"Doug Birky" wrote in message
...
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.

Thanks in advance,
Doug Birky
KC8YEC/AG



In reality, W1AW is strong enough that you should be able to hear it
regularly even off the end of the dipole. And when conditions are
moderately good, other stations also. Although I would still favor an
inverted V for it's more omnidirectional pattern.

Like you, I am also in Michigan and I regularly pick up W1AW no matter what
antenna I use. Since I can normally only listen to them at night, I
typically listen to them on 40m, 80m or 160m depending on the conditions.
I've also picked them up on 20m when I was home and that band was open.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE