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Doug Kanter wrote:
Yes, it's a boating question. :-) The rechargable batteries that came
with
my Raytheon handheld VHF are total crap. It'll take regular AA batteries,
but I'd also like to keep a set of rechargables handy.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's already been through the
mill, as far as buying (and discarding) lousy batteries & chargers, and
finally reaching nirvana with a particular brand that actually works.

I do know that rechargable batteries have a 'memory'. It's best to
totally discharge them once in awhile, and after you discharge them,
they will last longer. My cell phone shuts itself off when the battery
gets to a certain point. I took it to the store and they have a machine
to completely discharge it, then charge it up, and it made a lot of
difference. Also, my camcorder battery charger has a setting to
"recondition" the battery, and it does the exact same thing, discharges
it completely.


Yeah..I know, but these batteries are definitely behaving badly. It may be
due to the fact that I rarely use the unit, so the batteries have never had
a chance to go through normal charge/discharge cycles. This weekend, they
were especially onerous. Message from fishing friend 2 miles away: "We're
about ___ yards off the ___ I got ___ ___ far on cray___". Too bad he forgot
his cell phone. Never found out where he was hitting the smallmouth.