Also known as: IC-706MkIIG, IC-706Mk2G, IC-706
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The Icom IC-706MkIIG is the original “do-everything” mobile: HF + 6m + 2m + 70cm, all modes — SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY — with 100 watts on HF/6m in a box small enough for a dashboard, built from 1998 onward.1 It has been discontinued since roughly 2009–2010, no new-old-stock channel remains, and it is not carried on Amazon — today it lives on the used market: eBay, hamfests, and the QRZ swapmeet, typically at $400–650 depending on condition and included filters.
Key takeaways The classic all-band mobile, used-only. 100 W HF/6m, 50 W 2m, 20 W 70cm, all modes, detachable faceplate, 107 memories, enormous installed base. ~$400–650 used (estimated from listing spread — check sold prices). Known aging points: display backlight/driver, band-switch relay wear, PA thermal stress, scratchy pots. No PC memory programming at all — front panel only. No digital voice, no GPS/APRS. Transmitting needs an FCC ham license; listening needs none.
Overview
Before “shack in a box” was a category, the IC-706 created it, and the MkIIG was its definitive form: rugged, simple-for-its-class front panel, a detachable faceplate with the separation cable standard, and coverage from 160 meters to 70cm in every mode. TX draw is about 20 A at 100 W, so a mobile install needs proper wiring. Optional FL-series CW/SSB filters and the UT-106 DSP were the era’s upgrades and add real value to a used unit that includes them. There is no digital voice, no GPS/APRS, and no cross-band repeat — this is a 1998 design, and its strength is RF versatility, not features.
Used-market viability, honestly: the installed base is enormous and the radio is still very serviceable, which is why it endures. The failure points every used-buyer guide cites: a dim or failing display backlight and display driver issues, band-switching relay wear (listen for flaky band changes), PA thermal stress in high-duty mobile use, crackly volume and squelch pots, and the DDS birdies inherent to the design. Prices are estimated from current listing spread — check eBay sold listings before agreeing on a number.
The one buying consideration people miss
The IC-706MkIIG cannot be PC-programmed. The series predates Icom’s CI-V extended memory commands, so its 107 memories cannot be written over the serial port — not by CHIRP, and not by RT Systems either. Every memory goes in through the front panel. CAT control of frequency and mode works fine for logging software and digital-mode operation, but if you are used to loading a codeplug in five minutes, this radio will make you earn it. For many buyers that is the deciding line between this and a Yaesu FT-857D, which CHIRP supports.
Modes & coverage
- HF (160–10 m) + 6m + 2m + 70cm, all-mode: SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY.
- 100 W HF/6m, 50 W 2m, 20 W 70cm.
- 107 memories, detachable faceplate, optional DSP and crystal filters.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it cannot transmit — no SDR replaces a 100-watt all-mode transceiver. But before hunting a used classic, a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk is the zero-risk way to survey your local VHF/UHF activity — repeaters, digital modes, what’s actually worth chasing — and it records and logs everything it hears, which no transceiver of any vintage does. Listening requires no license; transmitting on ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician class minimum — General for most HF). Hardware picks: best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy a used IC-706MkIIG if you want proven HF-to-70cm all-mode capability at the lowest classic-rig price, you’ll test the display and band switching before paying, and front-panel programming doesn’t scare you. Find on eBay →
- Buy a used Yaesu FT-857D instead for the same do-everything mission with CHIRP support and built-in DSP — at a $100–150 premium.
- Buy new — an FTM-500DR or IC-2730A — if VHF/UHF FM is all you actually operate; the mobile-HF mission is what justifies a 706.
- The full field: the 10 best mobile ham radios.
Sources
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Icom IC-706MkIIG archive page — Universal Radio, on the all-mode HF/6m/2m/70cm coverage, power output by band, memories, and options (FL-series filters, UT-106 DSP). ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Icom IC-706MkIIG still worth buying?
As a used classic, yes — around $400–650 buys HF-through-70cm all-mode capability with a huge installed base and good serviceability. Check the display backlight, band switching, and pots before paying, and know that memories can only be programmed from the front panel.
When was the IC-706MkIIG discontinued?
Icom confirmed the production stop, with forum records dating it to roughly 2009–2010 (no formal year was published). It was functionally succeeded by the IC-7000 and then the IC-7100. No new stock remains — this is strictly a used purchase.
Can I program the IC-706MkIIG from a computer?
No. The IC-706 series predates Icom’s CI-V extended memory commands, so neither CHIRP nor RT Systems can write its memories — programming is front-panel only. CAT control of frequency and mode over the serial port works fine for logging and digital modes.
What are the known problems with a used IC-706MkIIG?
The used-buyer guides consistently flag a dim or failing display backlight (and display driver issues), band-switching relay wear, PA thermal stress on units run hard mobile, crackly volume and squelch pots, and the DDS birdies inherent to the design. Optional FL-series filters and the UT-106 DSP add real value if included.
Do I need a license to use an IC-706MkIIG?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license (Part 97; Technician grants limited HF privileges, General opens most of it). Listening requires no license at all.