Propagation changed I bet. I strongly suspect the antenna
had nothing to do with it, and the extra wire and coils
bypassed was most likely the best system regardless of
the results seen when trying it.

I tend to agree Mark, I don't have a lot of experience on 80M, but
have been a Ham for 50 years. Propagation, the thing I know least
about, is the logical answer. I will encourage him to keep trying the
modified antenna at various times of day to get some better data.
Hopefully, it will prove the better antenna, and the newbie will learn
something in the process.

Gary N4AST