In response to my claim of my first EME contact someone in RRAP came
back with "I doubt you can caluate the pathloos on an EME path (or
words to that effect)

You know what I can't calualte that path loss

Indeed I would discourage anyone from trying to calculate it before
trying the path what I have heard about those numbers is pretty
discouraging

Why can I make such a contact when other say they can't or that I
can't?

simple becuase I always KNEW I would, from the first monet I heard of
EME contact which was from a question on Tech test back in 97 ( I had
heard a few days ebfore that No Code License existed I ordered the
study but it arrived only the VE session so I tired the test cold
KNOWING I would pass it then or next week or..) at the monent knowing
nothing more than that such a contact was possible with my license I
swore I would make one (or more)

I read the about the mode in detail and soon (in 97) realize I would
likely have to wait awhile to keep that vow, but from time to time I
renewed my efforts at first in data gathering a new milestone 2004 when
I heard about the results with JT modes I began to pracetice with the
early ones in terestial contact then last winter I learn of current
jt65b mode and the details of the power and anttenna requiement abit of
agonizing over wether I wanted to work with crushcrafts 31 foot 17b2
that I KNEW would work but that I have trouble steer or keeping safe in
our harsh winters or the 13b2 I thought might work (and it did work
like a charm, which it is in some sense of course) figuring I could
always use it in terrestial modes and that I could later phase it with
a second one and be assured of sucess then

but ALWAYS in mind was the KNOWLEDGE and assurance that I WOULD suceed
and that even if I had failed now it was merely a lesson learned , part
of paying my dues as it were

I knew I would one day be able to do it

I know anybody reading reading these words can do EME if they poccess 2
things

the will to reach for the Moon
the confindence to not count the obstacles

You have MY call on it KB9RQZ (sone to be /AE)

if you can't the data drop me a comment here or
http://emekb9rqz.blogspot.com