CHECKLOGS
4S7NI, G0WAT, G3XTT, G4TSH, GW0ETF, GW4BLE, VK4XA, ZL2TX, ZC4CW.

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5B4AGC: 10 meters was the big let-down this year. My strategy of starting late went against
me this year.

VE3JCV: More action on the lower bands this year and not a single QSO on 10M.
Conditions were tough on the low bands - high noise level and weak signals.
No 10M QSOs and only a few on 15M.

VE3QAA: Condx not the best! No propagation on 10m and 15m obscured by power line noise.
Disappointing result.

VK2BJ : Conditions fair for this stage of sunspot cycle.
80m a disappointment with no opening to UK.
As usual thoroughly enjoyable.

J88DR : Hard going on 10m this year as expected, but got my highest ever scores
on 80, 40 and 15.
Just use the Cushcraft R6000 Vertical and dipoles for 80 & 40. With the
IC706 it would be totally uncompetitive at home!
Fell asleep and missed last couple of hours.

VK6VZ : Great fun as always. 10 and 15m opened on the SP into Europe after 0830Z, but not
everyone realised this was happening... The Restricted section is a great innovation
for busy dads - please don't change a thing in it!!!!

G3LET : Disappointed to hear no proper 2 letter calls this year for the first time and was concerned about Frank ‘2QT who I’m sure would have been on if he possibly could.
Conditions really as expected at this time in the cycle, but signal levels on 80 were rather disappointing. This could have been as a result of the very high local noise level, which increases year by year. There are arguments in favour of changing the "restricted" section to limit power and antenna, however I believe the 12 hour format as at present is very convenient for a lot of people and the number of entrants is holding up very well. People who want to combine BERU with a family weekend (or even a
night’s sleep!) could well be discouraged if they had to operate the whole 24 hours to maintain an expectation of their present placing. More than 2 sections doesn’t really make sense in this type of contest.

GW3KJN: CONDX NOT VERY GOOD. STRUGGLE WITH THE G5RV UP 6MTRS.GOOD FUN THOUGH.

VE6JY : (OP:VE6BF) conditions way down from other years....

G0WAT : Only playing about really...
best contact was 7Q7BP and VK6VZ who came up S9+ on 10m dead on his sunset just like
it says in the books! Will try harder with a better ant next year (damp string isn't
in it) and see if I can get a full event in...operated for about 6-7 hours on and off
(mostly off)..

VU2UR : ENJOYED THE CONTEST AGAIN. IT WAS NICE TO WORK WITH
THE HQ SUFFIX. HAVE, I, HOPE SCORED ABOUT 70 BAND CALL AREAS.
KINDLY SEND THE CERTIFICATE IF IT IS CORRECT. I COULD NOT SCORE THE LOG, AS
I WAS TOO BUSY FOR THE POST IOTA AS-169 WORK. I DID NOT WANT TO MISS
SENDING THE LOG.

M1DXC : (OP:G0HDB) Could only manage spasmodic operation due to other commitments
Conditions seemed poor; long periods not hearing or working anyone.

VE3KZ : Not much operating time this year!

G3HAL : It was hard going. HFCC should start now to arrange better conditions for next year.

G3JJG : HEARING THEM WAS THE TROUBLE WITH PATIENCE YOU COUND USUALLY WORK THEM.

G3RFH : Found it hard going. I could hear them but not getting them.
Guess there might be something wrong with my antenna.
Europeans still don't know what BERU means!

G3VYI : CONDX slowly improved and good on 80/40 ! Poor on 20m.

GM3CFS: Worst BERU ever - dreadful condx especially 21 (presume 10 dead)!
Glad things did improve on Saturday afternoon.

GW4HBK: SOME NICE DX,10 & 15 WELL DOWN WITH VERTICAL. REALLY ENJOYED IT.

VE7VF : Condx poor this year but there were clearly lots of stations 'on' to judge by
the "big gun" scores!

