[ICOM] Opinions wanted

[Ken Woodside, WB8EQO]

I bought the Icom 746 PRO for the following reasons:
1. Includes built-in Keyer with memory.
2. Built-in antenna tuner (seems very versatile)
3. Nice range of general frequencies for SWL
listening.
4. Built-in filters - a bunch of them.
5. Many many features - all computer driven - I think
the rig has a hard drive.

So, instead of buyer a lesser radio and using a pile
of expensive add-ons and struggling with potential
compatibility issues, you pay more up-front and then
you are basically done. 

I must say, however, that learning your way around
this rig is a bit difficult and you are forever
learning a new feature!

Icom does specials on this side of the ditch (we live
in Michigan) where they toss in the power supply. I
don't know if this occurs over there. 

Best of luck!
Ken WB8EQO nr. Detroit

--- Tom Crawford <TMCsail at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I own both a 706mk2g and a 746pro.
> Everything you have said about your operating tells
> me you should give 
> serious consideration to the 746pro.
> No filters to buy, all bands.
> 
> best of luck to you and 73
> Tom, W3TMC
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gareth Gammon" <ghgammon at telus.net>
> To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:21 PM
> Subject: [ICOM] Opinions wanted
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> 
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> 


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