I believe Yuri makes several good points about a saltwater surrounding
in his post.
I can only offer anecdotal experiences, since I live on an island with
the ocean on one side (about 330' from the house ( NNW to S) and a
saltwater bay about 350' on the other ( N to SSE). I often can be
working JA's on my mobile rig in the car with perfect Q5 signals and
they will abruptly disappear as I cross over the bridge to the mainland.
I have intentionally made a U turn, retraced my path and as soon as I'm
almost to the bridge, they pop back up out of the noise. I use a
screwdriver vertical on the back of the car.
I often hear and work DX, especially on the low bands, that friends just
a few miles inland can't hear. I installed an Outbacker on my boa
which is docked on the bay side and I am always amazed at well it
works. Lots of comments from DX stations like "you're sure loud to be
a mobile."
I do know that my 402CD works better here than I've ever experienced
before. I always feel loud on 40M, even running QRP. The 402CD and my
80M Bobtail always seem to get me through the pile-ups in only 1 or 2
calls, often running low power on these bands since I have TVI problems.
I call the ocean "nature's amp". Works for me.
My purely unscientific experience FWIW.
Jon Hamlet, W4ZW
Casey Key Island, FL
"A little bit of Paradise in the Gulf of Mexico"
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