qrper.com/2023/07/getting-to-know-you-series-the-icom-ic-705-my-thoughts-notes-and-a-pota-activation/?swcfpc=1 Click the link above to read full details about this activation, including all equipment links, at QRPer.com.
It's the only HF radio I own. I assumed if I couldn't make any contacts I would trade it in for a 7300, however, at this point in the solar cycle, I have been incredibly productive. I'm 2 states away from completing the US-50, just rocked the 13-Colonies special event, and my son and I spoke to a guy in Germany on 15m running 10watts with an EFHW in the backyard. And I've only had the radio for a few months!
"I dont know why I'm filming this" (picking up trash). Well, it's because you're a good human. Thank you! When I was a kid and went camping with my parents, they'd pay me and my siblings a penny for each bottle cap we picked up. It got us outta their hair while they set up camp and helped make things look just a little bit better than when we arrived. I think that instilled a pretty decent respect for keeping public places clean as I've always taken a few extra steps to pick up random trash when out in the wilds. Also - Thank you for the great videos - There's a ton of "getting started with the IC-705" that run through every damn feature, no matter how irrelevant. Yours is one of the few I've found that actually walks through it _in use_ for folks unfamiliar with the radio.
46:35 absolutely upload your logs. It wouldn't be fun to try an activate a park if there were no hunters. If I make one contact, or nine, or 42 i'm uploading. Can say out of my activations I have 1 unsuccessful. 73 K4SWL still have a spot in my log waiting for you. 73 all DE KO4KKX
I own a 705 and very glad I purchased it… is a great radio packed with many features! I also just purchased a KX2, waiting for delivery as the backlog is large. I should be all set with these two radios. Now learning morse code…Thomas, your videos have been an inspiration and learning experience for me. Very well done and to the point….love your style and easy approach. Be safe ..Cheers .. Alex, K9YTT
The same story is in Russia: Whenever I travel , I do exactly the same thing, but with a fishing slingshot with a small stone fixed to the end of the rope. Here I am - Traveling to Kola Peninsular Russia wich is more then 1000 miles away from my QTH-Moscow ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nu3nszlxipE.html IC-705 is a good "toy". BUT with only 5 wats it is hard to cover a big distance. I do cover it, and sometimes speak with my wife, to say "I am alive :) " the nearest village is tooo.. far away. The mobile phones out of cover.
I own one, I was lucky to get it in January 2021before the rate increase and I also got a free Icom lantern with the deal. A first rate radio, the built in filters are most welcome. Besides hamming, like you said. This is a great radio for FM DXing too. I've also logged a bunch of LF beacons, some out to 1000 miles on it. I just wish they would have made it more rugged and with a built-in tuner. I rate it a 9.5 out of 10. Even still, I still want a KX2.
Thanks for the content!! Side note, I always carry a Extension Grabber and clean up nearly every where I go. I have to go deep... in the woods to find a place that isn't trashed around the cities.
I own an Ic705, love it. Also own other radios, the 705 is my only QRP radio. Also own a couple of Yaesu radios and the ID52A. Always enjoy your videos, Thanks. (K4SFR)
The 705 is great. I like the simple orange foot that is shown. A short tabletop tripod (in the $10-$15 range) adds even more flexibility to the viewing angle with a minimal increase in weight or bulk.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with the ICOM IC-705. Great subject matter and applicable tribal knowledge of the product’s features. 73 AI7UF
I think I had a cameo appearance in this video at 37:00. I was activating a park in RI on 14.058 at that time and I caught "de n1..." before you moved away. Indeed I didn't hear you. I thought it was interesting to hear. -‐n1bs
I watched ahead of this point again, and you were listening on 14058.49, but during the CQ you bumped the dial and did an abrupt move down to 14058.13. --n1bs
I just recently found your videos im in Asheville and good to find some in the same state doing ham videos im in the process of getting my tech license enjoy CB and thought why not go for ham license
Yes! Go for your ham license. It's so easy in Asheville to set up an exam too. They're offered each week at the Ingles on Brevard Road (across from the outlet mall). You can do this!
Hi Thomas - my 705 arrived a few weeks ago. I did buy USA version (supposedly a demo open box, but looks brand new), deciding not to take a chance on an import unit. Working on taking my Tech Lic Test. I'm going to setup unit initially as a base unit. I've decided to start by mounting an Ed Fong dual band antenna up on the roof. It will be up about 20 feet or so mounted to one of those collapsing flag poles that Harbor Freight sells. On the 705, do I need to add another grounding wire (or other copper wire) to that other connection available, or just the antenna cable connection itself? I did purchase the heavy Coax with proper connections on both ends. Appreciate you Brother - look forward to meeting at some point. I'll be sure to bring my gloves and extra garbage bag. Merry Christmas to you and family. Thanks for your great videos! LOL.
Great job on getting the IC-705. It's a brilliant radio. The ground lug on the radio could be used to connect to a station ground or a counterpoise. Grounding/Bonding your gear can help with lowering the noise floor when you're in an urban QRM environment. And yes to the gloves and trash bags, OM! Thanks for your comment!
