[ICOM] Info on 706 series

[J.F. Samuels]

I inherited an original IC-706 and used it on 6 and 2 meters quite
successfully at my home shack and for mountain-topping for a few years (when
the band was open).  The preamp on the 706 was marginal on 6 and 2, however.
I used the rig as a backup for my TS-870 on the lower bands, but the 706 is
not comparable in terms of features, selectivity, sensitivity, etc.

I moved to Florida in 2005 and decided to try mobile.  I installed the 706,
a Tarheel 200 antenna with TurboTuner and found that the radio was OK, but
the sensitivity and immunity to noise was not good.

So, to replace a dual band VHF-UHF radio in the car (Kenwood TM-732A), make
that radio available to use in the house, and to improve mobile HF
performance, I purchased a used IC-706mk2g a little over a year ago.  I am
very pleased with the improvements that ICOM made over the original 706.
The audio DSP works quite well to reduce atmospheric, environmental and
automobile noise, the 6 meters, VHF and UHF sensitivity is good and I have
installed a 250 Hz filter for CW to improve the selectivity.

I thought about an IC-7000, but did not feel that the price/performance
curve was advantageous, and I don't need to replace my TS-870.

Bottom line: I would buy another IC-706mk2g if the one I have disappeared

I have kept the original 706, put it in a kit, use it for portable/emergency
operation and lend it out for special events.

P.S.: One deficiency for both models is that the stock microphone does not
have TouchTone keys.  If you operate repeaters or use Echolink or IRLP, you
will need a different mike.

John, K2CIB