Difference Between ICOM 710 And 718

[tolly]

Does anyone know the difference between the SSB transcievers ICOM 718 and 710?

Do you have experience of any other transcievers suitable for long time cruising, with minimum maintenance on the radio?
Preferably also to a reasonable price.

I'm trying to find the optimal system to the best possible price for my boat.
Since I'm new in this, I guess I wouldn't need an all high tech latest model system, but a proven reliable one.

[Paul Elliott]

To start, the 710 is a 150 Watt marine-band SSB, and the 718 is a 100 Watt ham-band SSB.

The 710 is legal for marine-band operation (with the appropriate licenses). It is designed for channelized operation. It can be easily modified (software) for ham operation too (legal with a ham license), but the user interface isn't optimal for that. I have a 710 on my boat, and do occasionally use it on the ham bands.

The 718 is a ham radio. It may not meet the stringent technical requirements for marine operation, and while it can be modified for marine-band use it isn't legal to do so, unless you are in a true emergency situation. Practically speaking, the radio will probably do fine in marine operation, but there could be issues. The 718 has a lot more bells and whistles, and is designed for non-channelized operation.

It is easy to mis-configure the 718 unless you know what you're doing. The 710 is more plug-and-play. The 710 is a rock-solid and well-made marine radio. The 718 is probably a great ham radio. Which one is best for you will depend on how you will be using it.