[UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010

[cris at gm4fam.plus.com]

Another great event and improving HF condx helped to increase claimed
score by 22% over the previous best.

80 and 40 disappointing (only 1 VK worked on 80), 20 and 15 excellent, and
10m opened sufficiently to snag 2 x VK6 - great to hear Oz for first time
in at least 3 years, and so glad I reserved 1/2 an hour for possible band
opening Sunday morning.

With contacts now possible on 5 bands from these Northern climes choosing
operating times in the 12 hour section has become almost impossibly 
difficult for score optimisation, so will do 24 hours next year - its bad
for the nerves when 20 minutes into rest period lots of nice signals
suddenly appear and the next 40 minutes pass incredibly slowly while
praying the band doesn't close again (10m Sunday morning!).

The usual antennas used - 76ft vertical for 80, a 1/4 wave vert for 40 and
also 15, a delta loop at 38ft on 20, and a homebrew 2 ele Moxon at 20ft
for 10m.

Must comment on the excellent participation from India and the superb VE3EJ
sigs coupled with John's slick operating style (he was everywhere!).

Thanks to all for the QSOs and to the RSGB HFCC for organising a great
contest while resisting calls for various changes.

Band  QSOs  Bonus
-----------------
80:   44     36   (3 HQ)
40:   70     58   (4 HQ)
20:  100     68   (4 HQ)
15:   50     41   (2 HQ)
10:   11     11   (1 HQ)
-----------------
Tot: 275    214   = 5,655 pts

73 Cris
GM4FAM