[ICOM] ic-703 vs ft-817?

[Ekki Plicht]

On Thursday 10 June 2004 03:09, W5FKX - Don wrote:
> I'm looking at the IC-703 vs. the FT-817ND for a qrp rig to take on a
> remote fishing trip next month. Battery drain is a consideration, as I will
> have only solar panels for charging. Wonder if anyone has any comments
> about either rig?

As a vendor for both rigs I tried them both. And I find them hard to compare, 
they are very different radios.

IMO the FT-817 is a nice all purpose portable rig, the 703 is a HF QRP 
enthusiasts rig.

The RX on the 703 is much better, it runs rings around the 817. Don't get me 
wrong, both are sensitive, but the 703 is much better in respect to intermod 
problems.

The 817 has an internal battery, the 703 not. Power consumption of the 817 is 
lower than with the 703. The 817 has no internal tuner, the 703 does. The 817 
has VHF/UHF, the 703 not. Just these significant differences makes both rigs 
hard to compare with each other.

As somebody else wrote, I find the operation on the 703 much easier, mostly 
due to the larger front panel.

So if V/UHF is of no concern for you, if you power it from external sources 
anyway, go for the 703, it's a much better HF rig. If you really need 
something portable with internal battery, go for the 817.

If you need an excellent receiver (HF only) with extremely low power 
consumption, look at he Elecraft K2, although this may be a heresy, saying 
that on the Icom reflector, hi hi.

73.
Ekki, DF4OR