ICOM IC-705 Or Elecraft KX2 Which Should You Buy?

A long running question I get "Should I buy the IC-705 or KX2?" GOOD NEWS! You can't really go wrong with either with some caveats. Let's talk about what is different between these radios and their general performace.
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[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

705 also has 160 meters!

[@jeremyboxdotcom]

The KX2 can RX on 160m, but not TX

[@jolebole-yt]

and VHF/UHF...

[@thuff3207]

I want to see your portable 160M antenna. That would be cool.

[@Windmill97]

LOL! 160m =/= portable

[@SteveBerwick]

I am intrigued by the KX2, however, I love my 705. Maybe it's because I'm too cheap to buy multiple radios, but I use it every single day. I scan local repeaters during downtime at work, then HF at night/weekends. Awesome shack-in-a-box.

[@TheDelizar]

As Josh touched on right near the end. From a feature and Specs stand point a better comparison would be the KX3 with Pan adaptor and the 2m card . Then you are talking in the $2900 range. So over double the price of the 705. And still about double adding an Elecraft T1 tuner to go with the 705. I've had a KX2 for about 4-5 years and it is a great radio. I chose it for SOTA and am still quite happy with it. If I were in the market today and could only have one, I’d likely go with the 705. It is just a better all-round choice in my opinion. Even for SOTA, with the bands opening up or foolishly did your hike and activation on a contest weekend and are hunting for an open frequency, so you can get that spot posted. (I’d have killed for a waterfall that day) KX2 is a sports car, what it does it does very well, 705 is a good SUV it does most things well. Thanks Josh for keeping us informed and sparking the conversation. 73, W6XYZ (Mark)

[@FM-us3rd]

I am fortunate to have them both, but I find my self using the KX2. Why? Because it has a 10 watts with internal battery and an ATU. It weighs less than a pound. I bring this radio everywhere, and setup with the AX1 in a hotel room or MPAS lite when having a little more room wanting to band hop. Both are fantastic but I seem drawn to the old school display of the KX2.

[@m0aze611]

Having used both extensively, I own a KX3 and I'm sticking with it. No it's NOT superior it just that it suits me as I don't need the VHF/UHF element of the 705 - however the waterfall on the 705 is great. I was very interested initially by the bells and whistles on the ICOM and its a great radio. You can't really fail with any of them its whatever floats your boat. 73 Mike

[@machoneboard]

Icom 705. My first radio. Apart from the mountaintopper probably my only radio.

[@VE9ASN]

The kx2 is purpose built and and better suited for what it's designed for, however, dollar for dollar the 705 offers so much more that it's really not a good comparison.

[@MTimWeaver]

Yaesu already had a 20w manpack portable that had an internal tuner that could tune spaghetti noodles, in the Vertex VX-1210. The challenge with that was it was "channelized" and the VFO was a PITA to use. If they used that radio as a base, put in a real VFO and display. I wish I hadn't sold my VX-1210.

[@alvinnorris6523]

I have a kx3 and the 705 . I love them both.

[@alexeizhiltsov6797]

I own both and I am not going to sell any of them - each rig is fun to play with, depending on the moods!

[@lmy5pence481]

Josh is there a program that convert mors code to word and vise a verso? is that maybe something that you could program in code or something similar?

[@jeremyboxdotcom]

Josh, two things, on the kx2 if you press the rate button you can change the frequency step, and manually zero beat to a higher decimal place. Also, like the 705, you can just use the auto zero beat feature. (Just single tap the KYR-SPT/MIC button) Surprised to see you not use this, so maybe you weren't aware? 73! Thanks for the videos!

[@RoelandJansen]

Wfview also can be used over wireless on the 705

[@AK4TF]

I had three rigs for pota, not including my 7300. I have a KX3 and an X6100 right now. I just sold my 705 to buy a KX2. The 705 is an awesome radio. But I primarily used it, once I had the X6100 and KX3, for digital on park activations. I used the KX3 almost exclusively if SSB and CW would allow.

[@gregmitchell2257]

kx2 does rtty/psk31 decode as well

[@jasonfrankovich1378]

My perspective if it helps someone... I sold my KX3 and when POTA entered my life I wish I had it back. Bought a 705 and it is nice but also giant to stuff in a sling bag, and to many options for a simple CW operator. I also hate the way it stands. It needs a base or the cage (I added the Peovi cage) which makes it even bigger. If you are running a POTA/SOTA station the band scope is pointless. I run Elecraft and Yaesu at home so the menu and button layout on an Icom is not familiar to me. I only run CW and am really thinking about selling the 705 and buying the simple KX2.

