Yesterday I decided it was time to do the MARS mod - wide-band HF transmit modification - to my IC-705. There was nothing special about yesterday, other than the fact that I finally screwed up the courage to open up the little radio and git 'er done! After completing it successfully, I want to share some key safety points. If you want a MARS modified radio your best and safest bet is to buy a new one from the major distributors like HRO or GigaParts. They are authorized by the manufacturers to do the mods, have all the technical data, equipment and experienced personnel to do the job, and your radio retains the original manufacturers warranty.

Just take the usual precautions - use an anti-static wrist band, work on an anti-static work surface, use the appropriate tools, and you should be all right. Oh, and take lots of pictures to document your process in case you forget what board, ribbon cable or screw goes where.

Good writeup! Icom's process is the most destructive - you have to carefully remove very small diode(s) from one of the boards in the radio. Yaesu's is the least destructive - you create a solder bridge across one or more open pads on one of the boards. That's why I stick with Yaesu rigs for MARS work.

As someone new to radio mods, this is intimidating! Should I even attempt a MARS mod on my first HF rig, or is this something to leave to professionals? I'm comfortable with basic electronics but have never opened up a modern transceiver before.

I only do this mod on radios that are out of warranty, and I do it only on radios I own - I don't do this as a service for others. Smart policy. Also remember the legal aspects - having MARS capability doesn't give you license to transmit outside amateur allocations without proper authorization. The mod is reversible on most rigs if needed.