Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/1/2024 10:57 AM, Radio KH6O wrote:
> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

Years ago, I ran 5W in pursuit of QRP WAS in 160 CW contests from my QTH 
near San Francisco, and was down to needing three states -- WV, SC, and 
VT. About 8 years ago, the explosion of RX noise caught up with that. 
About six years ago, I managed a sked with a WV station on JT65, and 
completed with him. An FT8 sked with W1UE remoting a VT station a few 
years later was unsuccessful.

Running QRP in those days, KL7RA, KH6LC, and NO3M nearly always heard my 
first call, and K1KI had pretty good ears.

I still will often call an Expedition running 5W, and often make the 
QSO. I'm guessing it's because they're in places that are remote enough 
that noise levels are low.

73, Jim K9YC