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

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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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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.

FM-usrd

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)

TheDelizar

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

machoneboard

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

maze

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.

MTimWeaver

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

alvinnorris

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?

lmypence

Wfview also can be used over wireless on the 705

RoelandJansen

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!

jeremyboxdotcom

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

alexeizhiltsov

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.

VEASN

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.

AKTF

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.

kclko

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.

jasonfrankovich