[@B.Murphy]

I bought my 705 from HRO for $1,299.95. It's up $50. Ham radio gear is a great "investment "...... I'll keep telling myself that. Ha ha ha

[@kc1lko]

The best one is the one you have with you... just like with cameras... I have both radios... for going to a hike up the hill or any trail on-the go... I would grab the KX2... simpler, lighter, longer battery, easier to read. That is the one I would have with me on the trail and thus the better one... for a home/base... the 705 is hard to beat.

[@richardiancarpenter534]

The "Dune" meme is awesome!

[@o00scorpion00o]

FT-818 for me because it’s incredibly robust, don’t need to spend 100 usd on protective gear, all I got is the leather pouch.

[@kingpoopra6084]

I like the footage of papa franku earlier

[@frankENZC]

705 has 160m

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thanks. I always forget that

[@frankENZC]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse You're welcome. 73

[@LinkEighty8]

Does the 705 have dual watch? What about split bands?

[@B.Murphy]

No dual watch. Has VFO A/B for split.

[@LinkEighty8]

@@B.Murphy I have a kx3 with the px3 but I like the idea of having an all in one.

[@jayj4142]

K5BM, huh. An appropriate callsign for a lid.

[@Dan-qp1el]

Hope Yaesu comes out with ome like this😊

[@ralphnunn3]

Those guys you were listening to on 14.210 remind me of those Grumpy Old Hams on 3.927. I now own the IC-705, and really enjoy it so far. DE K7RLN

[@AmericanConstellation]

Why is a 5 watt radio a hot new thing now?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

When did I say that?

[@maschwerer]

Where is the yaesu entry in this category? If they made a 705-like radio with ATU, I’d buy one right away.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

The 818 was recently taking out of production. Lots of assumptions that they are working on something new.

[@christurner68]

Buy the one not made in china

[@B.Murphy]

Unless the radio is made out of dirt, rocks & sticks, it's at least partially made in China.

[@bassmanjr100]

90% of the components in both radios come from China but somehow China bad, China bad.

[@bradl2636]

I’m looking for one without the covert embedded listening device nor the nuke homing beacon.

[@daveschwarz5279]

Elecraft radios have a better receiver without a doubt it’s the only SDR type radio that doesn’t suffer from pop’s and crackle noises, the icom is the most modern.

[@RoelandJansen]

And for me sounds in cw harsh

[@Nostrildomus]

C00L

[@jayj4142]

21:39 “What that’s about” is TWO IS ONE AND ONE IS NONE. Apparently you weren’t in the military and never learned this axiom. Never had a radio go out and not have a backup radio to operate while getting the other one fixed? You’re not actually that shortsighted and judgmental on others for having a spare QRP xcvr at the same time, are you??

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

“Shortsighted and judgmental” lmao get out of here with that crap. Where did I pass judgement on him? All I did was recommend they consider a 100watt radio too. And I questioned the term “need”

[@nvrmor023]

Not a good comparison. Might as well compare the kx2 to id52.

[@AmericanConstellation]

The chips for Elecraft are mostly Asian. It's all Asian anyway. Why is that a problem?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

It’s not for me. But a lot of people care.

[@AmericanConstellation]

I was kidding about it. I worked for Raytheon and so many times we found Chinese parts in our circuit boards, which was a big no, no! What I was getting at was good luck getting an American made radio without it having Chi Com parts. Our military can't even get it straight..

[@AmericanConstellation]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse Hey, a great review. You cover the whole spectrum of products.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

@@AmericanConstellation Yeah that is a BIG problem!

[@bradl2636]

SOTA/CW = KX2 POTA/Digital = 705

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Makes sense to me! Too good news that if pushed, both with do both, so you're never unequiped for the task at hand!

[@bradl2636]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse That was me summarising what I think I just learned. Bookmarked this video for future reference. Smart portable power solutions will be important for both rigs/POUs.

[@Starlite4321]

Gosh Josh, did ya have to force feed us a bunch of wackjob conservative nonsense (starting around the 30 min mark) to demonstrate the radios ? I finally stopped the video and am going on to something else because of it. MAN !!!

[@davecurry8305]

Yawn.

[@MaryBrownForFreedom]

I liked the 705 audio better...