06/25/2002 | W6OFM A HAM'S DREAM! A VERTICAL OVER SALT WATER FOR THE 160 CONTEST! WHEN OUR ORIGINAL ANTENNA FAILED TO OPERATE AS PLANNED, WE PRESSED A HUSTLER 5-BTV INTO ACTION AS TOPLOADED VERTICAL (ALA INVERTED L). WE RAN TWO ELEVATED 120-FOOT RADIALS OUT OVER SALTY SAND AND WATER, AND MEASURED OUR SIGNAL AT JUST 1.5 S UNITS BELOW WE AN IDEAL SYSTEM. WE OPERATED FROM BODEGA BAY, CALIFORNIA. GREAT CONTEST! WE WERE FIRST-TIMERS THIS YEAR. ENJOYED THE CONTEST SO COMPLETELY WE MADE PLANS ON THE SPOT FOR THE 2002 CONTEST! -- W6OFM