Yes, in theory it is a dedicated atu for the 705 only. I guess it could be adapted for a 703 also - the pin out is the same although the connector is different (a conventional Icom socket). There are adaptors on ebay to interface with an 817.
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I agree the KX2/KX3 speakers are poorly placed. But, as a mainly CW op, I have to wear earphones anyway (usually under an over-the-ears woolly hat) to hear those 429 chasers above the summit wind noise or tarp flapping noise.
Since its introduction the KX2 has been criticized for its apparent lack of robustness. I suppose if you like to chunk your rigs about or carelessly let them fall among the summit rocks, you might have a point. I treat mine no differently from other portable rigs I have or had (e.g. FT817).
Yeah, my ~7yo KX2 still looks and behaves like new despite going on every HF activation [albeit the perspex display cover gets condensation on the inside after prolonged usage when the humidity is very high]. It’s not much effort to have it well wrapped inside the rucksack and – at the summit - well placed on something soft and low down [Andy, that’s not a euphemism].
Accidents will happen! I told you before: take a lightweight portable chair (like my Helinox Chair Zero). I’ve had no more cramps or backside aches since I’ve used it.
When operating in the rain, the KX2 goes in a repurposed see-through toilet bag with cables coming through the zip opening. See photo in link below …
Good advice. Me too. Actually I do that with everything that gets wet/damp.
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Hi Andy, hi all
I just have seen your interesting post only now. We recently got a request from a newbie, who wants to start with SOTA and asked us for our recommendation concerning the setup. As you know the topographic in Switzerland is full of real big mountains, and to get a QSOson 23cm or even higher into the log is nearly impossible here. To say it simple: For SOTA-activations in the Alps the IC-705 isn’t a good choice - it’s too heavy and too large, its power is too little with the built-in battery, and the most important thing is, that you’re limited in choosing any antennas, because there’s no ATU built-in. My YL Carine (HB9FZC) and I are using our own KX2 now for 9 years and have activated nearly 800 summits with it - in the hot sun, in the rain and in the snow with temperatures far below 0°C - no problem at all with that TRX 
After the request of the newbie, who was thinking also about buying either a KX2 or a IC-705 we spontanily posted a news on our website with a comparison of the KX2 to the IC-705 from our point of view as active SOTA-activators - maybe it is interesting for some of you here: Einstieg in den “Portabel-Funk” - Unsere Empfehlungen – Lutz Electronics, Schweiz The site is written in German, but please use an online-translator like Google Translate - that works fine 
Good SOTA to you all and vy 73 de René, HB9NBG + 73/88 de Carine, HB9FZC
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Thanks for the useful information. I am looking at a KX2 or IC-705 but waiting for the Yaesu FX1 to launch first, see what the reviews are like.
KX2 is the front runner for me at the moment, but I am worried about with Elecraft being a US company, the tariffs may drive prices up even higher and also warranty and any service etc for sales within the EU. .ch isn’t completely part of the Eurozone so it just adds to concerns etc about buying any Elecraft products within the EU (for me anyway).
73 DE EI3LH
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Hi Ian and thanks for your feedback. We’re waiting for the FTX-1F as well, but I think the TRX will offer about the same as the IC-705 - for sure there’s no ATU on board as well, and that’s a big disadvantage. Concerning ELECRAFT don’t worry! At the moment we have still stock of all the products, and at least the gouvernment of Switzerland has no interests to launch an economy-war with the USA. BTW: We’ve already shipped a lot of ELECRAFT stuff to whole Europe and also to the UK and Ireland.
It’s really great to do SOTA with ELECRAFT-Radios
vy 73 de René, HB9NBG
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Many of us have rigs without an ATU so I don’t see that as a reason to dismiss any rig.
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It isn’t. The issue is when you have access to a built in ATU , especially an automatic one with a wide range, then you can experiment with differing antennas very easily. It’s just super convenient to hit the tune button and off you go, match is OK and you never had to move and change links etc. But you do not need them, you use antennas that do not need tuning as I did for many, many years.
There are currently 4 all mode radios you can buy new that scratch the SOTA itch. KX2, 705, Xiegu ??? and Lab 599 TX500. And the KX3. OK there are 5 all mode radios you can buy new and an almost fanatical devotion to the…(obligatory Monty Python ref) I’m sure there are others but those are effectively available 24/7/365. I’ve not used the Xiegu or Lab599 products and my worry is if those companies will be in business supporting products for a long time. I’m fairly sure that Icom aren’t going away anytime soon. Elecraft have devoted owners but you must question if current isolationist policies where they are made will badly affect their business. So for me it’s a choice between a KX2 and a 705 and I was fortunate enough to be able to buy both and sell older gear to lower the cost.
But if I could only have one of them it would be the 705 because I need VHF & UHF multimode features for my SOTA uWave activities.
