Hej Hans,

I have owned both the FT-817 and IC-703. I liked the IC-703
better, so I sold the FT-817. Both are great little radios
that will surprise you with their performance. Keep in mind
that the transmitter in both rigs is QRP, so all of the normal
QRP caveats apply. Both of those rigs have great receivers,
especially when the optional CW filter is installed. The 703
is almost identical to the IC-706, except for the transmitter
power, so if you have experience with the 706, you'll already
know how the 703 performs.

Some of my experiences with the 817 and 703:

I used the FT-817 on a trip to Delaware in December 2002, and
I worked stations all over the USA, as well as some in Europe
and South America. The antenna was an end-fed wire 12 meters
long, fed with an antenna tuner.

I used the FT-817 on a trip to Gothenburg in May 2003, where I
operated as SM6/K5DH for a few days on CW and SSB. I worked
stations all over Europe with just a couple of Watts and a
base-loaded antenna only 2.5 meters long sticking out of my
hotel room window. Fun!!!

I used the IC-703 on a trip to Florida in December 2003, and
worked all over North America on 20m and 40m CW using an MP-1
antenna attached to a fence outside the window of my room.

Does this peak your interest in QRP?

73,
Dean K5DH

In article ,
says...

Hi all,
What is your practical experience of all these new very small (and
attractive) HF transceivers?
Can they deliver good quality with that small foot print?

cheers,
Hans / SM0IMJ