[ICOM] 706MKII vs. 430/440/735

[Adam Farson]

Hi John,

All the older radios had PLL synthesisers, which had relatively poor
phase-noise performance by modern standards. The TS-430 and TS-440 were
particularly bad in that respect. 

The IC-735 also had a rather noisy synthesiser, but did at least have a good
reputation for reliability.

Apart from the phase-noise issue, one has to consider that the
paper-phenolic PCB's used in these older radios will have deteriorated over
the years, due to moisture absorption. In addition, components such as the
plastic VCO alignment trimmers will have drifted out of tolerance, or become
"flaky"; due to metal migration etc.

You are probably best off keeping the IC-706MkII  until you can replace it
with a modern transceiver offering a better choice of IF filters etc. At
least the 706 has G10 fibre-glass PCB's and a fairly quiet DDS synthesiser. 

Cheers for now, 73,
Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ

"In technology, there are only two degrees of freedom: forward and down.
There is no backwards." 



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