You did say backpacking, RIGHT?

I would suggest you buy a Grundig
Mini World 100 PE pocket radio and
leave the ATS-808 at home. Here's
a link http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...able/4040.html
BTW, you can pick up this radio at
REI for $30.

Another alternative, is the Yaesu VR-120D.
Ham Radio Outlet had this radio for $120
last time I looked, a lot cheaper than
the Yaesu VR-500.

Tom Welch