I decided to put my new FT-817ND on the air during the November SSB Sweeps.  I really thought that running 5 watts was going to be more difficult than it turned out to be.  61 stations were contacted during my on and off 13 hour adventure using 80 through 10 meters from West Central Florida.  This wasn't a sweep but I felt good about getting 37 sections including Hawaii, Canada and the Virgin Islands.

Weather here was on and off rain as a "Florida Cold Front" moved through during the contest.  A quick station shutdown occured when I heard distant thunder in the early hours of the contest.  I resumed operating the next morning.  It was still rainy but no lightning. 

My QRP rig joined with my MFJ tuner, ladder line and almost 300 feet of tree hung horizontal wire which forms a semi-circle loop in my heavily wooded yard.  The loop height varies between 20 and 40 feet. 

Although many contacts were easy, special thanks to all who took the time to dig out my information when I was obviously at their receiver noise floor.

Mike - KO4PM, Plant City, Florida (First time contest entry)