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PRODUCT REVIEW ICOM IC 705 HF/VHF/UHF MULTIMODE PORTABLE TRANSCEIVER THERES
NO QUESTION THAT PORTABLE OPERATING IS ON THE RISE.  AWARD PROGRAMS, SUCH
AS SUMMITS ON THE AIR SOTA, PARKS ON THE AIR POTA, AND WORLDWIDE FLORA AND
FAUNA WWFF, HAVE FUELED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN ACTIVITY.  EVEN ON
WEEKDAYS, ITS COMMON TO FIND MINI PILEUPS ON THE BANDS AS PORTABLE
OPERATORS, OR ACTIVATORS, SET UP STATIONS IN PARKS AND ON MOUNTAINTOPS.
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAVENT DAMPENED ENTHUSIASM.
AFTER ALL, IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO TAKE TRANSCEIVERS TO PARKS AND SUMMITS
WITHOUT RUNNING AFOUL OF SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.  YOU JUST CONNECT YOUR
GEAR, DEPLOY AN ANTENNA, AND GET ON THE AIR.  WHEN CHASERS OPERATORS TRYING
TO MAKE CONTACTS WITH YOU BECOME AWARE OF YOUR PRESENCE, YOU CAN SUDDENLY
FIND YOURSELF SORTING THROUGH A MOB OF CALLERS.  IMPROVING CONDITIONS ON
THE HF BANDS BODE WELL FOR LOW POWER STATIONS.  SOLAR CYCLE 25 IS UNDER
WAY.  IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, CONDITIONS WILL ONLY GET BETTER ON
15, 12, AND 10 METERS.  WITH THE DEBUT OF THE IC 705, ICOM SEEMS TO BE
POSITIONING ITSELF TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PORTABLE OPERATING SURGE.  IN A
COMPACT 2 1/4 POUND PACKAGE THAT YOU CAN CARRY IN ONE HAND, ICOM HAS
CREATED A TRANSCEIVER CAPABLE OF OPERATING ON ALL HF BANDS, PLUS VHF AND
UHF, IN ANY MODE YOURE LIKELY TO NEED INCLUDING D STAR DIGITAL VOICE.  THE
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