[Elecraft] Fun QSO: 3000 miles, 1.5 watts, 4' whip, elevation delta 9998 feet

[Vic Rosenthal]

wayne burdick wrote:

> We had great beach weather over the weekend, so we went for a walk on 
> San Gregorio state beach. While the family was having a snack, I sat on 
> a piece of driftwood and pulled out the KX1. No antenna supports, so I 
> connected the Maldol 4' whip, then tossed out one counterpoise wire.

How far were you from the water, Wayne?  Something worth mentioning is that 
performance of vertical antennas improves quite rapidly as you get very close to 
salt water -- even few meters makes a difference.  The last time I went to a 
saltwater location (near Morro Bay, I think) I set up a card table with my K2 on 
it with its legs actually in a couple of inches of water!  I had a 16' vertical 
bungee-strapped to one of the legs.  Conditions that day were absolutely 
atrocious, but I did work a JA.

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco