On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 18:17:32 GMT, K5DH wrote:
I am a (happy) Yaesu FT-817 owner. I've thought about
buying an Icom 703. '703 owners, how do you like 'em?
Anyone who owns or has owned both, can you compare the
'703 to the '817 from your own personal experience? I
like the idea of a built-in ATU, although the LDG Z-11
that I use with the '817 certainly performs very well
and it can load end-fed wires (something the '703 ATU
isn't supposed to be capable of). Let's hear the good
and the bad about the '703.

Let's try to confine this to just the question I ask,
and not let it degenerate into a "my rig's better than
your rig, and your opinion is wrong" session.

- just came back from a week in the mountains with an ft-817
and i'm quite happy with the experience (many phone
contacts at 2,000-4,000 miles, with one 3,800-mile QSO
at .5W!)

- there was a good rundown on the ic703 yahoo groups in the
past few days on a comparison of the rigs and an LDG Z11
tuner

- i like the looks of the 703, and a bigger LCD would be a
bonus (i can't tell, even with my glasses on, what offset
is being displayed for 2M on the ft-817... the '-' or '+'
is *that* small)

- the upshot of the yahoo rundown was that the 703's built-in
tuner doesn't have the matching range of the Z11, but it
is built in!

- another factor is the built-in DSP for the 703
(there is a DSP unit available for the ft-817)

- the 703 has been deemed to have a better receiver

- the 703's controls are larger (i have to admit that the
'dimple' on the ft-817's VFO is a joke unless you're a
QRP munchkin)

- in either case, unless you do a mod, you'll need a balun
for ladder-line or random wire or non-resonant antennas
when used with either unit

- for my money, the ft-817 is a better deal, as it runs for
$559 right now, offers internal battery capability, and
more bands

- realistically, is 8-10W out any better than 5W out? dunno...

- will i get a 703? most likely! i love new toys!

:-)