A battery powered, portable, wireless communications transceiver device (10), has a housing (11) including a first portion (12) and a second portion (14). The device has a controller and a transmitter coupled to the controller. Using a digital, time-division multiple access protocol, the transmitter transmits messages comprised of packets. The first portion and the second portion are connected by a hinge (17) allowing the device to be put into an opened position or a closed position. The device has a sensor for detecting whether the housing is in an opened or in a closed position. The controller of the device receives a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the housing. The controller is programmable to respond to the position of the housing and to advantageously spread the transmission of packets of the message over a longer period than prior art methods, when the housing is in the closed position.