Don:

I have used an Icom 718 for quite some time now as a back-up portable HF
rig, and am quite happy with it.  No, it doesn't have all of the bells and
whistles that a more expensive HF rig would have, but it is quite functional
for normal HF use.  If you get the speech synthesizer chip with it, you will
get useful information like frequency, mode, and some other general rig
functions.  Some of the menu settings are a little tricky to get used to,
but in general, a little work and maybe some sighted help to get things set
up should be all that you need.

I have a scanned text-file version of the manual for the rig, as well as
some other helpful files, if you'd like them.

I also wrote a review of the rig for Handihams several summers ago.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Best 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message -----
From: "donald metzler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 5:21 AM
Subject: icom ic-718


> Greetings,
>
>      Has anyone on the list used the Icom IC-718 HF Transceiver?  I would
be
> interested in hearing any pro or con opinions about the rig!
>
>
>
> Best regards, from Don and Crazy Cullen.