Topband: CW160

[Gary Smith]

I'm thinking I need to add a qualifier to 
my earlier post; in no way am I 
complaining how hard it is to work QRP on 
160 and for surer, it's harder on the 
station trying to make sense of such 
minuscule signals in the ether. I just 
noticed a certain reality and mentioned 
the experience that on the list. 

I use directional Rx antennas which knock 
out most everything from the USA if I'm 
trying to work EU, so I'd miss a QRP but 
if I were working stations from the USA, 
I'd likely hear weaker stations in that 
same direction. And when I do a run using 
the amp, I personally turn my power down 
when doing so because I don't want to be 
an alligator who is being heard everywhere 
when I can't hear that far.

For this contest I looked long and hard at 
the old Alpha sitting next to me deciding 
if I wanted to turn it on and work 
everyone I heard or do the QRP S&P and 
once again be a masochist if I tried a 
run. The dark side in me won out and QRP 
won out this time, next time I will 
probably flip the switch on & try to see 
if I can work everybody I hear.

I see its time to jump in the fray! Hope 
to work you.

73,

Gary
KA1J