Still can't believe this. My simple 160m sloper antenna, remember. Just my tower and a piece of wire connected with a piece of coax. Simple antenna, simply 100W from my IC-7300. Have lower noise on the low bands compared to other stations in villages and towns, my only advantage. But I received VK5PW Peter from south Australia anyway. I mean....160m band....+15000km, to me that is magic, real radio magic.
It was just his morning greyline that lifted the signal. And I guess Peter has very low noise as well or a special separate receive antenna. Yes, I made a QSO with Japan as well, but have done that before. This is something totally different and for many radio amateurs in Europe unreachable because of the noise and antenna restrictions.
And yes, this wouldn't be possible without the use of a digital mode like FT8. It was just a lucky shot and I don't think this will ever happen again. Just like my contact on 6m with 5W and a vertical to Puerto Rico in 2014. Wow, real radio magic...