word to the wise

[chanter1944]

When checking in during a county public service net, make sure your handheld's battery is charged! If you don't, you will end up flailing around, swearing (off mic, I don't need to get busted by the FCC), and scrambling for your charger, after trying and failing to hit the repeater properly at least twice.

I eventually did check in properly, but wow. I could have done without that excitement. The HT is currently sitting on the counter, docked on its charger, and there it's staying overnight. Yeesh!