The Big, Bad, Holy, Mighty Icom 706 Mk II G

[Kesephist]

has been out of production for six years.

Radios tend to come in families.... Does the vaunted 706 have a follow on? Or have I just mouthed rank heresy?

Kesephist

[bacpacker]

Keep, 706 is a great radio and the leader back n the day for that type rig. I have the Mark I model, (no UHF). It's been a really good rig and I have had zero issues with mine. I know several others who have the Mark II model and they all love them. The only new comparable HF/VHF/UHF rigs on the market right now I would consider would be the Yaesu FT-857.
You'll get no complaints from me.

[ElevenBravo]

I had a 706 "classic", wish I still had it..

Used it for portable HF and SSB VHF, worked a treat!

EB

[Spider]

I use my Mark II every day. VHF and HF. Aways good reports.

[Fidel MD]

Not a thing wrong with it, and not a radio with better offerings to replace it with, except maybe smaller (FT-857D)

[Kesephist]

Not a thing wrong with it, and not a radio with better offerings to replace it with, except maybe smaller (FT-857D)

Never said anything about WRONG, Doc, aside from the dreadful truth that it has been out of production for six years. Why would such a stellar performer be withdrawn from production, anyway?

(chuckle) ah, for the $2500, the Mormon handcart, and the General license to have two of em to trundle up the side of one of the Spring Mountain range west of Vegas for next Field Day. A General would allow me to wring everything out of them.

So... in short, the OP answer is NO, there is no follow-on to the 706-IIG, it is the pinnacle of the Icom 700-706 family of multibands, and aside from the abovementioned Yaesu 857-D, nothing presently out there to match it.

Or so I take it. Anyone else to chime in?

[ElevenBravo]

Ill chime...

In the radio industry, they MUST change the product line to keep it stimulated for new sales, which drives the industry.

yes, the 706 family was all that, AND a bag of chips and a Coke to boot... but closed out and nothing took its place.

The fact that the 706 family has been discontinued has no bearing on it's legendary service.

There still persist plenty of service techs that can take care of a unit that lays down.

In the end, I would NOT hesitate to get a 706 if I found one for a good price.



In fact, Id love to find a TS-120 again, that was my first HF radio, and the damn thing was AWESOME!

EB

[bacpacker]

Icom does have a new model to replace the 706. It's the IC-7100, covers UHF/VHF/HF bands. Not sure how long it's been out, but reviews look decent. Heres a lnk.

http://www.gigaparts.com/Product-Lines/HF-6M-VHF-UHF/Icom-IC-7100.html

Manufactures change models from time to time, gotta have something new to make some funds on.

[Kesephist]

In fact, Id love to find a TS-120 again, that was my first HF radio, and the damn thing was AWESOME!

EB

Three on auction at ebay.

As of this writing (2015/09/22//09:00 PDT)... one ends in ten hours, one in 51 hours and one in 226 hours. First two are about $200 as of this writing, ~ USD$30 shipping. Third one opened about 7PM PDT @ $150, same shipping, no bids at this time.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENWOOD-TS-120S-HF-/111773007573?hash=item1a0630bed5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KENWOOD-TS-120S-HF-TRANSCEIVER-WHERE-IT-ALL-BEGAN-/391264831842?hash=item5b19338962

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-TS-120s-hf-ham-transceiver-w-power-cord-mike-/271993309581?hash=item3f5410898d

Hope this hooks you back up with an old and trusted friend. Come to that, since I can't seem to conclude my quest, if you are truly after this, then PM me and I might be partly able to angel the matter. This all assuming that all three of these auctions aren't completely infected by shills.

[ElevenBravo]

Im not set to get another rig at this time, my trusty TenTec is still going strong with solid reports (also thanks to my home brew vertical no doubt!).

The 120 is on my bucket list.

EB

[orangetom1999]

Have my 706 Mk II G on line right now on the VFN or Virginia Fone Net. I am looking for my friend out in Tennessee to check into the net. When the net is over I am going to try to get him to QSY to the lower part of the 75 Meter band wherein it will be much quieter...and we can better converse.

We are both running wire antennas..his a inverted V up some 90 feet in his trees.

Ahhhh..there he is...he just identified himself.


I am going to have to run a bit of power tonight as the noise level is up higher than usual.

Will switch to my Yaesu FT 890 and my Ameritron 811 H amp...set at about 250 watts. Antenna is a wire loop consisting of some 500 feet of 12 gauge black insulated wire from Lowes....up in my trees some 85 feet at the highest point....suspended by pulleys in some areas.

