By request, I’ve just posted another transceiver comparison video. This time, we take a look at the lab599 Discovery TX-500 and Icom IC-705 to determine which radio might better suit your needs.

As I mention in the video, I see these portable QRP radios as being in two different classes:

the TX-500 for operators who want the most rugged, efficient, and weather-resistant general coverage transceiver currently on the market and
the IC-705 for operators who want the most feature-packed high-performance portable transceiver on the market

Both radios are excellent options for hams who, like me, prefer playing radio outdoors.

Video

Click here to watch on YouTube.

What did I miss?

As I mentioned in the video, I knew I’d forget some important points while making the live recording. Here are some extra notes I wish I would have included:

SSB operation: Both radios have excellent features for the SSB operator including EQ settings for both transmit and receive which is a major plus for a QRP radio. I wouldn’t make a purchase decision based on SSB operation–both are excellent.

CW operation: CW operators will be pleased with both rigs. It’s important to note, though, that the TX-500 doesn’t have full break-in QSK like the IC-705. The TX-500 has at minimum a 100ms recovery time after keying a character. That’s a quick recovery, but not fast enough so that an operator can hear between characters formed; especially at high speeds. The IC-705 has full break-in QSK and it sounds great. Note that both the TX-500 and IC-705 use relays, not pin diode switching, so you can hear relays clicking inside the radio, but both are pretty quiet.

Protecting the IC-705: There are a number of IC-705 3rd party cages appearing on the market. These can be used to help protect the IC-705 in the field. Numerous readers and YouTube channel viewers have recommended the IC-705 Carry Cage by Peovi. From what I’ve seen, it looks to be the best of the bunch, but it doesn’t do a lot to protect the lower back portion of the radio–the part of the chassis that meets a surface. I feel like it’s not quite what I’d want, thus hard to justify $135 for it. Other aluminum and 3D printed cages seem to add too much bulk to the radio or obstruct some of the most common connection points on the sides (antenna, key, ATU control cable, speaker/mic, etc.).

TX-500 connectors and cables: The TX-500 uses GX12 mm connectors that are widely used in aviation, commercial and military applications. They’re easy to find online, but the price per each with shipping is typically around $7.00-8.00 US. You get a better deal if you buy in bulk, but often bulk packages of 5 or more are of the same pin count/configuration. W2ENY has posted a number of accessory cables, spare connectors and even a military-style handset on his eBay store and website. The Icom IC-705 uses more standard 1/8″ and smaller two and three conductor plugs.

Receiver Performance: Based on Rob Sherwood’s receiver test data table, the IC-705 has a performance edge over the TX-500. In the field, this difference is not noticeable. Indeed, both radios have very respectable numbers. If I had to choose one radio over the other if operating in a CW contest, for example, I’d give slight preference to the IC-705. I’ve used the TX-500 during a CW contest before, however, and found it did a brilliant job blocking tightly-spaced signals–click here to watch the short video.

Warranties: Both the Icom IC-705 and TX-500 come with a one year factory warranty. Click here for lab599 warranty service contacts and centers. Click here for Icom.

Feel free to comment if you have other specific points I might have forgotten.

Resources and links

Icom IC-705:

lab599 Discovery TX-500:

Feel free to comment and please let me know if there are other transceiver comparisons you’d like to see!

4 thoughts on “Comparing the lab599 Discovery TX-500 and the Icom IC-705”

GM Thomas,

For extra versatility with the Lab599:

http://diy599.com/

73,
John AE5X

Thomas Witherspoon says:

May 23, 2021 at 8:04 am

Yes! I need to link to this. I’ve been in touch with the developer of the diy599. I’ll amend the post. Thank you, John.

Reply

These are two completely different radios. I dont think its fair to compare them. I think its not accurate to compare any radio in this class of radios. They are all vastly different.

Xiegu G90 – if you like baofengs.
ICOM IC-705 – if you like bells and whistles.
Yaesu FT-818 – I’d you dont like change.
Elekraft KX2 and 3 – if you like expensive art and very expensive art.
Lab599 TX599 – if you like durability.
ubitx – if you like DIY.

All are good radios in there own way but all are vastly different.

I personally dont know why someone would want 2m/70cm on a QRP rig… I like those bands in HT form only. Feels when bouncing from 40m to 70cm… Not to mention the whole… you know, antenna thing. 6m is my cap for HF rigs and that’s mainly for scatter.

I also think its crazy that you can buy whole backpacks worth of accessories when m complete field setup is less than 6lbs and can fit in a 2L bag.

Thomas Witherspoon says:

August 9, 2021 at 5:49 am

Keep in mind that comparisons are mostly contrasts: pointing out the differences and the pros/cons of each based on use. Give me two radios, and I can compare them if I’ve taken them to the field and operated them a few times. It’s actually quite rare that a comparison is implying that two radios are very similar–typically it’s a contrast designed to help with purchase decisions.

Regarding backpacks, if you take a look inside most SOTA activator packs, for example, you’d find that the radio gear takes up little space. It’s the water bottle(s), food, and emergency supplies that really pack it out. This reminds me that I need to do a video showing what’s in my SOTA pack! 🙂

I’ll be posting a two-part article series on the anatomy of field packs soon. The second part primarily focuses on the safety gear that one should take if they’re hiking to remote areas.

Reply