[ICOM] Opinions wanted

[joel hallas]

IMHO, both rigs are good, but perhaps for somewhat different purposes. I 
have an IC-718 that sits on my YL's (W1NCY) desk and gets taken on 
vacation. I have an IC-706 Mk2G in the car and a Mk2 on the sailboat. 
They all work very well.

I mostly operate CW, and both will need a CW filter. The filters for the 
706 are less expensive.

A big limitation of the 718 is that there is only one filter slot. That 
means if you are not in narrow mode on CW, you have a 2.4 kHz bandwidth. 
There are filter board accessoroes available, but then your cost is up 
to that of an IC-7000, which has a lot going for it. BTW, while the 706 
filters plug in, the 718 needs to be soldered in and it is a bit messy 
'cuz you must scrape off the board coating to do so. I'd order the radio 
with a filter, either narrow SSB or 500 Hz CW, depending on your plans. 
 I also got the 400 Hz Inrad and it works fine, once it was soldered in.

In addition to a lower price, the IC-718 has an easier to use op 
interface, a easier to read display, an internal front mounted speaker. 
The IC-706 offers separate mounting for super mobile, slots for two 
filters and V/UHF.

IMHO, while they both say they do full break-in, they are have very 
clunky relays. I went to semi-break-in in all, and set the delay very 
short. It works quite well, but not like the full QSK on my TT rig at home.

Neither of the receivers are at the top of the heap, in terms of dynamic 
performance, but they are just fine, IMO, for normal operation. Neither 
is a top-notch contest rig.

Random thoughts, in no particular order!

GL & 73, Joel, W1ZR

Gareth Gammon wrote:

>I am finally seriously thinking about my retirement present (and my birthday combined) I retired last June and said I wanted a new radio to celebrate my 32 years in the classroom. I don't want, can't afford a very expensive radio, so I was looking at an IC-718. It has all the capabilities and more than the one I am currently using, a TS520. I am the orginal owner of this old girl, which was my present to myself back in '75 for getting my Canadian Advanced ticket.
>
>When I checked a few months ago the 718 came with the DSP installed for the same price as without, a gift from Icom I guess. Now when I look, the DSP unit is back to being an optional extra. I do a fair bit of CW so would like to have a narrow filter installed for that also. That puts the price up to pretty well $1100 or more plus taxes Cnd. That is almost the price of a 706MKIIG. So what to do? Which is the better buy? Which will give me the best bang for the buck in terms of performance, ease of use and trouble free operation? I will not have the opportunity of seeing or trying either radio before purchasing as the nearest ham radio shop is 1000km away so it will have to be a mail order purchase.
>
>I will not be going HF mobile, at least I don't think so,  so the 718 is attractive but the 706 has three more bands to play with and all the extras already built in. The downside is the small size and the not-so-user-friendly menu system from what I have read. I am not interested in a used radio, even though I am sure there are some good bargains out there but I haven't had a new HF rig in 32 years and aim to get me a NEW one!
>
>Any and all thoughts gladly accepted. Just think, If I were me buying a new, lower priced radio, I would ..............
>
>73 and Happy New Year to all
>
>Gareth VE7CGG
>
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