When first my friend left this area and moved to Tennessee..I was dubious as to how well this system would work...at some 400 miles distance...but so far it has worked out well..on 3947 KHZ.....LSB.

At times we switch to 160 meters but usually like to stay in the 75 meter band. 160 meters can get more noisy than 75 meters.

Has saved us a lot of phone charges so far.

My friend is also working on bringing back up his CW skills. We hope to keep up this skill and not let it perish.


Thanks,
Orangetom


Adding this in edit function.

Was able to catch up with my friend and we QSY'd down to 3630 KHZ..down on the lower end of the band wherein it tends to be a bit less crowded and talked for about 35 minutes. It was good to catch up with my friend again. No phone charges.

[bacpacker]

Well Hello OT. fancy finding you over here on this forum. There is a great bunch of folks here, pretty much family on here. Be sure and post up an introduction post so everyone can get to know you. You'll make a fine addition here.

[orangetom1999]

Well Hello OT. fancy finding you over here on this forum. There is a great bunch of folks here, pretty much family on here. Be sure and post up an introduction post so everyone can get to know you. You'll make a fine addition here.

Thanks Backpacker,

I'll do just that.


Orangetom

[eagle326]

As Backpacker said OT. Welcome to the colony. Also surprised to see you here.
As stated we're a close knit family without the drama or ego laden post. I hope your stay is fruitful. We do have a strange sense of humor at times but all in jest.

As I state to all new members the only 2 sane and normal Ants are my self and Grumpy Old Man. We have to keep an eye on these guys and ladies. I'm sure the colony will enjoy your post and views on many subjects as B.P. and I have.

As Always :
Eagle

[gm2]

Eagle, I resemble that comment...... wait wait..... yeah I'll stand by that

[orangetom1999]

My thanks to all of you for the welcome,

Orangetom

[Fatty]

welcome

[orangetom1999]

Thanks Fatty.


When we are not busy I let the foreman know how to get ahold of me by my cell number and retire to a selected spot out back where I have a forty foot piece of wire hung and carefully hidden. I uncoil the wire and attach it to the telescoping antenna of my shortwave set....and tune in the SSB ham bands. Sometimes I copy Morse Code to keep up my skills. Other times I look for my friend out in Tennessee..and or also scan the shortwave bands for news and information not covered here by the stateside MSM.

I listened to shortwave for years before I got my ham ticket and never quite gave up the hobby.
I do the same from time to time on my HF rigs at home...copy the shortwave bands....and foreign stations when the transmit in English.

I keep my Tecsun 660 shortwave set with me at work and also spare batteries. I have another right here next to the computer desk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H9C4JK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_8?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B004H9C4JK&pd_rd_wg=0u7yS&pd_rd_r=GHC89FZRFA8Q6KMHADXK&pd_rd_w=LmvI5


Thanks,
Orangetom

[orangetom1999]

I'm thinking down the road to getting one of those Yaesu FT 857 d rigs...

I was quite surprised as I have the FT 100 d in my truck. I did not think they could make an HF/VHF/UHF rig smaller then the FT 100 and by golly they did just that.

It is not a priority but am looking in this direction. Other items by which to take care of them before another HF/VHF/UHF rig.


Thanks,
Orangetom

[orangetom1999]

I don't remember if I put this tidbit in on my previous posts on this topic.

All my HF radios are modified to transmit in particular on the CB bands. I do not spend a lot of time there but occasionally stop by to speak to people I still know.

In fact my HF radios will transmit from the AM Broadcasting bands to the 400 MHZ bands pretty much straight through.

It was my desire to have this feature particularly in case SHTF...and not be limited.

I am careful about where I transmit..and do not go about trying to foment chaos or become two legged wildlife as I have heard too much of this on the CB bands and sometimes on the ham bands.

This is one of the reasons my friend out in Tennessee and I have gotten our extra class license to get away from what I sometimes call."Two legged wildlife."

We had enough of it on the CB bands and don't care for it on any band...period.

Extra class privileges gives us quiet room down at the end of each band.

Nonetheless My HF rigs have been so modified.

I have decided for the time being ...against getting a FT 857 as they do not modify in this ability to open the transmit bands as do previous models of HF radios.

When I got my FT 100D I particularly had this mod done to it.


Thanks,
Orangetom