The wind was whipping across the ridge that afternoon, threatening to tear my antenna right off the makeshift mast. Trying to maintain a decent SWR while juggling a sandwich is a skill in itself. But there I was, perched, chasing a whisper of a signal on 20 meters, entirely trusting the tiny black box cradled in my palm: the Icom IC-705.

It’s been quite a year with this little powerhouse, let me tell you. My initial expectation, let’s be honest, was a glorified toy. You know, a “portable” rig in the same way a Humvee is considered “off-road.” This isn’t that. This is something else entirely. The specs alone are impressive – the 0.030–199.999 MHz frequency range gives you serious flexibility – but it’s the way the 705 performs that truly surprises. The internal antenna tuner, for instance, is surprisingly effective. I’ve managed to work stations from all over with little more than a wire thrown into a tree.

The color screen is a revelation. I mean, we’ve suffered through monochrome LCDs for years. Now, the waterfall display on the 705 lets you see the band activity, which makes spotting those elusive signals a significantly easier task. Compare that to the old Yaesu FT-817, which, while a decent rig in its own right, felt like operating in the dark.

Speaking of operating… The menus are reasonably intuitive, though I do wish they’d buried some of the more advanced options a level deeper. Some of the features feel packed in; it can get a bit cluttered for novice hams. A deep dive is required to fully grasp everything this tiny beast can do. That said, even with the learning curve, it’s easier to use than some “desktop” rigs I’ve wrestled with. The 500-channel memory is more than ample for casual operation, and the ability to record audio directly to an SD card is pure genius.

One slight niggle: the battery life, while acceptable, isn’t stellar, especially if you’re doing digital modes. A spare battery or two is a must for any serious portable operation. A simple workaround? Consider investing in a small external battery pack to extend your operating time. It’s a small price to pay for the freedom and power the IC-705 delivers.

If you’re a traveling ham, or someone who simply loves the idea of operating from anywhere – a park, a mountain, or your back porch – this radio is an investment worth considering. Seriously, buy this thing. Just be prepared to spend some time exploring its capabilities.