10 Things That Make The Icom IC 705 A Revolution in Ham Radio

[@TomParish]

Great video. I'm with you 100%. Somehow we have to drag the Ham radio vendors into the 21st century. Flex Radio is doing a great job and ICOM is too especially with this QRP rig with wifi and BT. I never could understand why radios like Yaesu always felt so dated right out the box. Well done. The ICOM 705 is my next radio - for sure. I think it even plays regular old FM for listening to local stations.

[@KI4ASK]

I'm watching this after having owned the IC-705 for a few weeks now. You're absolutely right, this radio is a shack-in-the-box. In many ways it exceeds the hype. Very well designed radio that has everything you need to work just about any mode you want on any band you want. I also think this radio will breathe new life into D-Star - which had fallen a little behind the times vis-a-vis other modes like C4FM. Well done Icom & well worth the money.

[@jwolthers]

Own one as of last week. What a radio! Love it.

[@K3RRR]

Nice… Got one on order already and HRO already has charged my card. Currently, HRO is expecting these in around the end of September… Just in time for the thermometer to be dropping below 100° here in Central Texas so that I can actually operate portable! I've already got the ICOM 7300 and the ICOM 9700 so I'm guessing that I might, just maybe, know how to operate this rig right out of the box. My last QRP rigs were two Yaesu 817D radios 11 years ago. This one's going to be a whole lot more fun! 73 de Robert K3RRR

[@ve4mm]

I paid for one at HRO last week. I am on the wait list. I have an IC9700 and 2 IC7300's and IC7800 when it came out. ICOM Rocks. I also bought a KX3 in January 2013 and it is also a great radio.

[@PrecisionGroupYT]

Thanks for the video Bob! Just a few more things.... this makes an excellent Short Wave Radio receiver also as well as being able to go into the DR aspect of D-star through the 705’s WiFi capability ( in other words it is like having a hotspot built in per say). Plus I like the idea of having most of all the features of my 7300 & 9700 on the go where ever I go! Plus as you said you can always add a 100w amplifier to it at your house 🏡 to make it a shack in a box 📦.....looking forward to receiving mine 73

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@donizzo8884]

Excellent video Bob. The G90, KX3 and the 705 all have their place for everyone, their budgets and the goals. Even Ziplock has their place too. Hope all is well and look forward to more videos- W1FYG

[@denisemcjunkins4391]

Its the radio that is on my wish list.

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@Commsprepper]

I agree - next radio on my list for the West Virginia retreat! great video.

[@kg2c]

After seeing what Icom did with 7300, 9700, and now 705, I can't wait to see the radio to replace 7100.

[@denisemcjunkins4391]

Excellent video.

[@davidlichtenhan4573]

Another great video Bob. I must say I agree with you...I’m hoping this will be a great ‘little’ Radio. Just plunked down cash on this baby with HRO. Who knows when it will come in. I can see I will spend even more money on this. Well, I’ll just added it to my IC 7300, 5100, 4100 (in my SUV) and the 705 will hang out with me in my MotorHome and other excursions. I just don’t want my 7300 to get jealous. Now I have to sell my IC-7000 and FT 818nd to help pay for it. LOL. Again, great show Bob.

[@JimmyShot]

The G90 can tune a head of lettuce, but everybody knows it can’t tune a fish!

[@trumperlifer9709]

REO!!!

[@ramonjack6784]

A trick: watch series at Kaldrostream. Me and my gf have been using it for watching all kinds of movies during the lockdown.

[@briggsnixon460]

@Ramon Jack Yup, I've been watching on kaldroStream for since december myself :D

[@behnkem1]

I'll be ordering this in the next week or so. It's a very nice radio from what all I've seen in the different reviews so far!

[@johncapel6022]

Throughout this summer I've seen a lot of videos about the IC-705 on KZbin. I recently learned the IC-705 made it's first debut on August 2019 at the Tokyo Hamfair. According to an August 7, 2020 update from Icom USA, "this model has been F.C.C. approved and is scheduled for late September delivery". Well, if I do the math, this radio has been around for over a year! It will be interesting to see how well this radio performs when released to HAMs in the US.

[@richardbutterfoss2353]

Agreed! Waiting for mine.

