Survival Radio Musts, Shoulds, Coulds

[Paul]

Two minor points if I may NR.

Power:-
Doubling, tripling, multiplying your power by 100 may mean you can speak for 15 or more miles.
Problem is will the other guy running a standard setup have enough power to speak back to you?
Range limitation is not always power, it's generally just location and your aerial, on both sides of the communication.

Batteries:-
You've got a good handheld in the shape of your Intek 520.
I'll bet you've got the good batteries too. 1500mAH or the biggie ones 2100 mAH?

6 AA batteries. That's 7.2 volts or 9 volts in total.
At 4 watts, that's around 1/2 amp every time you hit the transmit key.
1500mAH batteries, 3 hours tops continious talk time.
2100maH batteries 4 hours tops worth of nattering.

Lets up your handheld to 10 watts.
Thats about 1 to 1 1/2 amps every time you hit the transmit key.
1500mAH batteries, approx 60 - 90 mins talk time.
2100 maH batteries, approx 66 - 94 mins talk time.

Your really caning those little batteries let alone your rig by 'running hot'.
They'd also take 10 - 14 hours to recharge.
A very long down time.