What do you give if you listen to the signal on a beverage? Does it have a preamp and do you take that into account? A S9 on the transmit antenna won't be S9 on a beverage. I think the idea of using a contest to find out how you are getting out is fine but you don't, as others have already pointed out, need a signal report for that.
Did you work the station you were calling? Did it take a LONG time or not? What were the conditions at their end? LOTS of variables including the conditions at their station. If you want "true" signal reports use the reverse beacon network. All the above applies but you can compare your signal to someone else's knowing the conditions were similar if not the same. Ron N4XD _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
