VQ9LA Larry  reports

I joined Prasad VU2PTT Indian Team for the Contest. The
big weapon is fixed on VQ9 hihi. The US Navy antenna Crew
and myself fixed the antenna 15 Feb 2010. Attached are some
photos of the repair job. It is working FB now.

W0BV is going to do a write up for the Twin Cities DX Club.
No problem on using a pic for Commonwealth contest news. The
boom to mast support is what failed on the antenna due to
the Cyclone in Dec 2009. Since they were working on the
antenna I made the decision to replace the feed line at the
same time. It was replaced with 1/2 inch Andrews hard line
and RG-214 to the Balun.

73
Larry VQ9LA

Team Africa will comprise V51YJ, ZS6KR, ZS6C, ZS1EL, 5X1NH, 3B9WR, ZS4JAN, ZS6TQ, 9J2BO (hopefully), 9G5XA

3B9WR  Rodrigues   John reports that his call will be 3B9WR

Team medals will again be sponsored by Paul EI5DI - SDC is the recommended software for the Commonwealth contest. 

You can download it at the Super Duper website.

Team India Prasad VU2PTT reoprts that team members so far include VU2PTT  VU2PAI  VU2MTT  VU2TS  VU2UR VU2RMS

  VU2BGS. It is hoped also that VU2JOS and VU2GSM will participate.  Prasad is also looking for one more to fill the team. 

Arasu is also hoping that Vani VU2LYX will act as HQ station again.

9J2BO Brian is sorry but he may not be available for the African team this year, he will be on in BERU but he is tied up most Saturdays

 and also the local power supply is very erratic so he might not be able to get on at all.

Team Canada for the 2010 Commonwealth Contest will consist of the following members: VE3AT, VE3EJ, VE3FU, VE3KI, VE3OI, VE3UTT, VE3ZI (?), VE7CC, VO1HP, and VO1TA.
In celebration of Canada hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, some team members may be using the following special prefixes: VX (VE), or XJ (VO).  Canada has never won a gold medal while hosting the Olympic Games (Summer - Montreal 1976 or Winter - Calgary 1988).  Hopefully that trend will end in Vancouver in 2010.  We hope to add to Canada's 2010 medal collection with Commonwealth Contest gold :=)   73, Chris VE3FU / VO2AC

Some of  the BERU Travellers and the Rest of the World team met at Dave's (G3TBK/J88DR) QTH on 17 Jan to swop travellers tales. Pics at http://www.g3txf.com/Shacks/G3TBK/Shack-G3TBK-Jan-10.html

Notice to Entrants  This is a message sent to all entrants to the 2009 RSGB Commonwealth Contest.ml:namespace prefix = o />

The 2010 contest takes place from 10:00 UTC on Saturday 13^th March until 10:00 UTC on Sunday 14^th March. There are no major rule changes for 2010, but the following points should be noted.

1. There are some changes to the requirements for any remote operation. It is not expected that this will affect any entrants this year, but is merely a provision for the future as internet-based technology advances.
2. We have a new member of the Commonwealth! Rwanda (9X) has joined the party since last year. Entrants using the free logging program SDC from EI5DI should ensure that they have the latest version, which will include Rwanda in the list. A full up-to-date list of Commonwealth call areas may be found at http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/information/codes.shtml
3. One important change that will affect everybody is the move away from log submission by e-mail attachment to use of an interactive robot. The robot, which can be accessed at http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/hfenter.pl or from a link on the rules page, will assist entrants and adjudicator alike. Users will receive an immediate e-mail acknowledgement that their log has been accepted, together with a list of any significant errors detected in the uploaded Cabrillo file. Any corrected logs submitted will automatically overwrite previous versions right up until the deadline. Confirmation that any log has been received can be found at http://www.rsgbfcc.org/cgi-bin/hfposted.pl so that Team captains, or indeed anybody, can check just which logs are safely gathered in.
4. As always, any photographs of contest-related stations and operators are most welcome, and the best will be used in the contest report and on Bob G3PJT’s website at http://www.beru.org.uk/ Meanwhile, in the build-up to the contest, Bob’s website will carry all the latest news of planned contest activity.

We look forward to your entry in the 2010 Commonwealth Contest, and hope that the propagation gods smile kindly on us this year.

Good luck in the contest!

73 de Les, G3VQO (adjudicator)

contest@mapleleaf.plus.com