Hello Bob, and Everybody else today...

I agree, but I'll go one step farther. Now that the foliage is gone here in Upstate New York, it is pretty amazing (yet again) how low on a pass I can hear. It reminds me of the US Government's Radio Manuals that you are supposed to learn from while serving in the Military. I recall a manual pertaining to VHF that compared types of foliage, and the expected outcome if you transmitted in that vicinity.( The phrase, "Jungle-No good" comes to mind)

Anyway...now that the leaves are gone it's pretty amazing how much better I can hear. Hey...who needs a preamp?

John KB2HSH