talking skip is fun ,but carrying on a conversation while the skip is running can be hard .the longest distance i have talked was kawait on 27.555 usb early monrning about 900 am . working conditions was a cobra 2000gtl with extra channels, an my driver box which is a 1 tube 811a box i made to drive my heathkit sb 220 total was about 2300 watts out of my 4 element quad beam which is also home brew