On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 09:27:16 -0500, "Doug Birky"
wrote:

I am new to HF having just passed my General and code tests. I am putting up
a dipole the will be running due East/West at about 40ft. I really have no
other options for installation and cannot run it North/South. I am in lower
Michigan. My question is will I be able to make any East Coast contacts
with this? Specifically, I'd like to be able to monitor the W1AW bulletins,
code runs etc. I am interested in contacting the Southern states, but would
like to know if the East will be accessable.

First... Congratulations.

You've had quite a few answers, but you didn't say which HF band(s)
you will be using.

It's been my experience on 160 through 40 that a dipole at 30 to 40
feet isn't very directional. As far as the East coast (I'm near
Midland MI) you should be able to work it with a 100 watts at night on
160 and 75. Day and early evenings on 40. The only problem with 40 at
night is the foreign broadcast.

I've worked California on 160 SSB with a dipole at 30 feet.
Not often, but I've done it. I've worked Europe on 160 CW.

No, my current station isn't using any thing at 30 feet except the
bottom of my back up vertical out in the shop, but it doesn't take a
big antenna or power to work 500 to 1000 miles on HF.

Remember too that the characteristics of these bands change quite a
bit throughout the sunspot cycle.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Thanks in advance,
Doug Birky
KC8YEC/AG