I was on the air off and on from 11AM until 8:30PM. Channels 37L,39L & 40L mostly. Good conditions all day. Lots of contacts, but no WDX members except WDX561 in St Louis. But he was barely making it over the noise, and we really couldn't hook up.
I'm amazed by the number of high-power stations out there. I have guys tell me routinely that they're running 1KW+, and based on my meter readings, I believe it. Funny thing is though, stations running 100 watt exports (5555s, 6666s, Strykers, etc.,) are just as loud, UNTIL a big boy keys up and blows them away.
Then there are the stations (mostly in Florida) that are so overdriven and distorted as to be almost unreadable. 8711 out of Florida is the worst of the bunch. His signal is so awful that it hurts me to listen to it. Today he kept keying up and saying," Who's gonna tell me to turn down my mike gain today ?"
We're having a new driveway gate installed on our farm, and I'm building an automatic opener for it. So I'll be in my shop/shack all day tomorrow. I'll be copyig the mail so give me a call . 40LSB. 73.
- J.J. 399