On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 09:28:23 -0800, "Alex Clayton"
wrote:

The run about $60.00 a pair for the ones that take AA batteries.

5 watts out of a pair of AA cells - probably closer to 10 watts drain
on the batteries to get the 5 watts transmit - would limit you to
about 3 or 4 hours of use, so you'd better carry spare batteries.

And in the woods at 450 MHz (most people hike when there are leaves on
the trees, not snow on the ground), the range is even more limited
without a repeater nearby. Over the other side of a decent hill
without a repeater? If it works buy lottery tickets - they'll win.