Don't completely discount your spiritual happening,remember rf from brainwaves while alive go on for eternity through space and who knows what shape,form or action possible receivers may take(we will all find out for sure once we get there).Until we do I'll put my money on the sleep walking theory,since I've done one or two strange things during the night myself.In the mean time enjoy your reacquainting with grand dad.

  Is there a physical address for [ Import Communications] formerly Wouxon.us? I checked the Import Communications web site (as above) and couldn't find it,maybe I'm just getting to old.

   AB test results with a homebrew 66ft.New Carolina type windom antenna flatop at 23 FT.height with bottom of vertical radiator 13 ft. above ground,coax fed and no tuner.Last spring I put a 16 ft. long aluminum extension ladder directly underneath and parallel to the hoizonal wire and centered directly underneath the hanging vertical radiator.On both 20/40m QRP results were further dx contacts,consistant higher RST reports with ladder during many on air AB test(going out and removing ladder and putting back) same positive results when I tried isolating the ladder from ground by setting it atop of 5 gal. plastic buckets.I can only conclude that the presence of this ladder is having some type of combination better ground or reflector effect on either the horizontal or vertical radiator or maybe both.I will soon be removing the ladder and in it's footprint I will bury 14 16 ft. long wires and see what happens.Antenna and ladder is in back yard out of sight so no greif from the XYL.

   Two way QRP/CW from N.England across the pond to the U.K./Continent on 20/40m is usually a daily occurrence especially following normal propagation and grey lines with both sides using simple wire antennas.Also QRP/CW activity from N.England to West Coast USA and in between on 20M around 1500-1700 GMT.

Re:K1CJS

   Ah,now I get it, sort of like trying to identify your stenciled name on the over stretched elastic waist band on a worn pair of Navy issue skivvies from the ship's laundry.

  As hard as I try I fail to see the analogy between SSTV and play dough unless you were referring to the last live TV episode of an aged drooling Captain Kangaroo doing his thing in the nursing home's recreation room.

    Open internet forums such as this are an excellent resource for potential home intruders/burglars to assess your home protection methods and thus plan accordingly."the element of surprise is......." Sun Tzu-The Art of War.

  If possible try out an IC-7200 and see for yourself.The NB does work and works well.At least read the reviews on it.

Antennas,Yes all Homebrewed wires, hex beams,mast,chokes,baluns and switches.

Radios,homebrewed and kit.Tuners, c.w filters and side swiper key all homebrew.

Rather spend my money on good coin detectors.

   My homebrew New Carolina type windom OFC vertical point support is simply a no cost tripod made with 3 22 ft. spruce saplings with a 10 ft.sapling extension at top mounted in 5 gal.rock filled plastic buckets for a total height of about 28 ft. Not pretty and if married run it by the XYL first.

  I think Dick Bash had a hidden future agenda:He saw and created a need for the future No Know hams and wisely told his children to invest in the big 3 off the shelf,plug and play appliance manufacturers.

 You might try getting it up higher and changing angle.Your ground conditions may not be the same as free space advertising hype.
  Don't get all hung up on SWR,read up on it.Did you actually get on the air and operate with your existing SWR or are you to concerned about the perfect 1:1 SWR myth? If still not satisfied heed AC2EU's suggestion and forget about the do all magic strings.GL
   

I'll admit to only LISTENING on 7.163 mornings at 0900 GMT,mainly to check out my latest antenna project since I have no desire to use SSB and have a General class license.

Cards only by direct mail,not interested in awards,green stamps or bureaus.Just self satifaction.

   Other than the comments about using the CB type amplifier on the KX3s SSB,what if any effect have KX3 owners of this type of amp set up experienced on the CW side?Or is the reference to "Splatter" mean both CW and SSB?