Homebrew Portable 2-Meter Antenna Performance

Here is a summary of distances for the simplex contacts I've logged, to date, using the new antenna:

• 122.32 mi. (196.8 km) -- Vallejo-Forest Ranch (KA6GND)
• 83.52 mi. (134.4 km) -- Vallejo-Diamond Springs (KJ6KO)
• 55.86 mi. (89.91 km) -- Dixon-Auburn (KI6AJH)
• 55.74 mi. (89.71 km) -- Davis-Georgetown (KK6YYD)
• 49.82 mi. (80.18 km) -- Vallejo-Half Moon Bay (KB6KRA)
• 43.46 mi. (69.95 km) -- Vallejo-Elk Grove (KJ6WAH)
• 20.57 mi. (33.1 km) -- Vallejo-Walnut Creek (WA6NGC)
• 11.22 mi. (18.05 km) -- Vallejo-Pinole (KE6RS)

The contact with KI6AJH in Auburn (55.86 miles) was logged with the antenna on the ground in my backyard (elevation 65 +/- feet [19 meters] above sea level), with several two-story structures close-by to the north and south. The "Vallejo" contacts were from the summit of Sulphur Springs Mountain. "Davis-Georgetown" was from a levee with virtual line-of-sight to Bald Mountain, near Georgetown.