By the way Tom K1JJ,
I looked at a map with regards to your QTH, Oklahoma, and my QTH and I am almost in line with your beam heading for that QSO.
Listening later this afternoon I heard mostly Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico stations. Never heard a single California station nor anyone in QSO with them; what are they doing out there?
Tom,
Yes, you are SW of me. I had the three Yagis staggered NW, W and SW to cover the USA better. When they are all lined up the beamwidth is too narrow to cover everything, being a 5el pattern.
I got on later and worked two more CA stations, so they ARE out there. I could also hear them on the 75M or 160 M dipoles, (but down 20db) so it was nothing special.
One of the guys said Chuck was on too, so no wonder they thought there was a lot of east coast mawls on.... :-)
The next project is a 10M monobander amplifier. Right now I'm using about 40W carrier (200w pep) with the FT-1000D. I need some more jazz to pee with the big dogs!
Funny moment was when an anonymous voice broke in calling for the "Undertaker!" I was about to have some fun with a CBer until it turned out to be a ham playing around with the guy in my QSO who was a REAL undertaker...
I'll be on 10M AM tmw thruout the day. Should be mobbed.
T