[@robertchambers5821]

I'll bet there's a Ham Radio big box store that wishes they had sent you a loaner radio for this video. Perhaps for the next video. :-) 8P6RC

[@renebeland4837]

Thank you Bob. Can't wait to see your video with the real thing in hand and taking full advantage. 2021 is going to be awesome. KE8NPD

[@CarlWF6J]

Thanks Bob! Can I meet your introduction ladies? Like that radio, good work. de WF6J

[@TheFossilChannel]

Great video bob, i agree on almost all the points and ideas in the video. What I would like to see is a unit that is waterproof and shock resistant to falls in addition to having a tough screen that wont crack if I drop it on the rocks or bang it into a rock. I enjoy qrp operations so power isnt a concern for me. I like the idea of the modular battery however I wish that the size was more convenient to carry with this kind of unit. Personally Id like to see a format of a 817/ 818 with the bells and whistles of the kx3 and the screen and panadapter integration of the 705c and the ruggedness of a prc radio, with a goal of getting towards the weight and size of kx2. Of course this isnt possible yet but thats what id like to see an attempt made by these companies. Good to see you again! - de kc2bnw

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

What radio don’t you own Bob??? :D

[@timothystockman7533]

I have an IC-7100. I'm using an MFJ-939 tuner at the feed point of an end-fed. There are 125 ft of coax, much of it buried, between the 7100 and the 939. An internal tuner would be wasted on me. For 705 portable operatio, the mAT-705 tuner is available, if needed.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Thanks for video Bob. I mostly agree with what you say and I think it is excellent that Icom are catering for QRP/P folks. I also reckon antenna "tuners" are usually best avoided for QRP. However, when you said, "revolutionary", that's I what hooked me into a commment 😀. I would ask, how many years has it taken Icom to produce a rig that competes with the FT-817/818? I personally think the FT-817 was more revolutionary? Even now, if I was offered an IC-705 in exchange for my FT-817, I don't think I would swap (well I might and then sell it to buy two 817's). The IC-705 has many more wonderful features than an FT-817/818 but the small size, lightweight and relatively efficient FT-817 still appeals to me as more portable rig that I can lug about for miles in a backpack. As for, "shack in the box", when was the FT-897 and FT-857 released? These are all band and put out 100W on HF without the add on linear. So while I do truly welcome the IC-705 and I hope it's a success for Icom; pretty sure it will be as there seems to be a healthy market for it, I am just not convinced it is as revolutionary as some rigs of yesteryear. I also suspect it will not replace many of the serious small/lightweight/efficient "bare bones" QRP/P or SOTA rigs already in use?

[@cathrynm]

I'm seeing a lot of people in Japan showing off their IC-705s. Super popular over there, looks like.

[@loctite222ms]

Wish the hf and vhf/uhf had separate antenna jacks. The way it is now you need to switch it or have a band separator.

[@K6UDA]

That's something I hadn't thought about. I just assumed it had two antenna inputs.

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@loctite222ms]

@@K6UDA Photos show only one BNC jack. At least as far as I can see.

[@dougwilson6828]

Duplexer / triplexer to split the various signals from HF and above into two (or even three) separate lines for different bands & antennas. Not perfect but a bit of a compromise.

[@dougwilson6828]

I had the same concern about not having a tuner built into the IC-705. I love building all kinds of HF antennas for SOTA/POTA/portable QRP use. But I did already solve this missing feature on the IC-705 by already buying a Elecraft T1 antenna tuner. That things is amazing. Very tiny!! Perfect for your QRP kit. It will tune up just about anything up to 20W. My only complaint about the Elecraft T1 is that I don't like CW which the T1 responds back to you for SWR readings.

[@n8nkqrp595]

The revolution will be when Icom designs rigs that aren't prone to final failure (and driver failure and flat flex failure...), and when Yaesu learns a thing or two about usability and ergonimics

[@tomw5vlt119]

Exactly, spot on. I said that and more in my reply. You said usability and ergonomics, I said actionability and effective interface... think we’re meaning the same thing in this day of crude Radio being almost two decades behind the curve on tech in this day of smartphones, iPads, etc. The tech lag in Radio is a smacking, shocking indicator of the dire State of Radio today, to anyone not wearing blinders, and the lack of leadership and vision by ARRL and manufacturers. Couldn’t be much worse.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

And Kenwood? Come on Bro, don't fail me, you're on a roll...

[@n8nkqrp595]

@@johnratcliffe6438 Shit. I've failed you! And Kenwood? Kenwood's ROCK. I have no disparaging comments about Kenwood. lol. Oh wait- there's God Rob Sherwood. Is he close enough? People pray to him I think...

