Does anyone know the FCC regulations on the max power output of a cell phone? Didn't mobile units (i.e. the old car mounted cell phones) have a higher power output and handheld cell phones?

I'm just asking since the assumption that has developed on this thread is that DirectTalk is broadcast at the usual cellular output. I have no idea, but it's possible that DirectTalk mode is higher power.

Someone with more knowledge, please correct me, but I recall reading that because of Nextel's origins as a mobile radio company (like taxi fleet dispatching) rather than a true telecom/cellular company, it's transmission system and iDen technology is actually more like mobile radio with cellular-like call handling than it is a true cellular service, like Sprint or Verizon. Maybe different FCC regs apply to Nextel phones?

That said, Nextel's claim of "up to six miles" seems satisfactory for short range use, especially compared to the "up to two miles" of FRS.