Here is the idea: All of the IC-M700xx brought their individual pros and cons. The aim is to create the ultimate transceiver based on whatever Icom had to offer in the M700 series.
I believe, I have found it!
Basis:
- IC-M700D: three power regimes, USB only (limited TX-QRGs, see mod)
- IC-M700: USB/LSB, TCXO, one power regime only
- the modified IC-M700D will be equiped with the RF-unit of the IC-M700 and hence providing USB and LSB voice operations at three different power levels, which to me sounds like a nice rag chew transceiver.
- the IC-M700 seems to be crippled by the use of the USB-only RF unit of the IC-M700D. However, the base band stability of the TCXO makes the USB-only unit a perfect transceiver for digital modes.
However, since it is very hard to get your hands on one of those, merging the IC-M700D(or F) with an IC-M700, will get you at least half the way to an IC-700TY.
73!