[@johnratcliffe6438]

@@n8nkqrp595 Nice 😊

[@ferdinandfrozenstein]

@@johnratcliffe6438 Kenwood could have cheaper accessories, such as an AA battery pack for D74 handheld, etc. which is only a piece of plastic shouln't cost like 4 Baofeng radios...

[@landonmiller6943]

Icom won't be able to make those things fast enough. With the 705 and the newly announced ID-52A Icom now has set the bar in all key categories of amateur radio. By the way, love your intro and what is that music playing?

[@K6UDA]

I’m excited to get my 705 and curious about the ID-52. Not sure if the 52 is anything more than a 51 facelift.

[@kenthufford743]

Great video. I thought the 705 was priced a little high, till I went by the Elecraft booth and priced a KX3 with ATU, 2m... The 705 is a bargain. The XEIGU XPA125b amp/tuner is also a bargain compared to the Elecraft. ICOM is coming out with a QRP tuner for the 705. The XPA125B can be just a 100 watt tuner, or AMP/Tuner. The ICOM 706/7000/7100 and the YAESU 817/818 also never had builtin tuners.

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@johnratcliffe6438]

The FT891 is the one to look at; no one gives a toss about 2m when portable. 100W, great receiver and awesome DSP. Like the 705, no tuner, but haway man, it's so easy to just put up a DX Commander...

[@michaelclarke5932]

I own the 7300 and in about 2 to 4 weeks the 705 will take it's place among my radios...

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@Yoshi489]

K6UDA de JE2PQQ Thank you for the nice QSO on 20m CW. I recently got the IC705. I'm surprised to know about the price in the U.S. I think $1300 is too expensive. It's ¥114800 ( about $765 ) here in Japan. Using it with 10 watts , I had the QSO with N7XM on 30m CW. See you again on 20m CW. 73 Yoshi

[@landonmiller6943]

What is the intro music to this video? I gotta know, that guitar solo makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!

[@K6UDA]

Just some free music I found on youtube.

[@landonmiller6943]

@@K6UDA Thanks! I'll try a google search...

[@Bro-f3h]

I can't even afford a roll of duck tape.

[@dougwilson6828]

You mean the AMERICAN duct tape , or the Chinese cloned duck tape.

[@Bro-f3h]

@@dougwilson6828 uv Duck tape

[@1crazynordlander]

I am ham radioed out. I am where I want to be right now having said this you talked me into buying this radio as my next ham radio which won't be right away. I forgot about the 2m, 70cm and Dstar capabilities. I hope you get a finders fee for Icom sales...you wish!

[@CoolJazzTom]

In regards to your "A Case of the $50 Ham License Fee - Where does the ARRL stand?" posting, where do you obtain all of the information that you must enter before you can post your comment? The form seems to ask many questions about the bill you are commenting on that I do not know where to find.

[@rttakezo2000]

I get the impression many folks don't understand what matching units are....

[@Davidjb37721]

Nice

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@dougwilson6828]

What class of license do you need to operate a Ziplok box?

[@dougwilson6828]

(Sorry I couldn't resist. Been in lock-down for way too long due to a bunch of chronic health reasons that puts me in the very high risk category. I gotta get out somehow.)

[@user-mt2qn4yp8w]

Thank you Bob for your thoughts on this radio. You make a strong case for it. I think it just might out sell the 7300. 73 Clark KG7LOI

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@richhill5464]

Thanks for the mamaries with your new video lead in.

[@Azbearhuntr]

Pretty sad when built in BT and WiFi is “innovative” in 2020.

[@K6UDA]

Ain’t that the truth.

[@jss672006]

Thanks!

[@Steven_VE9SY]

When the 7300 was first rumoured, everyone out there was freaking out about it having an internal tuner. You go to any of the 7300 Face Book groups, and almost every day someone asks, "What's the best external tuner for the 7300??" Internal tuners generally have a small tuning range. So every one gets an external because their antennas aren't resonant on any bands or very few and they want to tune it up to use other bands. Then they get pissed when they can't make contacts. Half the time at a 100 watt setting if the antenna is putting out 500mw it would be a miracle. When your playing with QRP, you are starting out with an impediment as to power. Why make it worst by using a non resonant antenna, and putting less power than a child's walkie talkie! I carry a 9:1 and a 49:1 balun and several lengths of wire for each. Any any band I use I never have an SWR over 1.5:1 Sometimes it takes a lot of tuning to get them there, but I'm getting every milliwatt I can out of my radios.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Think you made a mistake; 500mw from 100w? Haway man...

