[UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010

[Darrell G0HVQ]

Likewise, please keep the 12hr section.

"You win some and lose some" - exactly, I'm really kicking myself over BERU 
this year. I lost 15m overnight on my 4BTV Vert (high SWR), as it was 
Mothers Day and I had an impossibly busy day (in 4 different locations), I 
didn't go out to check the aerial, thinking it was something like a failed 
trap. So missed all the Sun morning action on 15m inc several loud Africans 
and Asians. Upon later investigation, looks like a bird collision - I've 
converted the 4BTV to a "7BTV" with parallel elements for 12m and 17m, I 
found the 17m element wrapped around the 15m trap, yet we'd had no bad 
weather, probably an owl (several of which like to perch on top of the 
aerial) or a buzzard.

One plus point, it did make me look on 10m, where I found 5 or so VKs, two 
of which I worked, and a 5B4. It's been a long time since I've heard or 
worked VKs on 10, the solar cycle really is on the up now.

Low bands were pretty poor this year, having worked lots of juicy DX  on 80m 
over the winter I know my Cushcraft vertical works well, yet didn't hear any 
VKs, and even the usual loud Caribbeans were a bit of a struggle with my 
100W. 125 QSOs in all, not earth-shattering, but beat my 2009 score.

73
Darrell G0HVQ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin" <colin at g3psm.net>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 6:40 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010


>I agree the 12 hour section should stay.   With my antenna restrictions
> I don't expect to be highly placed but I do try and apply some tactics
> to the contest and choose the most likely best 12 hours.   Sometimes it
> doesn't work as I missed the Sunday morning 10 metre opening - but you
> win some and lose some.
>
> 73
>
> Colin, G3PSM
>
> On 16/03/2010 16:48, Andy P Hewitt wrote:
>> Hear Hear
>> Andy G3SVD
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
>> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rob - G4LMW
>> Sent: 16 March 2010 12:11
>> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010
>>
>> Clive
>>
>> The 12-hour section exists (so far as I am concerned) because some of us
>> have a life outside of the shack.
>>
>> What I really need is a "sneak off for 10 minutes here-and-there" section
>>
>> 73, Rob
>> G4LMW
>> http://www.G4LMW.co.uk
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Clive GM3POI"<gm3poi2 at btinternet.com>
>> To: "Dave Sergeant"<dave at davesergeant.com>;<uk-contest at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 10:37 AM
>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010
>>
>>
>>
>>> I agree with Dave's Comments. I have always wondered
>>> why there is a 12 hour section, when other Major
>>> contests do not ( expect RSGB) is it a British lowest
>>> common denominator thing. It does then become a
>>> lottery who manages to work the part timers, and
>>> dependant on part timers choosing the correct times
>>> to operate
>>> for propagation.  73 Clive GM3POI
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Dave Sergeant"<dave at davesergeant.com>
>>> To:<uk-contest at contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:28 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest 2010
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On 16 Mar 2010 at 9:05, cris at gm4fam.plus.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>> It is perhaps questionable whether the 12 hour
>>>> sections can really be
>>>> justified in this sort of contest. I set out
>>>> intending to do 12 hours
>>>> in a not very serious entry with no overnight
>>>> operating, but when I had
>>>> finished I found I had actually done 14 hours. And
>>>> that was with some
>>>> hours, especially on Saturday morning, only having
>>>> one or two QSOs. So
>>>> I entered 24 hours (restricted). I thought I might
>>>> have qualified for
>>>> the QRP certificate (which I see I won last year,
>>>> but don't seem to
>>>> have actually received the bit of paper...) but it
>>>> seems from posts on
>>>> GQRP there are some who exceeded my 71 QSOs.
>>>>
>>>> An enjoyable contest, just as the chance to work
>>>> some rarer stuff
>>>> without the EU competition, but never one where I
>>>> would get anywhere
>>>> near winning so I guess it doesn't really matter
>>>> what column I appear
>>>> in.
>>>>
>>>> 73 Dave G3YMC
>>>>
>>>> http://www.davesergeant.com
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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