The downward trend in HF band conditions as a result of the decline in solar activity is reflected in this year’s scores. Scores on 28MHz are well down on 2003. At the same time conditions on 3.5MHz were the best for sometime with very low levels of static. This year sees new first time winners in both the Open and the Restricted section. Despite conditions there was an increase in the number of individual Commonwealth stations active in the contest (936). However, log entries received were down slightly on last year which was disappointing. Please send in your log if you have taken part in the contest, no matter how big or small, as it all helps with the adjudication process.
Congratulations to Vladimir, 9H1ZA. After finishing as runner-up last year and being consistently highly placed over the years, Vladimir took first place in the Open category with 8670 points, winning the Senior Rose Bowl.
Vlad used an ICOM 756pro, PA 400W with homebrew antennas: A 6 element log periodic array for 10,15,20m and a top-loaded vertical for 40 and 80m.
John, VE3EJ, came in second with 8160 points. Despite having 233 bonuses (30 more than 9H1ZA), John could not overcome Vladimir’s high QSO total of 918 (more than 200 ahead of VE3EJ). In third place spot was Dave, VO1AU. Fourth and Fifth place went to the Caribbean DXpedition stations of Dave, J88DR (G3TBK) and Bob, V26DX (G3PJT) respectively. Top UK station and regaining the Col. Thomas Rose Bowl was Dave, G4BUO with last year’s winner Andy, G4PIQ/P coming close behind. The leading station from Oceania, in twelfth place was ZL6QH operated by Brian, ZL1AZE. Leading station from Africa was Brian, 9J2BO, who managed a staggering 128 QSOs on 28MHz - so the North-South path was working at least.
In second place was Bruce, ZF2NT just edging out last year’s winner, George, 5B4AGC into third spot. Top UK station was Steve, G0CKP who wins the Ross Carey Rose Bowl. The leading station from Oceania in fifth place was Barry, VK2BJ just ahead of Steve, VK6VZ, in sixth place. As in previous years there were many comments suggesting that the restricted section should reflect lower power or less well equipped station entries, rather than a restriction in operating time. However, there were also many who enjoy the 12-hour section as it stands, allowing them to spend time with family during the weekend. Indeed some claim that the additional challenge to optimize operating times to match conditions adds to the interest.
Three HQ stations were active this year. From the UK, Fraser, G4BJM operated as GB5CC. Keith, VK4TT signed as VK4WIA and Arasu activated VU2UR as the Indian HQ station. HQ stations generate lots of extra interest and bonus points. We would like to encourage more HQ stations to be active next year. It is an ideal opportunity for a club or multi-op team to get involved in the contest. The committee will be giving as much encouragement as it can to Canada especially to mount a few VExRAC stations in 2005 as they have done in previous years to great effect. What about it you VEs?
This year the committee has awarded the Commonwealth Medal to Arasu, VU2UR, for his support and activity over many years. Many thanks Arasu!
A total of 936 different valid Commonwealth stations were recorded in the logs. This is actually up on previous years. 597 individual stations were active from UK, 164 Canadian stations, 58 from Australia, 29 from New Zealand and 20 from South Africa.
60 different Call Areas were active, but some of them were worked by only a select few:
3B8, 3DAŘ, 4S7, 5B, 5X, 5Z, 6Y, 7Q, 8P, 9H, 9J, 9M2, 9V, G, G(HQ), J3, J8, S2, T3Ř, V2, V3, V5, V8, VE1, VE2, VE3, VE4, VE5, VE6, VE7, VE9, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK4(HQ), VK5, VK6, VK7, VK8, VK9N, VO1, VP9, VQ9, VU, VU(HQ), VY2, Z2, ZB2, ZC4, ZF, ZK3, ZL1, ZL2, ZL3, ZL4, ZL6, ZS1, ZS2, ZS4, ZS6.
Special thanks to those entrants who ventured overseas for the contest for the extra bonus point activity: J88DR, V26DX and VP9/G3TXF. Most of the Commonwealth countries are very desirable holiday destinations and many have stations which can be rented - worth a look for 2005. Also we would like to thank the African stations, 9J2BO, ZS1AN, ZS1EL, ZS1AJS and ZS6ME. See you all in 2005.
The total number of logs received was 141. This comprised 59 (open), 70 (restricted), 3 (HQ) and 9 check logs. The vast majority of logs were computer generated and sent by e-mail. Thank you to those who supplied a log in Cabrillo format, this is the preferred format for future entries. However we can still handle other computer formats and please send paper logs if you don’t use computer logging.
The important thing is to send in your log please!
The committee would like to emphasize that the Commonwealth Contest is a single operator only contest (HQ stations apart) and this means no use of DX packet cluster spots or any other spotting assistance. From next year, the committee will be checking entries for patterns of DX Cluster use and will question any entrant who is suspected to have used spotting assistance.
Certificates for working 67 Band-Call Areas will be issued to those who qualified and requested the certificate in their entry.
The results and this write up will be sent to all non-UK entrants for the last 3 years. In addition a reminder will be sent out to a non-UK mailing list in February 2005. This information will be sent to the VE,VK and ZL contest managers for local publicity.
I used the V26DX contest site at the Royal Antiguan Hotel this year.
And from Nigel, G3TXF/VP9, ‘QRV for 22 hours. Working the UK on HF was a challenge as the beam was stuck on the west, but plenty of UK stations were worked on 40m and 80m. Gave up two hours before end because it got so slow!’
This is operational again now that Bob, G3PJT, is back in the ‘real’ world. This and the RSGB HFCC site are the places to look for the latest information.
You will need 68 band-call areas or more to qualify for a certificate, which