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Icom IC703
7 June 2015 | by 
One of the best rigs I once owned was the 10W Icom IC703. This was a well equipped QRP radio with a decent receiver, DSP and auto ATU. I sold it to a local amateur who was a poor pensioner but I regret selling it now! No fan needed at 10W. Just a first class rig.
5 Responses to “Icom IC703”
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- Matt W1MST, Managing Editor
I totally agree… Blew the socks off of the FT-817 any day of the week. It is sad that ICOM really never pushed the radio… It also beat out the SGC-2020 with or without the internal AFDSP… It took a very long time to come up with a radio that topped the 703,IMHO. The KX3 is now the king of the hill(s), but a IC-703 might make a great second choice if you can’t afford the KX3. The problem is finding a used one. They rarely hit the used market and when they do they sell fast.
I had two of them at the same time, one for SSB and one for CW. Unfortunately, the 703 would accept only 1 Icom filter.The choice was either a filter for CW or one for SSB. (Yes, I know about the after market double filter)
I sold the one with the SSB filter when the Kx3 arrived. The 703 has a very nice receiver and is a pleasure to operate. After getting used to the menu, which is slightly different from the IC 706 series, its a very intuitive radio to operate! You hit the nail right on the head, Roger, regarding the FT 817, I had one of these beasts also, and hated it so much I gave it away rather than suffer a guilty conscience for taking another ham’s money for it.
Now a days, I still use the 703 occasionally, especially for QRP PSK. But its mainly a back up rig for the Kx3 now. I do love the 703, and I’ll never part with it.
73 de AA1IK
Ernest Gregoire
I have the 703 + Modified the radio with a FL-96 filter Main…and the
opt filter is the Fl 53A ..Great Radio… It’s all in the Antenna…
Look at my Call on QRZ to see the Mod to the filter..
Perry Wa8thk
I looked your mod up on QRZ, Perry! Only a ‘real ham’ would do such a thing! LOL<
Good for you! Not a pretty mouse trap, but a better one for sure!
73 tnx for the tip
de AA1IK
Ernest Gregoire
I have the IC703, put a Yaesu 817-857-897-2000 500Hz CW filter in (without the print)and take it to SOTA. It is a good trx and indeed if you can buy one you should do that.
The FT817 which is smaller and lighter has it advantages too, it is a bit harder to operate and does not have a tuner, but it is a good trx.
73