Tim and All, The Icom 703 was not a flop--far from it. No, it wasn't as popular as the FT-817, and in large part due to the reasons you state. However, the 703 was/is a very nice radio. For what it did do, it was superior to the FT-817. It had a better RX (even better than the 706, which is it's higher power look-alike), an internal ATU, a bit more power, and was ergonomically a lot easier to use. I don't know if you ever got to use a 703, but if you did, then you would see what I mean.
There is still a lot of interest in the 703, although that may wane a bit with the KX3 now in the works. Icom ceased production of the 703 just a few months ago, and their timing was impeccable! It's as if they knew the KX3 was coming! Right now it looks like the KX3 is a "slam dunk" replacement for the 703, and maybe even the 817 (except for the VHF/UHF capability there, but which Wayne has alluded might be a later option), provided the price is right. I have both rigs, so I'm fairly familiar with each one's capabilities, and how they compare. But don't sell the 703 short. It's a very competent little radio, and fairly widely available on the used market. This will still be an "alternative", particularly for the dollar conscious hams out there--we all know hams are among the most tight fisted people on the planet! Although not advertised as such, the 703 was actually an improved version of the 706, albeit at a lower power output capability. I'm also hearing very strong rumors that some other manufacturers are also planning some new QRP type radios. So, the KX3 may actually have some stiffer competition than what's out there at the moment. Dave W7AQK ------------------------------------------ Tim Tucker, AE6LX said: Remember, Icom had a HF only QRP rig - the 703. It was a flop. The KX3 won't suffer the same fate because it's so much more, but it would absolutely crush the competition (Yaesu FT-817D) if both 2m and 440 were incorporated ======= Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17590) http://www.pctools.com/ ======= ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