[@BruceNitroxpro]

Steven LeBlanc , My thinking also. I have, unfortunately, bought an external tuner for MY Icom 7300... but MY excuse is that I am not able to FIX my outside antenna due to old age and being unable to do much more than use my buying power. LOL de KQ2E

[@Steven_VE9SY]

@@BruceNitroxpro I'm getting up there, and getting out just isn't as easy as it once was. I have nothing against a tuner. I'm just lucky enough I can change antennas quickly. I have used them. My problem is a lot of people seem to believe that if the radio sees a perfect match that, that means they are putting out full power. They don't understand most of the power the radio puts out is staying inside the tuner and being dissipated by heat so the radio doesn't blow itself up. I did once remember the formulas to determine output power at the antenna. I was using an OFC antenna for 8- to 6, and I checked the swr it was close to 30:1. With the older Yaesu antenna tuner I was using I could tune anything. I did the math and I was only getting 1 or 2 wats output from it. Tuners are great if your tuning is close, or as in your case you can't get out to better things. I'll likely be in the same boat in a few more years. Slowing down more and more every year.

[@adddad9779]

The price point does seem a little too high. I'm going for the X5105. Just curious why they built such a badass radio without a simple tuner...

[@TheFossilChannel]

I have the x5105 and id recommend grabbing a kx2 or a kx3. the 705 looks good too but ill wait for the price to drop before buying.

[@BillyBob-si2db]

If Icom would take the good parts of the 705, and blend it with the form factor and construction of the Lab599 Discovery TX-500, then it would be the ultimate QRP rig in my mind at least.

[@dougwilson6828]

Counting the days till mid September when HRO says they will ship me a new TX-500

[@BillyBob-si2db]

@@dougwilson6828 Mine is in the mail... I was one of the last to order one directly from Alex before the deal with HRO took effect.. I am expecting it this coming week.

[@James_Bowie]

Bell notifications work for me.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Dat sandwich box...

[@HiTechBABAJi]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHbaZ2SkrrCWhtE

[@DavidUnderhill]

already available for 1240$ USD in Australia

[@JohnGatesIII]

is that AMP really Multi-Band like the radio??? Amplifiers typically are band specific, as they are hardware issue, not software driven (multi-band radios are software driven). Hence, why multi-band radios tend to be on the lower power of the spectrum.

[@K6UDA]

Yes. 160m thru 10m with an internal tuner. Would you expect less from a $1500 amp from Elecraft?

[@JohnGatesIII]

@@K6UDA One Radio to RULE them all...with some upgrades / accessories...LOL

[@loctite222ms]

@@K6UDA I think they're actually good through 6 meters.

[@SuperMeganw]

Good Video From GARY IN THE UK 73.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice ❤

[@mickcapsouto2270]

I'll wait till it gets to $999.

[@K6UDA]

Mick Capsouto I’ll guess by by Christmas.

[@herrprepper2070]

Not spending any money on radios for the immediate future. Four are enough. Bought FLIR thermal vision instead. Gun safes are full. Ammunition storage exceeds 100,000 rounds. Pantry has in excess of two years food and supplies. 600 gallons of gasoline and diesel. Three freezers are full.

[@K6UDA]

Well I guess your ready.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

100,000 rounds, WTF?! Are you Rambo? 🤣

[@herrprepper2070]

@@johnratcliffe6438 - Have you noticed... people are stumbling all over each other to find a box of .22’s. While others were buying widescreen televisions, the latest smartphones and restaurant meals, I was scooping up top quality ammunition and supplies at bargain prices. Did I mention 200 pounds of various reloading powders?

[@K6UDA]

@@johnratcliffe6438 Did you realize a competitive shooter or instructor will typically blow through 1,000 rounds in a day of shooting?

[@johnratcliffe6438]

@@K6UDA No. I'm ex-British Army though; still seems like a lot.

[@todkapuz]

pre-ordered.. supposed to be september? ... anyhow.. will be my first QRP rig.... ironically I've almost exclusively used icom radios in my ... well 25 years in 2 weeks... of dabbling in the hobby. sadly the first HF radio I got (ic-706mkiig) really left me unhappy with HF back then... i dunno.. bad first HF radio I guess... but yeah I bought the 7300 a few years back and have greatly enjoyed it... but sadly where I live now, pretty lousy antenna situation (surrounded by 2 story stucco houses, 30? feet apart from each other... zero anntenas hoa... near an airport, etc... yeah radio wasn't high on my mind when I moved here 8 years ago... hopeful that the same working quality of the 7300 will make mobile / field work actually possible to see if I can go places to get more antenna up. Granted at lower power.

