New microwave capabilities for the NRC: IC-905 added to Icom line-up

| March 13, 2026

RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, being presented the radio by Chris Colclough, G1VDP Icom UK Amateur Radio Product Specialist at the Martin Lynch & Sons Open Day earlier this year. Second photo shows Dave, G8CQR operating on the IC-905 at the NRC

Icom UK has equipped the RSGB National Radio Centre (NRC) with the IC-905 All-Mode Transceiver as part of its ongoing support for the RSGB and the amateur radio community.

This latest addition ensures that volunteers and visitors at the prestigious Bletchley Park facility have access to the latest VHF, UHF and SHF technology.

The IC-905 is an industry-first providing seamless multimode coverage across the 144, 430, 1200, 2400, 5600 MHz and 10 GHz bands.

The arrival of the IC-905 opens up new avenues for the centre, from linking local repeaters to monitoring radio beacons for the study of microwave propagation.

The IC-905 was officially handed over to RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, at the Martin Lynch & Sons Open Day earlier this year.

It has now found its home on the radio bench at the NRC, joining a formidable fleet of Icom equipment that includes the IC-9700, IC-7300 and the portable IC-705.

NRC Coordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB said: “A long-time supporter of the RSGB National Radio Centre, Icom UK have kindly made available an IC-905 for demonstration purposes.

“NRC Volunteers were keen to see first-hand the IC-905 and operate the industry-first multimode VHF / UHF / SHF transceiver.

“With no previous microwave capable transceiver at the NRC, volunteers are particularly interested to see how the radio functions and what is possible.

“Our thanks go to Icom UK for their generous support to the NRC where we now have four Icom radios – an IC-905, IC-9700, IC-7300 and IC-705, all operational.”

This support highlights Icom’s ongoing mission to support amateur radio and the educational work carried out by the RSGB.

By supplying cutting-edge hardware, Icom UK helps ensure the NRC remains a world-class hub for radio amateurs and newcomers alike.

Bob Stockley, Managing Director of Icom UK, added: “The National Radio Centre is a vital shop window for amateur radio, showcasing the evolution of communication to thousands of visitors every year.

“We are delighted to continue our support of the centre with the IC-905. It’s important to us that the hobby stays at the forefront of technology and we’re excited to see how the NRC volunteers and visitors use these new bands to explore the frontiers of radio science.”

Category: Front Page News, GB2RS Headlines, NRC news, RSGB Notices