An Addition to the Family!
I was poking around on Facebook last night and ran across a post in one of the local ham radio groups concerning a garage sale taking place on the weekend. In the post, there were pictures of some ham equipment and I was mildly interested. In the next set of pictures, my eyes set upon an Icom IC-706MkIIG! It just so happened that the sale was being held by an old friend of mine so I gave him a call and we agreed on a price.
This radio is in excellent condition and belonged to another ham that had it mounted in a mobile configuration but had never actually used it. It was my responsibility to remove the radio so I brought some tools. I did initially test it onsite and it all checked out when using some simplex and repeater frequencies. I think it will be the home QTH radio for weak signal work on 2-meters and 70-cm. Since it also includes HF, I might use it as the 10-meter IF for the 220-MHz transverter as well.
Turning on the rig and running through the functions brought on a sense of nostalgia. Back in late 2004, I bought the same model radio, brand new from Communications HQ in Wilmington, NC, just prior to my Army deployment to Iraq. With my Iraqi reciprocal callsign of YI9VCQ issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority, I set up my first site at Camp Taji. I moved around quite a bit while in country but always had the IC-706MkIIG in my rucksack. After ten months of operation, I had completed just over 30,000 QSOs, took 2nd place in the CQWW WPX SSB contest (missed 1st by less than 1K to another American ham), and won 1st place in CQWW WPX CW while setting a country record. The 706 was a dependable workhorse!
After returning from Iraq, the Army decided to use me to recruit and sent me to Northeastern Pennsylvania. While there, I made a trade of the 706 for a kilowatt amplifier. In hindsight, my love for QRP should have warned me that I wouldn't like QRO. I've always regretted parting with that excellent radio.
I'm glad to see one back in the shack. It's about to get some serious use!
73 DE WA5RR
Icom IC-706MkIIG
This radio is in excellent condition and belonged to another ham that had it mounted in a mobile configuration but had never actually used it. It was my responsibility to remove the radio so I brought some tools. I did initially test it onsite and it all checked out when using some simplex and repeater frequencies. I think it will be the home QTH radio for weak signal work on 2-meters and 70-cm. Since it also includes HF, I might use it as the 10-meter IF for the 220-MHz transverter as well.
Turning on the rig and running through the functions brought on a sense of nostalgia. Back in late 2004, I bought the same model radio, brand new from Communications HQ in Wilmington, NC, just prior to my Army deployment to Iraq. With my Iraqi reciprocal callsign of YI9VCQ issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority, I set up my first site at Camp Taji. I moved around quite a bit while in country but always had the IC-706MkIIG in my rucksack. After ten months of operation, I had completed just over 30,000 QSOs, took 2nd place in the CQWW WPX SSB contest (missed 1st by less than 1K to another American ham), and won 1st place in CQWW WPX CW while setting a country record. The 706 was a dependable workhorse!
After returning from Iraq, the Army decided to use me to recruit and sent me to Northeastern Pennsylvania. While there, I made a trade of the 706 for a kilowatt amplifier. In hindsight, my love for QRP should have warned me that I wouldn't like QRO. I've always regretted parting with that excellent radio.
I'm glad to see one back in the shack. It's about to get some serious use!
73 DE WA5RR
Icom IC-706MkIIG
Tigger has approved it already!
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