M3JFM.net

72nd RSGB Commonwealth contest 13th-14th march 2010

This year is the 72nd RSGB commonwealth contest it took place over the weekend of 13th-14th of March one of the selling points of this contest is the statement “The commonwealth contest promotes amateur radio contacts between stations in the Commonwealth and Mandated Territories A more relaxed contest environment gives the opportunity to work some choice DX”

Well I am hooked it’s not often that I get the chance to work long distance amateur radio stations and maybe I am swayed a little by the idea of working stations in exotic locations around the globe and of course I am in with a chance because I live in a commonwealth country a couple of things have to be settled from the start this is not going to be easy the pile ups will be large the big guns will work the DX first and the small pistols will just have to wait their turn. On the plus side in this contest there is no European Zoo. If the station you are calling can hear you they will work you. Even if you do get the odd person as I did this year up in Scotland Who said that he is only working only Beru (commonwealth) perhaps he miss read my call sign as N3JFM and not M3JFM.  I worked nearly everyone I could hear some times the pile up’s were large and I just had to wait a little longer but in the end I made the QSO my station was made up of the Yaseu FT-950 and Windom antenna.

One hour before the contest started I made a fresh pot of filter coffee this would stay warm on its own hot plate for up two hours without cooking the cooking.  I checked my amateur radio station over first checking that the antenna was still up and in good working order and the coax feeder was in good order next was to switch the rig on and shack pc and check to make sure they working The day before I had printed off a copy of the contest rules and list of the countries and call areas that qualified for this contest and I kept the list close to hand after a while I would tick off the countries I had worked. With the start of the contest fast approaching I was sat in the shack ready for the 10:00 UTC start.

To Enlarge the map click on the image

The Red Pins are 2010 contacts blue pins 2009 contacts

In Log :

40M

GB5CC United kingdom, ZC4LI. Cyprus UK Bases

20M.

GM3POI United Kingdom, P3J Cyprus , ZM4G New Zealand, VE6JY Alberta Canada, VE6EJ Alberta Canada, VE3KI Victoria Canada, ZL6HQ New Zealand , 5B4AGN Cyprus, VX3AT Victoria Canada, VK2BJ New South Wales , 9M6XRO East Malaysia, VU2PTT India, VK2IM New South Wales, VX7CC British Columbia, VK4EMM Queensland, H2E Cyprus , ZC4VJ Cyprus UK Bases, C4Z Cyprus, VA3DX St Catharine’s Ontario, VO1TA Newfoundland, VE3UTT Ontario, VE2XXA Quebec , VE3TDI Ontario, VE3OI Ontario, ZC4LI Cyprus UK Bases, ZB2FX Gibraltar .

15M.

P3J Cyprus, ZC4LI Gibraltar, VY2SS Prince Edward island , VE3OI Ontario, VE3EJ Ontario, VE2AEJ Quebec, J88DR St Vincent, VX3AT Ontario, 5H3EE Tanzania, VA3PL Ontario, VA3RAC Ontario, VE3FU Ontario,