The Icom IC-705 burst onto the amateur radio scene with considerable fanfare, promising to deliver “base station performance in a portable package.” After years of hands-on use by operators worldwide, this compact multi-band transceiver has proven to be both revolutionary and somewhat polarizing. Let’s dive into what makes this radio tick and whether it lives up to the considerable hype.
- Output Power: 10W with 13.8VDC external power supply, 5W with BP-272 li-ion battery pack
- Receiver: 0.030–199.999, 400.000–470.000
- Transmitter: 1.800–1.999, 3.500–3.999, 5.255–5.405, 7.000–7.300, 10.100–10.150, 14.000–14.350, 18.068–18.168, 21.000–21.450, 24.890–24.990, 28.000–29.700, 50.000–54.000, 144.000–148.000, 430.000–450.000
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Bottom Line Up Front
The IC-705 delivers on its promise of bringing flagship features to portable operations, but at a premium price that won’t suit everyone. It’s genuinely excellent for SOTA, POTA, and field operations, with capabilities that no direct competitor matches. However, battery life concerns and the lack of an internal antenna tuner may disappoint some users. If you can afford it and will use its advanced features, it’s exceptional. If you just need basic portable HF, there are cheaper alternatives.
What Icom Promised vs. What They Delivered
The Vision
When Icom announced the IC-705, they positioned it as a “hybrid radio” combining base station performance with portable convenience. The marketing emphasized “base station radio performance and functions packaged in a compact and lightweight, portable size” targeting SOTA, POTA, and other field operations.
The Reality
The IC-705 was “love at first sight among fans of Icom when the 2019 announcement was made” due to its “resemblance—in miniature—to the IC-7300, one of Icom’s most popular transceivers of all time” while offering even more features and broader frequency coverage.
Technical Specifications and Performance
Frequency Coverage and Power Output
The IC-705 operates from HF through UHF, covering “30 kHz through the 144 MHz band” for receive and transmitting on amateur bands from 160m through 70cm. Power output is “5 watts when using its internal battery and 10 watts when using external power”, making it a true QRP radio in portable mode.
SDR Architecture and Receiver Performance
The IC-705 “employs an RF direct sampling system, where RF signals are directly converted to digital data. Then processed in the FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), making it possible to simplify the circuit construction as well as reducing internal noise that can mask weak signals” below 25 MHz.
The receiver design is “similar to the IC-7300 below 25 MHz in that it provides a direct conversion. Above 25 MHz, however, it operates as a superheterodyne receiver”—a clever cost-saving approach for such a wideband radio.
User Interface and Display
The Touchscreen Experience
The 4.3-inch color touchscreen consistently receives praise from users. “The large 4.3″ color TFT touch LCD, same size as the IC-7300 and IC-9700, offers intuitive operation of functions, settings, and various operational visual aids, such as the band scope, waterfall, and audio scope functions”.
Users particularly appreciate that “The 4.3-inch color touchscreen display is clear, vibrant, and very bright, even in direct sunlight”, making it genuinely usable in field conditions.
Spectrum Scope and Waterfall
“Performance seen with the IC-7300 and IC-9700 spectrum scope is at the tip of your fingers for field operation. You can quickly see band activity as well as finding a clear frequency, all in the compact radio and not as an expensive add-on”.
This feature proves particularly valuable in the field, where quickly identifying clear frequencies and band activity can make the difference between a successful activation and struggling with interference.
Battery Life: The Reality Check
Manufacturer Claims vs. Real-World Experience
Icom claims the BP-272 battery “can last approximately 4.5 hours” while the larger BP-307 provides similar duration. However, real-world testing reveals more nuanced results.
In receive-only testing, “the radio auto shut down at 16:39 local: a total of 7 hours, 39 minutes” using the BP-272 pack, though this was with optimized power-saving settings.
Power Consumption Analysis
Technical analysis suggests the IC-705 “comes with the smallest battery in its class and runs the highest level of processing power” compared to competitors. The power-hungry display and processing requirements mean “our educated guess total could end up somewhere around 3.2W for 50% backlight & no panadapter or up to 4.5W with full backlight and the bells and whistles on”.
Battery Issues
Some users have experienced battery-related problems. One user reported that after 11 months, their radio “would not turn on with its internal BP-272 battery” and “the battery does not charge”. The solution involved using an external charger to revive the deeply discharged battery.
Connectivity and Modern Features
Wireless Capabilities
The IC-705 shines in connectivity options. It offers “WLAN/Bluetooth® technologies for linking and remote control, for a true wireless operation” plus “an internal GPS receiver and antenna [that] enhance your operations by providing location logging, RX/TX locations via D-PRS, ‘Near Me’ repeater search/scan, QSO recording with metadata, and internal clock synchronization”.
Digital Mode Integration
For digital mode operators, “having the audio interface already built into the radio, removes the issue of cable mess as we have on basically every other QRP+ radio out today”. The radio goes further by offering wireless options for headphones, microphones, and data connections.
Antenna Tuner Situation
The Missing Internal ATU
One significant omission is the lack of an internal antenna tuner: “I was a little surprised that the IC-705 didn’t include an internal ATU, since it otherwise sports so many, many features”. This forces users to either use resonant antennas or purchase external tuners.
