Just an update: I ran the ARRL DX Phone Contest 1.5 weeks ago. Not nearly as successful as the CW contest; band conditions weren't as good, and there was a lot of noise on 40M. I fired up the linear, but ran it lightly at only 700W or so output.
The FT-980 did great again of course. Without the sunspots it really helps to have the great receiver sensitivity.
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-Mat Breton, N8TW
Mat Breton N8TW