Icom also responded to the success of the FT-817 and offers it to radio amateurs QRP device. He doesn't have that though VHF, but the constructors and designers bet on the success of the 706 and did well. I guess everyone who has had a chance to try this one TCVR he found something he liked.
The IC-703 is a product for QRP enthusiasts. The philosophy is not to make an "all in one" device, but to offer QRP TCVR lovers from 160m to 6m. The output power depends on the power supply: at 9.6V it is 5W, at 13.8V up to 10W. The internal tuner is also a plus. Most devices draw a lot of current at QRP, but the IC-703 does not. Although it only looks like the IC-706MKIIG, it is not a version of it, but a special QRP TCVR.
This new TCVR has been designed as a portable KV device that combines the quality circuit construction with the design of the successful IC-706. What does it offer?
– internal tuner with relay for the 1.9-30MHz range
– low consumption, which extends the life of the batteries
– external battery and portable antenna
– intended not only for radio amateurs, but wherever there is an interest in long-distance communication – also in mountains, deserts, etc.
– quick performance adjustment – DSP functions: autonotch and noise reduction (equivalent to UT-106)
- maximum power of 10W, adjustable in steps of 10/5/1/0.5/0.1W
IC-703 parameters specified by the manufacturer
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Frequency range | It depends on the country for which it is intended |
| Fashions | usb / LSB / CW / RTTY / AM / FM |
| Intermediate frequencies | 64.455 MHz and 455 kHz (all modes) |
| Sensitivity SSB, CW, RTTY 1.8-30 MHz | 0.16 µV 10 dB S/N |
| AM sensitivity 0.5-1.8 MHz | 13 µV |
| AM sensitivity 1.8 – 30 MHz | 2 µV 10 dB S/N |
| FM sensitivity 28.0-29.7 MHz | 0.5 µV 12 dB SINAD |
| SSB/CW selectivity | 2.4 / 4.5 kHz (-6 / -60 dB) |
| AM/FM-N selectivity | 8 / 30 kHz (-6 / -60 dB) |
| FM selectivity | 12 / 30 kHz (-6 / -60 dB) |
| NF performance | More than 1 W into an 8 ohm load |
| Scope of RIT | +/- 9.99 kHz |
| RF power | 0.1 - 10 W (at U=13.8 V) or 0.1 - 5 W (at U=9.6 V) |
| Suppression of unwanted radiation | At least 50 dB (at KV), 60 dB (above 6 m) |
| Suppression of the carrier frequency in SSB | More than 40 dB |
| Suppression of unwanted band in SSB | More than 50 dB |
| Microphone connector | 8-pin, 600 ohm |
| Working temperature range | -10 to +60 °C |
| Antenna impedance | 50 ohm (SO-239) |
| Frequency stability | Better than +/-0.5 ppm at temperatures from 0 to +60 °C |
| Number of memories | 105 (99 split, 6 ending – determining the scanning range) |
| Supply voltage | 9-15.9 V |
| TX current consumption | 3.0 A (10 W), 2.0 A (5 W and 9.6 V) |
| RX current consumption | 0.25 A stby, 0.45 A at max. NF performance |
| Weight | 2.0 kg |
IC-703 accessories
Among the possible accessories, I will mention: FL-52A (455 kHz CW 500Hz filter), FL-53A (455 kHz CW 250Hz filter), FL-65 (455 kHz SSB 2.4 kHz filter), HM-103 (hand microphone), SM-20 (desk microphone), SP-7 (external speaker), SP-10 (external speaker), UT-102 (voice unit).