Which do I prefer? Well I don’t know. I honestly like them both and they both have issues, neither are perfect. I think I could remove a lot of less useful features from the Icom. The big colour LCD is nice but not essential, I’ve no need for another GPS receiver on a hill but it does mean the clock on the 705 gets set a few seconds after powering it up. I don’t need D-STAR, some of my friends were horrified when I said I’d had a D-STAR SOTA QSO but then let me off and said it was OK when I said it was on 13cm 
I’ve never used the SDcard or USB features. I don’t use 160/80/6m and I feel there’s a bazillion other features buried in the 705 that wont get touched either. Both radios have frequency memories programmed up but I can’t remember how to access them most of the time. The CW memories are useful, the 705 is much easier to program, I set up a CQ SOTA M0FMF memory on Burnhope Seat and it was trivial. Programming the CW memory on the KX2 is anything but trivial unless you have a USB cable and PC. If you move between the bands on my radios you find VFO A will be near a CW watering hole and VFO B will be somewhere for SSB so memories are less useful. I don’t like the touchscreen on the 705 and it doesn’t work when I wear gloves so I carry an “artificial finger” so I can use the 705 under such conditions.
So both a KX2 and 705 are needed, because I’m worth it! And my philosophical/religious beliefs are I’m only here once and will one day, be dead for a long time. I really don’t need Eastern or Western politicians enriching themselves by rocking the boat and upsetting my retirement plans after many years grafting and saving. That means I may just punt for the new Yaesu when it comes out. And an Audi RS3. I’m not bothered by the lack of ATU built in the Yaesu and even though there will be a matching ATU, I have an ATU-10 which is pretty damn good for £90 and is tiny and weighs little.
So there, now we know which radio to buy. 
And I miss my 817s 
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Hi Richard, I think that’s a question of how and where you’re doing SOTA. If you’re active in the high Alps every gramm of weight is one too much, and you often don’t have the opportunity to install big antennas - first of all it’s very difficult to install wire-antennas on a exposed summit, where the space is limited. That’s why Carine and I are using very often the KX2 s a handheld with a direct mounted AX1 and AXE1; so we’re QRV with a very little effort on 40/30/20/17/15m, and also with difficult conditions for example because of the WX a dozen of QSOs are logged within 5mins of activity - here an example of our acitvation of the “Bella Tola”, HB/VS-175 on 3’025m in August 2024, where we were surprised from a very quick upcoming thunderstorm:
I’m sure, that there would have been no chance to process the activation successful with any TRX, that has no ATU built in.
I’ve we have a little bit more time and space, we always use this antennasystem has the best performance, we’ve ever seen, and yes: It works resonant, and you can run it also with the IC-705 - BUT: 10W of power with the internal battery of the KX2 is an advantage, that you can feel, in comparison to 5W from the IC-705 (with internal battery).
It’s for sure, that it depends on your kind of doing SOTA. whether the IC-705 is the better choice than the KX2. Carine and I are working with featherweight-equipment everytime and also love to use the KH1
For 2m and 70cm S2S we use the FT-5D. On our Site you can see, what we’re using - from our point of view it’s the best equipment you can get for activations at least in the alps.
Have further a lot of fun with SOTA and hpe cu soon on a S2S
vy 73 de René, HB9NBG
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Hi Rene,
I don’t want to start an ATU vs. non-ATU war, but honestly, during my 632 activations, I never needed an ATU.
All my HF rigs don’t contain an ATU, but I own two small QRP ATUs: a manual Z-tuner and an automatic ATU-10, both from Aliexpress. They both work perfectly fine, but I only used them for some experiments.
17 days after you, albeit with better weather, I also activated this summit.
On this summit I used my proven LAB599 TX-500 with a loaded vertical antenna, which I mainly use on summits with limited space.
In this picture you can see this antenna in action, resulting in 45 contacts:
The following video shows my personal pros and cons of this resonant antenna:
Tomorrow for the Trans-Atlantic S2S party I’ll use the same antenna mount with the earth spike, but instead of the shortened vertical I’ll use the cheap full size quarter wave vertical from Aliexpress (see the reflector thread Cheap 1/4 wave antenna whip from AliExpress (Part 2))
There are so many different antenna solutions, just choose what suits your situation best!
73 Stephan
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Hi Stephan
Great video with very understandable explications As you know, we prefer HB9NBGs Clever-Whip Kit, that is a Full-Size solution and can be used also, if the ground is completely made in rock 
of course it’s not as cheap as the components from Ali, but it’s made in Switzerland My remark, that I’m sure, that the activation of the Bella Tola wouldn’t be possible with any other equipment than a KX2 with direct mounted AX1 was meant with that WX, that we had at this day - there’s was no minute more left for the activation, because the thunderstorm was already exactly above us 
That was my log - Carine had worked the same stations within the same 4 minutes
If there’s time, you can go on-air with a lot of setups
Looking forward to our next S2S
vy 73 de René, HB9NBG
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René, I love your lovely alpine photos, and seeing what you can do with your Elecraft radios and compromise antennas, but perhaps you have a slightly biased view, given that your business is to sell Elecraft products. 
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Hi René,
Thanks for your clarification!
I like the idea of this innovative multi-purpose solution!
