Bob,
I can't comment on the Stew Perry as I did not operate from a good location,
and did not even look for any JA contacts.
I had similar thoughts before the 2010 January CQ160. I set up a second
vertical antenna close to the cliff, on the water's edge just to improve my
signal into Asia hoping to work more JA's. (Here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiNBYvA4hjs , about 4:00 mark.) I usually work
somewehere between 80 and 120 Ja's in the CQ test. The most JA's I ever worked
was 134. I believe it was in the 2006 CQ 160 from the Saltwater Pier, 111 in
2009, 101 in 2010. I am sure I always miss a few because of reception
problems, as there is usually a storm in the Pacific during this time of year.
I try to run 1500W, but if I need to use the heater I will reduce that to
around 1100 or so, as I have been tripping circuit breakers. I just got the
latest ON4UN book recently, and looking at the pictures of the Top Band
operators one of the reasons I can think of is that people are getting older,
and they have already done it many times. The same impression I get
from going to Visalia, where most of the attendees are 60+. I see more
relatively younger operators in EU.
Niko - AC6DD
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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