KD3ANN’s dominant reach into European and western stations reflects a higher-angle lobe or electrically elevated antenna that couples well to long-haul skywave propagation, as evidenced by the 367 unique receivers clustered heavily westward and eastward at median distances exceeding three thousand miles. K2ZA, despite running lower power and achieving exceptional efficiency per watt, uniquely heard only a small set of closer North American stations, suggesting a lower takeoff angle or pattern optimized for shorter domestic paths rather than transatlantic DX; the sixty-two receivers K2ZA reached that KD3ANN missed were overwhelmingly regional and much closer, consistent with excellent low-angle gain but less punch at the higher elevation angles needed for European openings. The receiver-set divergence points to fundamental antenna geometry differences—KD3ANN likely benefits from additional height or a vertically oriented radiator, while K2ZA’s setup trades reach for exceptional local and mid-range efficiency.

Among the other GCARC operators, KC2GYU achieved impressive spot rates and worked VK6BL despite very modest power, indicating a well-matched antenna and favorable operating schedule, though European percentages lagged. KD2EIB delivered the best miles-per-watt in the group and maintained full-month operation with solid European contact fraction, suggesting an efficient wire or vertical with good compromise radiation. N2LQH’s brief two-day activation still produced strong DX percentage and deep southbound reach into the Indian Ocean, hinting at effective high-angle capability when on the air. W2MMD’s tightly local footprint and negligible DX fraction are classic signatures of a low inverted-V or compromised radiator with minimal horizon gain. The club should experiment with raising antenna current maxima above typical backyard heights—even a few additional meters on existing supports can dramatically improve the high-angle component that separates regional from intercontinental performance on forty meters.

WA3DNM’s performance advantage over K2ZA becomes clear when examining which receivers each station uniquely reached. WA3DNM alone heard 147 stations that K2ZA missed, with these distributed almost evenly between western and eastern compass quadrants and spanning a median distance well beyond three thousand miles, suggesting a more omnidirectional pattern with effective low-angle radiation in multiple directions. In contrast, the 38 receivers that only K2ZA worked were overwhelmingly North American, clustered much closer to home at a median distance under a thousand miles, indicating that K2ZA’s antenna may favor higher-angle NVIS-style propagation or has a stronger regional footprint while sacrificing some distant DX reach. WA3DNM’s higher transmit power does contribute to the raw spot totals, but the receiver-set difference shows a genuine pattern advantage rather than just a brute-force power effect.

Among the other GCARC participants, KC2GYU achieved the second-highest unique receiver count and demonstrates respectable miles-per-watt efficiency despite reduced European penetration compared to the top two stations, hinting at a possible azimuthal null or suboptimal takeoff angle toward the northeast. WB2MNF posted the highest spot density per day in the club and led the group in miles-per-watt, reflecting very effective low-power operation, though the modest P90 distance and limited DX percentage suggest an antenna optimized more for mid-range contacts than extreme long-haul paths. KE2DST’s brief two-day operating window yielded only minimal European reach and a tightly constrained regional footprint, making it difficult to assess the station’s true capability, though the single percent European fraction points to either unfavorable propagation timing or an antenna with poor eastward low-angle response. For the group as a whole, experimenting with elevated radials or switching to a vertical array with adjustable phasing could improve low-angle DX performance, particularly toward Europe and the Pacific, without requiring major tower work.