External Tuner Options
Several external options exist, though each has trade-offs. The official Icom AH-705 “uses latching relays and a clever sleep mode, to bring down the current draw to about 1ma, when it is not actively tuning” and offers excellent battery life. However, third-party options like the MAT-705+ suffer from “extreme hash on HF” while charging and “battery life [that] is actually horrific”.
Competition and Market Position
vs. Elecraft KX Series
When comparing to Elecraft options, “Yaesu have dropped their old FT817/818 range and it was way out of date anyway. The Elecraft KX3 was a great alternative if you could live without all the features of the 705, but they’re next to impossible to get hold of in the UK and the price has just gone plain silly anyway”.
One long-term user noted: “I bought the FT-818, KX3 and IC-705. I now own just one of them – the 705 of course!” citing the IC-705’s superior feature set despite the KX3’s potentially better weak-signal performance.
vs. Yaesu FT-818
Regarding the popular comparison to the FT-818: “The significant price difference between the radios (the FT-818 sells for about half of what the IC-705 goes for) is enough that the FT-818 should continue to see strong sales”. The radios serve different market segments, with the FT-818 appealing to budget-conscious operators and the IC-705 targeting feature-focused users.
Real-World Field Performance
SOTA and POTA Operations
“With the rise in award programs such as Summits on the Air, and Parks on the Air this lightweight fully functional radio is a popular choice for people using them in the field”.
Users report that “battery life is reasonable – a couple of hours use” for typical field operations, which “should also be achievable with the IC-705, but if pressed you can carry a spare BP-272 battery and be covered for more than that”.
Audio Quality and Ergonomics
Audio performance receives positive feedback: “Audio output is good and loud. (0.53w into 12 ohm load)”, though some users note that the “supplied HM-243 speaker/microphone is only middling in quality, which is a bit surprising for such an expensive mobile radio”.
Build Quality and Durability
Construction Assessment
“The build of the IC-705 is excellent. It’s not exactly hardened for the elements—there is no waterproof rating or dust rating, for example—but it gives the impression of a solid little radio, likely to withstand a bit of less-than-delicate handling”.
However, “even though it’s designed to be a portable field radio, I’ll admit that the front panel and especially the color touchscreen feel a little vulnerable. I do worry about damaging that touchscreen while the radio travels in my backpack”.
Value Proposition and Target Market
Who Should Buy the IC-705?
“I do believe that the IC-705 is genuinely the best portable transceiver ever to hit the market. It offers such great value for money and has so many features and functions” according to one experienced user with over three years of ownership.
However, “The IC-705 is not for everyone, and this is the same for the IC-9700. It’s an expensive radio which is feature-rich. If you’re not going to use those features then there are cheaper alternatives like the Yaesu FT-818”.
Price Considerations
“The price of the Icom IC-705 is justified due to its powerful features. However, it still may not be worth it unless you’re a dedicated QRP enthusiast”. The radio typically retails for around $1,300, placing it in premium territory.
Firmware Updates and Future-Proofing
Icom’s Commitment
“Icom is putting a lot of development resources behind this radio. They have a winner and they know it” with regular firmware updates that “didn’t fix anything broken, they added new features or enhancements”. This ongoing development suggests the radio will remain current for years to come.
Long-Term User Perspective
Three-Year Ownership Review
After extensive use, one owner concluded: “in summary, I am still over the moon with the Icom IC-705 and I’m glad I invested in it. In the past, radios have ‘come and gone’ but this one has stayed with me and I can’t imagine a time when I would swap it for something else”.
The “No Competition” Reality
“What should I compare it to? Well the truth is, there’s nothing currently on the market to compare – that’s a fact!” This unique market position stems from the IC-705’s combination of features that simply isn’t available elsewhere.
Areas for Improvement
Notable Limitations
Battery life: Shorter than some competitors due to power-hungry features
No internal ATU: Requires external solutions or resonant antennas
Price: Premium pricing may exclude budget-conscious operators
Screen vulnerability: Touchscreen feels delicate for rough field use
Single VFO on VHF/UHF: “Because it’s such a strong VHF/UHF radio, I really do miss having two VFO’s”
Final Assessment
The Icom IC-705 represents a genuine breakthrough in portable amateur radio equipment. It successfully delivers flagship-level features in a portable package, though not without trade-offs. The radio excels for operators who value advanced features like spectrum displays, digital mode integration, and comprehensive connectivity options.
For SOTA, POTA, and similar field operations where its capabilities shine, the IC-705 is arguably unmatched. The premium price reflects its advanced feature set, but also limits its appeal to serious portable operators who will actually use those capabilities.
As one comprehensive comparison concluded: “For HF, VHF, UHF comms in the best systems integrated package, definitely the IC-705. The 705 has just about everything you could want inside” with “a magnificent receiver, and logical, easy-to-use, user interface.”
Whether the IC-705 is right for you depends largely on your operating style, budget, and whether you’ll utilize its advanced features. For those who will, it’s exceptional. For basic portable HF operations, less expensive alternatives might serve better. The IC-705 has certainly raised the bar for what’s possible in portable amateur radio equipment—the question is whether you need to clear that bar.