Tom, it's a good idea to pick up the trash. POTA needs a good reputation as to being park friendly. Well done. What are the paddles your using and how do you like them. I enjoyed your video. WD4RBX
Thanks, OM. Here are the paddles I'm using in this video (this is an ffiliate link): cwmorse.us/products/cnc-machined-aluminum-pocket-double-paddle-key?ref=pHGSYqNC
Thomas, do you have the magnetic version of the CW Morse CNC key? I am assuming that the CW Morse website lists the magnet option for the return force vs. springs. I like the paddles on yours compared to their original dual paddle key. It looks sturdier and better built.
Great video. Very informative. There might be a tempered glass cell phone screen protector that would for the screen of this radio. If you're still concerned about potentially damaging it.
I think some people have used soft screen protectors on the IC-705, but since it's a pressure-sensitive touch pad (and not capacitive) any additional screen layers made of something like gorilla glass would likely decrease the accuracy of each press. I don't honestly worry too much about the screen being damaged under normal use.
I do activate SSB, but not as often as I used to mainly because I love CW so much. I use the same power output (5W) and antennas as I do with CW. When doing POTA and SOTA, you are the DX, so you can truly get away with 5 or 10W power output in SSB.
KM4OIA here, I'm so conflicted. I have a xiegu g90 and x6100. Both great radios. I'm so tempted to sell both and purchase an ic705. Lots of similarly, for sure, the 705 lacks a tuner, but in the field, I use resonate anteana.
Hi Thomas - I’m considering purchasing buying a brand new IC-705 from Japan to save the money (about 40% savings). ICOM corporate states that their mfg warranty will not work here in US for Japan domestic manufactured radios. I’m not super concerned about the warranty. I’ve never had an issue with any high quality electronics brand I’ve purchased in past but know there’s always a risk. Such is life. However, do you think that there will really be issues with band modes and other usability aspects as they suggest, or could it just be “spin” to keep business for local equipment dealers. What are your thoughts?
Wow--great question and perhaps someone else could chime in. I really wouldn't be too concerned at all. Like you said, it's unlikely that you'd have a warranty issue. If so, that might be a great excuse to visit Tokyo! It's possible the radio may default to band edges that are Japan-specific. Might be worth inquiring directly about those differences and if they can be easily user-changed. I image so.
You really can’t go wrong with any of the major ham radio retailers. I tend to use DX Engineering. And the BRARC meeting are streamed! That would work for sure. :)
@47:00 That’s why I have 15 seconds between my CQs lol. Ya missed the one. Also, I gave you all the whiskeys the 7300 could pump out. Couldn’t hear you on 20, but I have you in Ham Alert so when you’re on I come running. -Rob W1RCP
This transceiver has an exceptional receiver. If you like to transmit too, I would whole-heartedly recommend it: swling.com/blog/2021/06/the-icom-ic-705-is-this-really-a-new-holy-grail-swl-bcl-receiver/
I am always cleaning up after the slobs of the world! It is bewildering and daunting. Thanks for the extra help and for encouraging us to be stellar people.
Great video as usual. Just added a MacBook Pro to my kit. What’s the go-between software for a virtual wireless com port? With Windows, I used the iCOM software/virtual com port. Thanks again! 73 KI7VLV
What size weight was that, I missed it if you stated it. Thanks. I did see the video when you showed all the arborist stuff, and bought some, they are great.
Check out this article which explores all of the variants of weights and line I use: qrper.com/2022/08/arborist-throw-lines-ideal-lengths-and-weights-for-field-radio/
When you look for a limb to through an EFHW line over are you looking for a good limb or a specific compass direction? Thank you for all your hard work.
I'm just looking for a good limb, The compass direction, I find, makes little difference (some, perhaps, but effectively very little) unless I'm deploying a vertical loop. Great question!
@@ThomasK4SWL thank you. I got the meaning now. I thought 72 might have a meaning of low power and or remote portability. Thanks for all the videos. I enjoy watching them.
Cautionary note for those not as young and in-shape as our friend Thomas: when tossing the line, keep both feet firmly planted on the ground for the whole toss. The little ballet move as the weight goes into ballistic flight can result in a painfully torn or strained calf muscle that takes weeks to heal! Ask me how I know. Two feet on the ground, simple non-wound up, swinging underhand toss can tree the wire just fine.
I've never measured, but my guess would be about 50-55 feet with practice. I often use a 25 meter (shorter) line with my SOTA kits. With that line, I have to be careful not to over-throw so that I don't run out of line.
@@rabbit6914 It's funny. This morning at K-8012, I was aiming for one branch and snagged a much higher one. I almost deplyed a 40M EFHW as a vertical. It has about 61-62' of wire in it and it and only about 2-3 feet of it went over the branch, so that was about 55' high. It actually wasn't that hard--it's just physics and luck. I was aiming much lower. In truth, though, that is a high shot for me.
@@ThomasK4SWL It's also rotating the throw-bag to a high angular velocity and then extending and letting go at just the right time with your arm extended at just the right angle. Great throw today. Makes watching the deployment an exciting part of the video, too.
❤as always very entertaining, my copying call signs has been steadily improving by watching ur vids, getting prepared to take my extra exam in august! Kk7hi😊
Well yet another one that I did not get into your log on, but I did find you that day and went and listened and to no avail cud ot hr you at all! But at least I found you and had the shot at it!. 72/73 and thanks for sharing. de WA1RKS Ellis
