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IC-705

Icom IC-705

Icom IC-705 covering HF, 6m, 2m and 70cm. 10W compact portable/base transceiver that is feature-rich and arguably a game changer for QRP/portable operating. I am not going to list all features; they are available from Icom.
Pros: excellent spectrum display and compact form factor, all mode all band, DSP.
Cons: for me, 12V external to achieve 10W, 4m band missing, purchase cost, receiver is only ok.
The latter "receiver" comment is based on my comparison to the KX3; either radio, when used for portable ops, will perform well. It is just personal taste. As for price, there are some good deals to be had on the previously enjoyed market; the choice is yours.

FTdx101d

Yaesu FTdx101d

Yaesu FTdx101d, base station transceiver 100 watt all mode 180m - 6m bands. The FTdx comes in 100 watt and 200 watt versions; mine is a 100W transceiver. For the most part, I am skulking around the HF bands set at 10 watts looking for my next victim ;-)
Pros: excellent receiver (hybrid SDR), large high-definition touch screen with easy-access sub-menus; to the right there is a VFO control large enough to steer a tank. Surrounding this are all the physical buttons and controls that allow for fast navigation.
Cons: price point, learning curve, no built-in WiFi or BT for remote operation; a separate add-on is required.
Is this a keeper? Absolutely.

KX3

Elecraft KX3

Elecraft KX3, a very portable 160m to 6m all mode SDR transceiver with maximum 15 watt output. It does not have a waterfall display, but it does feature a large alphanumeric LCD that is super easy to see in bright sunlight.
Pros: robust small form factor, roofing filters, excellent receiver, super low-power receive, iambic, auto ATU, internal battery.
Cons: price new, clamshell case, internal battery 8 "NiMH", speaker is meh, OEM spectrum display yikes.
I have made some mods to mine that are not OEM: LiFePO4 battery with internal charger, upgraded speaker. I find myself gravitating towards the rig when I go out on my adventures with it tucked into a padded camera bag.

TS-2000

Kenwood TS-2000

The TS2K, as it was known, was at its inception a full shack in a box, covering 180m through to 70cm with the option to include the 23cm band. It was introduced in 2001 and continued in production for the next 18 years, with in-built TNC, real duplex with satellite dual tracking and CTCSS options. Kenwood offered free software to connect a PC; however, the early run had some quaint issues, like needing PTT from the mic connector.
The receiver is good, with dual DSP, one at IF and second at audio level on the sub channel. It is a dual conversion superhet producing a "good" quality receiver by today's standards.
That said, it is still an excellent contender for your shack rig.

Yaesu FT-817ND

Yaesu FT-817ND

Yaesu FT-817ND QRP transceiver covering HF through 70cm. 5 watt compact, portable and widely used for field operation. Released in 2000 and continued in production for the following two decades when the FT-818 was released as its replacement. The 817ND offers a reliable and very robust portable without the complexity of today's offerings. I have owned and used this rig for the last 25 years, modified the audio with a BHI DSP, crystal oven, IF out to use a simple RTL-SDR, changed the battery to LiFePO4. So I like this radio, but the question to ask is the same for all low-power transceivers: are you prepared for the challenges presented with QRP?

Elad
FDM-DUO

Elad FDM-DUO

This radio is a high-quality full software-defined radio that is self-contained with actual knobs and buttons on the front; connection to a computer releases even more features. Covering 160m-6m amateur bands and general coverage receiver, transmitter output is 10 watts maximum.
Pros: high-quality low-noise-floor receiver, stand-alone SDR, compact, robust construction.
Cons: price point, low power (10W).
Worth the cost? I believe so. I use it in the shack stand-alone; like most radios these days, I have a cheat sheet for the menu selection.

Rig 7

Icom IC-705

Short description of this transceiver.

Rig 8

Icom IC-705

Short description of this transceiver.