[@martidav1]

Ordered and on the way in Sept. Hopefully. People always poop on things they don’t know or don’t have. Radios are like trucks. Ford Chevy, Dodge, Toy, etc. Every knucklehead has a preference and they defend it. Every Elmer I know has stated that tuners fool the radio and the operator. First world issues.

[@spytromics]

The IC-705 is quite interesting, but it's far too expensive for what would be your secondary radio.

[@TXLorenzo]

I have both the Xiegu G90 and the IC 705. I find the quality of the receive on the IC 705 much better and of course the display is just like my IC 7300. The single cable USB for digital is a joy compared to the rats nest of wires required for the G90. I use a resonant EF wire antenna so antenna tuner is not a big deal. I use an Elecraft T1 tuner if I need to tune anything else. Don't get me wrong, the G90 is a great value for the money, but is not in the class as the IC 705. If you can budget for the IC 705, just go for it. If you are on budget, then the G90 will do the job as well. I would not recommend getting a 100 watt amplifier for the IC 705. Just spend the money and get a IC 7300 and a GOBOX instead.

[@davidray4128]

Let's face reality. We all want that thing to have a built in tuner.

[@adddad9779]

☝️☝️☝️ This!!!

[@taojiang921]

Nice video Icom yes！de BI4NUO

[@criscross6591]

👍👍

[@o00scorpion00o]

Some good tech but this is 2020 and bluetooth and wiffi have been around for a long time, I'm not really blown away that it's featured in a radio in 2020. At the end of the day let's call the 705 for what it is, a very expensive 10 watt radio with a screen that can only output 5 watts with the built in battery because Icom couldn't be bothered to source a 12 v and the batteries are really over priced considering how cheap Lithium batteries have got in the last 5 years. I have the 7300 a year and 3 months now and I'm not blown away by it's receiver and harsh sounding audio, my FT-891 has a far better receiver with wonderful analogue sound that's a joy to listen to ( with headphones ) not as easy to operate due to menus, however, most are set and forget and once used to it it's not an issue. 100 watts which is great when you need it, I bring an 8.4 Ah 4S LiFeP04 battery from hobbyking and I can run for hrs at 100 watts. Fr the price of the 705 you could get, new or 2nd hand. FT-891 + MFJ-939 which is a great auto tuner. FT-891 + Superantenna MP1 which works great + a good 49:1 EFHW which requires no tuner also great antenna. Or FT-891 and a Chameleon MPAS 2.0 with CAP HAT, another great performer and maybe some money left for tuner but the MPAS 2.0 will work a good few bands with no tuner provided you use the CAP HAT and no need to go back and forth to re-tune the antenna. To me ham radio is all about the audio and receiver performance, a screen, bluetooth and WiFi won't allow me hear a signal better.

[@grampysmagic3327]

because not everyone has usb-c yet

[@dougwilson6828]

While I'm not a big fan of Type-C I do understand that Type-C can handle more amperage for faster recharging for those manufacturer who want to implement it in their new devices, than standard Type-A in use now.

[@alessandroconcas]

Wishlist, top radio and game changer... If have 23cm too il will buy it now and sell a lot of stuff evem if was 1800€ 73 de IZ3QVB

[@Billiemarie1000]

I keep hearing IC-7300... This IC-705 is actually more expensive than the IC-7300 also. The elephant in the room is not the lack of an antenna tuner. The elephant in the room is your lack of a hard case for the IC-7300. Its not like either of us are looking for a backpack radio... Seriously.... KI7WL

[@K6UDA]

Speak for yourself, I’m definitely looking for the perfect backpack radio.

[@drnv150]

Anyone bragging about how an antenna tuner will tune up a wire, or anything conductive, doesn't really care about a radiating much field strength / signal or why resonance beats a tuner every time. Whats even more funny is they will go buy LMR 400 on HF with a tuner....🤣 as though it matters after you have butchered your signal with a tuner/near dummy load...lol

[@trumperlifer9709]

Na to all... I'll take my Yaesu 891, z11 tuner- lifepod 20A/H battery, Camillion Mpass2, powerworx voltage analyzer and power center all in my Blackhawk pack...

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Which battery? Does it provide 13V?

