:-) :-) I am ALL SMILES!! According to the tropo map at his time 3:09 CDT Thur 8/7 there is no enhancement on 2m. I am hearing the beacon 338 miles away!! This is "like the old days". Maybe the 2m system is not that bad off after all, I was beginning to wonder. Q5 copy at the moment even. THANKS Karl!! 73 Bill K0AWU