W5GA: danged impressive!
Sort of makes my little self-inflicted challenge pale in comparison: trying to hit 200 countries worked within two years either side of the sunspot minimum using 100 watts and wire or vertical antennas, all with limited operating time. I'm at 191.
40 and 20 have been the best for tonnage. 17, 15, and even 12 have offered up the occasional surprise, especially to Africa. I've amazed myself on 80/75, but I don't kid myself. The DX guy usually had a super station.
Note that 80% of this was on CW. And thank goodness for contests. And the DX cluster system (a luxury I didn't have the last time I was active on HF, back during the last sunspot minimum!).
Now I've picked up a mid-power amp and am resisting the temptation to use it for the Syrian operation. Oh, man, I want to throw that switch!
Don N4KC
www.n4kc.com