[@tomw5vlt119]

Revolution? GOODNESS, No !!! I liked your intro material justifying the price, true. However, what a load of malarky thereafter. Fact is, Radio is teetering a cliff with complete lack of leadership by ARRL and manufacturers. Radio is nearly two decades behind everything electronic, in this day of smartphones, iPads, 2-in-1's, 5G, touchscreens (real touchscreens, not the crap in radio), and everything else (maybe Flex Radio being an exception). You hype the wifi and Bluetooth, and daydream about all it can possibly (good luck with that) do. Yet we already for some time had the Yaesu 400XDR and Bluetooth, and like everything else about the 400XDR, is very crudely implemented, to nearly entirely "inactionable in practice” - in other words, the Marketing people at Yaesu checked the box, but you can't do anything with the feature. I can't even find a decent PTT headset for the Yaesu, Yaesu in fact stopped making their headset that's in the user manual, and when I called Yaesu USA and spoke to their head service guy, he lifelessly (with no signs of life or enthusiasm for his own products) confirmed my fears that all the Marketing hype about the Yaesu 400XDR was just hype (beyond, yes, being a capable dual band radio), and his particular response to Bluetooth functionality and purpose, said, I quote, "Well, Bluetooth is old tech anyway, nobody really uses it." What?!? Everything around us (except Radio) uses Bluetooth. So now we have ICOM delivering a similarly useless Marketing feature, simply to check a Marketing box to compete with Yaesu, and you're hyping it for what in some alternate universe (of a proactive, innovative, thriving Radio alternate universe) might happen with wifi and Bluetooth. Sorry my friend, you have been deceived. These crude Radio offerings may be more "effective" technically (SDR and all), but they are still approaching decades in antiquity compared to technology today, certainly nothing to praise, but instead demonstrating a dearth of innovation and leadership in applying today's electronics to the Radio industry. I have to reject your points, other than the well done first minutes justifying the cost vs a X90... on common sense and eyes open reality around us. PS videos and commentary like that in the video, blowing smoke, blinders on, are part of the problem. People need to be lighting up social media and direct communication to ARRL and manufacturers, to start showing strategic leadership and any vision for a change.

[@a.sethmiller5003]

Sorry, but I don't see the value of this over the G90.

[@K6UDA]

And thats why there are radios at different price points.

[@kb8mcz01]

Its only 10 watts! GET A IC-7300.

[@K6UDA]

But my 7300 is so bulky. It takes up my whole backpack. Makes it hard to lug up the side of a mountain.

[@vkham9944]

American Sex industries is the most profitable than your Icom. Ha-Ha

[@Capecodham]

No tuner

[@K6UDA]

It was kidnapped. That’s the story I’m stickin’ to.

[@bobmcnamara7514]

I'll consider contributing to the show as soon as the dated sexist opening credits are gone....

[@Capecodham]

Get a life, Bob clearly has one.

[@forgetyourlife]

Lol, and you with the name of a war mongering retired secretary of defense.

[@dougwilson6828]

I wish Bob would slow the video opening down. I can't get a good look at the eye candy.

[@justinodonnell8178]

I like the opening.

[@smartazz61]

Wow! Your wife found herself quite the BETA MALE didn't she? Say fellow, is your leash long enough to reach your radio? Oh wait, your wife won't let have one will she. "Get rid of the sexist stuff." You are definitely a Hillary loving Democrat. Can you say, "Please dear please, can I please paint your toenails tonight after I finish my chores?"

[@elguinolo7358]

Overpriced.

[@trumperlifer9709]

With respect... just more overpriced old tech... This hobby is in its death throws... unfortunately.

[@tonyprice5344]

I don’t see it. Ham radio is one hobby that can be as cheap as you need it to be. I own two HTs on a homemade J-pole. Would I like to get into HF? Sure and at some point I will. But, for now I keep the repeaters hot with what I have and don’t feel cheated by it. Ham radio is a great hobby that gives you space to create and innovate all you want and have imagination to do. Is ham radio for everyone? Certainly not. Neither is woodworking. But for those of us who enjoy talking to someone across town or across the world on something we made with our own hands ham radio is awesome.

[@smartazz61]

Now there's a nice positive and completely empty thing to say. Do you know where you are on the list of people that have said, "Ham radio is in it's death throws." You're about place number 22, 564. Maybe you all can have a going away party for ham radio. Should be a lot fun. 22,564 terminally grumpy old farts with bunyons limping along on walkers chanting, "Ham radio is dead, wheres my poligrip".

[@zackschindler8334]

@@smartazz61 Yeah a lot ham geezers say that when SSB, FM, Packet, PSK31 and WSJT came out that ham radio was destroyed. Hell I bet that they want to bring back spark.