"Doug Birky" wrote in message ...
I am new to HF having just passed my General and code tests.

Congratulations!

I am putting up
a dipole the will be running due East/West at about 40ft.

What sort of dipole (how long/what transmission line)?

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?

Yes, particularly on 80 and 40 meters.

Specifically, I'd like to be able to monitor the W1AW bulletins,
code runs etc.

You will have no problem. W1AW runs full power into some pretty good
antennas.

With the antenna only 40 feet up (a little over a quarter wave on 40
and eighth wave on 80) the pattern will not have sharp nulls. You'll
hear plenty.

Just put it up and enjoy it.

73 es GL de Jim, N2EY