I have watched your well done video, but unfortunately this antenna solution is just too fiddly for me.
Also, when I think of how many walking sticks I have managed to bend and thus destroy during my activations, it would be quite costly 
.
OK, that makes perfect sense. If I were to buy a KX2/KX3, I would buy one with an internal ATU, just in case. My point was that all my antennas are (more or less) resonant, so I don’t feel the need to use an ATU (one less thing to worry about).
Of course, this may change, as I want to make some use of my ATU-10, but it has to match the antenna, not the coax feeder cable.
What sometimes makes me think is how you and others log your QSOs, holding the rig in one hand and the microphone in the other. I want to sit comfortably and need one hand free to enter the data into my smartphone, which is magnetically attached to my leg (well, my leg is not ferromagnetic, but I have a magnetig strap around my leg) 
.
You are both very brave! If I’m on a summit and there’s a thunderstorm approaching or above me, I leave the summit as quickly as possible. Better safe than sorry, as they say…
Absolutely! I like to spend some time on a RF-quiet summit, e.g. eating my sandwich, watching nature and doing lots of S2S. It’s quality time for me, and that’s what I love about SOTA!
I think every experienced activator has found their own personal solution, which they have optimized over time. Never change a winning horse, but try and experiment with new ideas.
For many more S2S!
73 Stephan
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Hello everyone,having to change the roof on my house this summer i managed to “acquire” funds for a serious SOTA transciever.
I was looking at both the 705 and the kx2,but since we already have at home a 7300 im already familiar with the UI and leaning more towards it.
Maybe there will be some interesting used opportunities at ham radio next month.
I am wondering if anyone can share their input.
The lack of atu on 705 doesnt bother me,ive got a ATU-10.
73 Karlo
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This. I like to see how many bands I can do in an activation. The ATU in the KX2 strikes me as a major miracle in this regard.
Another country heard from,
Eric KG6MZS
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It depends on your needs. But in general I think it is unfair comparison in just looking at SOTA use. If we just think of price & features, IC-705 wins by a mile. It has so many great features that KX2 doesn’t have. The price / feature ratio is on 705 side - if we look only that.
If you want as light as possible transceiver that can do random wires by default, then of course 705 is not your choice.
The missing ATU has been puzzling me too, that is one well missed change from Icom. On the other hand I think the device is already fully packed - but squeecing even KH1 style tuner would have been great addition for sure.
Lately I’ve found the linked dipole antenna and I just feel that “real” dipole is brililant antenna. Setting up the linked dipole was not as bad as I thought. Also my 1:49 EFHW is tuned to multple bands, so no need for tuner. Maybe Icom is trying to give us a hint here
I use ATU10 tuner with my 705 when needed - it’s quite small and doesn’t really add that much. Everything fits to my backpack anycase and no danger of SOTA ascending here 
Something speaks the fact that I’ve carried IC-7300 to many forests too… (if you don’t believe me, watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ZpYyxT_p4)
The screen, the speaker, the usability and robustness keeps me taking 705 for activation trips again and again.
(and yes I have drooled for KX2 but never got justification from myself to get one)
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Exactly Josh. <L’Oreal Mode On> Because I’m Worth It. <L’Oreal Mode Off>.
Really I have both because they scratch different itches, HF+intergral ATU in super light package, HF+6/2/70 to drive primarily transverters and allow so HF SOTA when doing uWave SOTA. I also have an ATU-10 which is tiny and always seems to tune my antennas for the 705 just like the KX2’s ATU does. Perhaps one of them has a wider tuning range but it’s not been an issue for me yet.
I like them both but they are different. I’d prefer more button funcs and fewer touch funcs because the 705 screen sometimes is insensitive to my sweaty, lardy paws. But I can hear it better! 
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Thanks for your input,the main downside for me is the kx2 package id be looking at brand new would cost me about 2.5k € ,which is a bit too much for me.I can get a brand new 705 for 1.4k €.
As i said,maybe there will be se used items at FH for a good price.
I was in the same boat and one came up at ML&S purely by chance when I was checking their website. KX2’s don’t tend to hang about when they come up for sale so I jumped on it pretty much soon as I saw it.
Mine came with the ATU and key too. Saved about a bag of sand all in. ML&S are IOSS-friendly too by the way. Also, top tip if you buy one there, pay in GBP and not EUR using Revolut. No fees and decent exchange rate saved me an extra 20 or 30 EUR.
My KX2 is about to be bathed in the sensual goodness of the Diamond RHM-12 (and 12C). Best of all, it’ll do for my beloved FT-891 for giving it 100 watts worth of the slipper.
When QRP will simply not do, call in the 100w portable hired goon to sort the bands out! Can’t wait!
The 705 is a beaut, and it does loads. I think with the arrival of the FTX-1F that ICOM might have another QRP radio in the works?
Regardless. Glad I got the KX2 now and haven’t looked back yet. The perfect side order to accompany the simply majisterial FT-891. 
Get a used KX2 and an FT-891 with the money you saved not getting a new KX2. Best of both worlds!
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