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Space isn't that far away. It's only 60 miles.

I've communicated via LEO satellites using only 1 watt of power from an handheld radio.

1 whole watt is a lot by modern, digital standards, but satellite does not have a directional antenna with gain to receive your signal. It looks like Garmin InReach transmits at 1.6Watts. I wonder what the radio is inside the new iPhones.

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