W4EO’s advantage over KC2GYU is rooted in directivity and efficiency: W4EO uniquely reached nearly five hundred receivers distributed broadly across North America, Europe, and Oceania at a median distance well beyond two thousand miles, while KC2GYU’s unique receivers were almost entirely North American, closer in, and clustered westward and northward. This pattern suggests W4EO benefits from a higher-angle omnidirectional antenna or superior efficiency that fills in both local and DX paths, whereas KC2GYU’s setup likely suffers from lower height or a pattern null toward Europe and the distant western states, limiting long-haul propagation despite comparable power. The receiver-set difference is diagnostic: W4EO’s unique European count alone exceeds KC2GYU’s entire unique set, pointing to a meaningful takeoff-angle or azimuthal coverage gap in KC2GYU’s antenna. K2ZA delivered the strongest European percentage and respectable DX ratio among the GCARC group, indicating a pattern with good low-angle radiation, though higher power and lower efficiency per watt suggest room for optimization. N2LQH operated only sporadically but posted the highest DX percentage and best P90 distance, consistent with favorable sporadic-E or short-window high-angle openings during limited on-air time. W2LJR achieved the group’s best miles-per-watt figure with low power, hinting at an efficient resonant antenna, though brief activity limits the statistical weight. W2MMD showed a tight regional footprint and modest DX reach, typical of a compromise antenna at modest height with limited low-angle gain. The GCARC group would benefit most from comparative tests of antenna height and ground-plane quality: even a few feet of additional elevation or improved radial systems could close the efficiency and DX-ratio gaps seen across the roster.

KD3ANN’s dominant performance stems from a markedly superior long-distance antenna pattern, evident in the receiver set-difference: the station uniquely reached well over two hundred receivers split almost evenly between Europe and North America, with a median distance exceeding three thousand miles, while KC2GYU’s unique captures were overwhelmingly closer North American stations with less than half that median range. This distribution strongly suggests KD3ANN is operating a higher-efficiency antenna with lower takeoff angles favorable for skip propagation, likely at greater height or with better ground characteristics, whereas KC2GYU’s footprint—despite excellent miles-per-watt efficiency at lower power—indicates a pattern that favors regional and mid-range contacts over the very long paths where ionospheric refraction rewards flatter radiation. The thirty-five receivers only KC2GYU heard, concentrated to the west and nearby, hint at fill-in coverage from higher-angle lobes that KD3ANN’s optimized low-angle setup may suppress.

Among the other GCARC stations, K2ZA posted solid consistency across the month but with European and DX percentages trailing the leaders, suggesting an antenna compromise or takeoff angle less suited to transatlantic work; N2LQH achieved the group’s highest DX ratio and European fraction during just two days on the air, pointing to either favorable short-term propagation windows or an exceptionally well-aimed beam that should be run more often; and W2MMD recorded the best miles-per-watt figure in the entire club despite very low power, indicating an efficient radiator whose limited receiver count likely reflects reduced on-air time rather than pattern deficiencies. For the group as a whole, experimentation with raising antenna heights by even a few feet or improving radial systems could flatten takeoff angles enough to convert the regional coverage most stations already enjoy into the kind of deep DX reach KD3ANN demonstrates.

WA3DNM’s clear advantage over KC2GYU lies primarily in eastbound propagation: the stations WA3DNM uniquely reached included a substantial European contingent and skewed heavily westward in compass distribution, suggesting a lower takeoff angle or more favorable azimuthal pattern for skip beyond the first hop. The median distance of WA3DNM’s unique receivers was significantly greater, reinforcing the likelihood of better high-angle suppression or antenna height that favored multi-hop DX over short-to-mid-range groundwave and single-hop paths. Meanwhile, the receivers only KC2GYU heard were almost entirely North American, closer on average, and weighted toward the west and north quadrants, indicating that KC2GYU’s much lower power and likely different antenna geometry still delivered competitive regional coverage but with a higher takeoff angle or pattern that favored closer domestic paths at the expense of transatlantic and southern routes.

KC2GYU achieved exceptional miles-per-watt efficiency—the best in the GCARC group—demonstrating that the setup is well-matched to its propagation environment even if absolute DX reach remained modest. K2ZA showed a tightly regional footprint with no European contacts and minimal DX activity, consistent with either a compromise antenna with high takeoff angle or limited on-air hours during the peak DX openings that favored the other two operators. The GCARC group would benefit from experimenting with elevated radials or a raised counterpoise on the lower-power stations to reduce high-angle radiation, potentially extending the European and southern DX percentages without requiring additional transmit power.