The net is fine where it is. If you can get your rig on the net at the right
time and overcome the qrm, qrn and rude Paris-like ambiance of 20meters,
then a couple of other realities become apparent. If you dont have a
directional antenna, and you cannot tweak selectivity, and raise power to be
heard, then 20 meters ssb is not the place to be on Sunday afternoon, no
matter what the propogation. Its nice to think that your Ten Tec has all the
right stuff to do the job, but the entire 20 meter band is bonzo most of the
time. What's the answer? Sticktuitiveness. Know that the guy you cant hear
is a newby who is thinking he can be heard because he's on his Ten Tec and
going on about it, hoping to let the group know how proud and happy he is to
be there. You can always hear the old duffers because they know what they're
up against. So buck up and brace your hardware against all comers cuz Sunday
night will just have to get used to us being there! The alternative is every
other day of the week on seventeen meters every five khz. from 18.110 to
18.165.000 cu there.
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