This was my first contest or even any real experience on 160.  I think I’ll be back for more!  Not sure what RFI I may encounter, I hobbled the AL-1200 down to 800 watts.   I used a trapped sloper off the tower and after much pruning/trimming and realigning I got the SWR just right 1:1 in most of the DX window and goodly chunk of the band sans the tuner.  I also added over 700 feet of radials plus the electric fence and chain-link fence that covers 3 lots.  The first problem was getting use to a 20 over 9 noise level but once I found that weak sigs are the norm I went with the flow.  My next surprise was the level of activity…It was super with some great Q rates.  It’s a good thing my 756 ProIII had been upgraded with a roofing filter.  It made a real difference.   The next surprise was working the east coast well after their sunrise…several hours after.  My high point came with a one-call Q with ZL8X.  I’m pretty sure I work ‘everyone’ in CO HI HI at one point working 11 in a row (tnx guys!)…gotta be some kind of record.  Overall I did 403 Qs 71 mults with 11 countries worked.  Without a doubt, I’ll be spending more time down…errr up….on 160.

73 KI6VC and the Lads