To double battery longevity, improve your antenna with a Smiley 270A or Diamond SRH-320a, and turn TX power down to 2W. If you are not making it at 2W with a better antenna FM voice line-of-sight, odds are you won't be making it at 4-5W.(*)
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That doubles battery longevity.
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Want to quadruple battery life? Also add the Yaesu FBA-25 AA Alkaline case, and populate it with quality NiMH cells from Powerwerx or Maha. They are 2500-2700mAH - TWICE the capacity of the stock 1400 battery pack.
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Want to improve battery longevity even MORE? Use an earpiece of mini-boom mic setup. What eats up battery liofe with HTs? KEYING the mic, and LOUD audio. What is the first thing you will do with the VOLume control if you are wearing an earpiece? You will turn VOLume DOWN.
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(*) - I worked an astronaut who was aboard the ISS at about 450 miles downrange with my FT-60R at 2W TX power and a measley tape measure antenna: ?
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Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com