise it was very clean inside with about 450 odd activations done with it up until then.
My method to protect it if rain interrupts my activation is a super market shopping bag with a hole in 1 corner. I shove the radio and battery in the bag lay it as flat as I can and put coax feedline in through the hole in the bag. These days I try to only activate on fine weather days so its not usually a problem here on the driest continent, but that bag remains in my kit all the time.
Regards.
Ian vk5cz …
The IC705 should be considered an upgraded FT817. Better IF, more power and the same frequencies and more contemporary functions. With the superb AH705 and antennas in the pack you are set for a great HF V/U day
The KX2 is HF only and designed for two pocket SOTA. Backpack not required. Rig in one pocket. Aerial wire and a snack in the other and a quick activation is guaranteed.
To be fair Ron I’m not being entirely serious. I’d been meaning to buy a 705 because it’s “shiny” for a while. Getting one for £800 that was under a year old when the list price is £1400 was a no brainer. I was able to sell on both 817s, a xtal filter and an old unused 706 which lowered the cost of buying both a KX2 and a 705.
I do like it and I think it feels nicer to the fingers to use than the KX2. For years I never used antennas than needed an ATU. But once you have one, especially like the KX2 ATU that has such a large tuning capability, you can play with all sorts of “bits of wire” antennas, string 'em up, hit ATU and you’re in business.
The spectrum scope proved it’s worth. Alan MM0VPM was on An Caisteal and had a 58/59 signal on 13cm to Jack. Alan acted as control and got Jack transmitting and I could see “sparkles” on the display before I peaked up the 13cm antenna on Jack and was able to copy him 51 on SSB. On CW it would have been trivial. Without the display it would have been harder, probably not impossible but harder.
I like the fact I only need to take one LiFePO battery now. I can use that to power the 705 for HF and then use it to power the transverter and use the internal 705 battery to power the 705 as I only need 0.5W on 70cm for the transverter.
My biggest disappointment, apart from the case made from depleted Uranium (well it is heavy) is if you have the 705 keyer menu active and the buttons visibile you cannot also display the SWR. After I blew up the PA and driver on an 817 with a dodgy feeder, I have religiously had the SWR displayed when TXing and I can’t see how to do that yet. Or I could use something like that old valved/tubed Yaesu you have which laughs at SWR issues that would kill off a modern PA.
I’d still buy both a 705 and KX2 as they let me do the portable radio I want to do.
About a month ago I acquired an IC-705 (I am not going to retire the FT857 that gave me so much fun for 7 years!) since I also recently acquired a Honda Hunter CT-125 and I need to reduce my luggage.
If I compare it with the FT-857 I can say that I am more than happy! But since I also decided to add FT8 to my activations, I also acquired the iPhone app ¨SDR-Mobile¨ by Marcus DL8MRE and I fell in love with it!!!
This app together with the IC-705 works spectacularly.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating but for both the app and the rig I think I still shouldn’t know more than 10% and even so I’m happy.
Do you know that you can configure the buttons on the IC705 to do different things? For example you can configure microphone buttons or front panel buttons to send voice/keyer macros, so you don’t have the keyer window open? You can just press one button on the front and it will call CQ, etc.
See Menu > Set > Function > Front Key Customize or Menu > Set > Function > Remote MIC Key.
I have the A and B buttons of the MIC send Keyer/Voice/RTTY 1 and 2 respectively, and the VOX button on the front panel send Keyer 1 (shame it isn’t an option to make the AUTOTUNE button do it instead).
Either way, you can have anything else you want on the screen at the time bandscope, all the meters, etc., and you’ll just see “M1” at the top.
Thanks to Randy and George. I thought it must be doable but have not played with it enough. I had 18 years 817 experience such that everything I needed was configured so it was switch on, pick a band, pick a mode, operate. There’s still twiddling, tweaking and fettling taking place on the KX2 after 1 year in use and certainly on the 705.
I had a single button one of those a while ago for an older rig, but, stopped using it when I found out I could use a button on the front panel of the radio to send the TX macro. The integrated key is a nice idea!
Thanks for the tip George. I too would like to have the display in the extended meter mode, but with instant access to cw keyer memories. I had considered one of those external keyboards but I really just want “CQ SOTA”. In any case, there are already enough leads sticking out of both sides of the radio!
As regards the memory keyer taking up half of the screen (705 or 7300), there is the option of building a mechanical button device that plugs into the Microphone socket and you then pass-thru to the fist mic if needed (details in the IC7300 user manual - I hope the 705 is the same) - SOTABeams also make a commercial unit.
But (for the 705 only as it uses 2.4GHz for control), there is the device below which was shown in the latest Amateurlogic.tv show.
I’ve said it before but I sold my KX3 and went back to an FT-817 because I hate wearing headphones and the speaker in the KX3 was pathetic.
The IC-705 has an equally excellent speaker to the 817, and the waterfall is amazing for checking if bands are open. The long mic lead is genius for keeping the legs from seizing as you can easily operate standing up with the rig on the ground.
You can unplug the '817 mic lead and plug in any ethernet cable.
I replaced mine with a 0.5m one, as the curly cord was too heavy, but I have found the straight cable is also much nicer.
I certainly agree with this statement. I have never used headphones with my 705, the speaker audio is loud and very easy to listen to. I too had a KX3 and had to used headphone. I found it ok in Southern Ontario but when traveling north I didn’t like wearing headphones because of possible wildlife especially bears. I know some activators in the west that use external speakers for the same reason.
Yup. The speaker in the 705 is better than the KX2. Many have said they have no problem with the KX2 speaker or use headphones. But I have Diabetic induced Tinnitus so maybe my hearing is a bit sub-par now. My mic cable on my MH3 was replaced by me. Paul W6PNG gave an old MH3 where the cable was falling to pieces, the vinyl breaking off in lumps. I made a longer non-coiled cable from some super flexible Silicone insulated screen audio cable and ISTR it’s 2.5m long. A longer cable, that isn’t breaking up, is a plus.
I’d still buy both a KX2 and 705 if I had to do so again.
but 18dBi gain) ) and all the 13cms gear. AND… a tuner for HF. Oh boy was that bag heavy. A thought also made by Alan MM0VPM @MM0VPM who hasn’t had his 817 out for a while.
