Ken Bessler wrote:
As I understand it, my dipole shoudn't work -

I shouldn't either, but I'm too young to retire.

it's flat
(non inverted V),

Best way to have one, as far as ground losses...

it's laid out running east / west so
the radiation should be going north and south

It's *maximum* radiation is going e/w...
Not all of it...

and it's
only 20-25 feet above ground.

Well, at least it taller than I can reach...

The antenna is a coax fed (no balun), 220' long 80/160
trap dipole.

By my way of thinking, this antenna should almost be a
NVIS antenna.

No almost about it...It is...

If so, how did I manage a QSO with K7NN on 1.893
last night? Tuscon, AZ from Wichita, KS on 100w.
EM17ip to DM42li on 160m at 04:00z

The same way I've been working EU, JA, etc, etc using
a 40 ft high dipole on 160, 80......The bands are in
better than usual shape...I don't usually hear JA's
on 160m, with a 40 ft dipole very well...But lately,
I am...

Am I missing something here?

Dunno...If you are, I'm too far away to be a likely
suspect...MK