ZL1MH : Only spent a few hours - afraid I get bored too quickly with
the repetitious stuff, but enjoy exchanging pleasantries with
old pals. Missed Frank, G2QT, this year - hope he is OK.

ZL2AZ : Score down, conditions down on all bands except 80m.
DX and Gs hard going this year.

G3NKS : Someone has to be last!ZL4HH : (aka ZL2BR): Possibly the worst conditions for 30 years? Absolutely lousy on
the higher bands. Between 2200-0300utc (1100-1600 local) just 6 contacts. Final
tally of 200 contacts - is my lowest since 1974. Only worked 43 G's and 5
VE3's. Lower bands were in better shape but only just. Seemed to be more
ZL's - (at least 17) active than in recent years. I really missed working
or even hearing some of the long-time Beru regulars.

VE3EJ : Spotty conditions at best. 10 was very poor while 80 was great for the most part.
Activity seemed down likely due to poor HF conditions.

G3VYI : CONDX slowly improved and good on 80/40 ! Poor on 20m.

G4CZB : As expected 10m very poor this year as we drop down the solar cycle,
also some familiar calls missing from the log. Overslept on Sunday
morning due forgetting to turn off the "weekend cancel" button yet again! Missed
the early morning on 80m although pleased to bag the ZL3. The plan to use a
a borrowed triband beam for 20-15-10 this year fell through when I found
it just too big to fit in the garden, so back to the wire loop which was
reconfigured from delta to square. Survived on coffee, fruit and flapjack
for most of the time although did break off to cook a meal on the Saturday evening.

G4BUO : Poor conditions on HF but best ever long path ZL on 80m.

G3TJE : STILL A 'MAGIC' CONTEST!

5B4AGN: A whole lot of fun, as always. Conditions much as expected with SFI hovering around 100. Thanks to RSGB HFCC for organising the event. A super weekend though
I do think we might benefit our reputations if activity areas were defined as 10 to35 kHz up from lower band edges. That way we could leave the bottom 10kHz for use bynon BERU dxers!

V26DX : (OP:G3PJT) 80m conditions very good with low QRN, 10m openings short and difficult to spot and generate any sort of run, good mix of new call signs - need to encouragethem to return next year. Fixed beam pulled down the VK/ZL score esp. on 40m.
Thanks to W3CF for use of antennas and sorting out the hotel.

G4PIQ/P: 10m much worse than last year, and not as successful on 80 as hoped.
Overall - not great - must try harder next year.

VE7JKZ: Disappointing conditions but as enjoyable as always. Many thanks to the organizers; particularly Harold G2HLU for all the work he has put in over
the years.

G3LZQ : Tough Going interleaving office move with contest.
Almost 1hr on 1hr off during daylight to fit schedule.
Band Conditions patchy to say the least; very low VK activity?

VK7GN : ONLY A LITTLE TIME AND NOT MUCH ANTENNAS GAVE A FEW BONUS POINTS OUT ANYWAY.

VK2FRC/7: (OP: K2PS) OPERATING WHILE VISITING WITH VK7GN IN BEAUTIFUL TASMANIA.

The 66th RSGB Commonwealth Contest, 2004.

The downward trend in HF band conditions as a result of the decline in solar activity is reflected in this year’s scores. In particular, scores on 28MHz are well down on 2003 totals. This year sees new first time winners in both the Open and the Restricted section. There was an apparent increase in the number of individual Commonwealth stations active in the contest this year (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 helps with the adjudication process.

Open Section

Congratulations to Vladimir, 9H1ZA. After finishing as runner-up last year, Vladimir took first place in the Open category with 8670 points, winning the Senior Rose Bowl. 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 DX’pedition 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.

Restricted Section

Congratulations to Bob, 5B4AGN, who takes the Junior Rose Bowl for the first time. 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 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.

HQ Stations

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.

Commonwealth Medal

This year the committee has awarded the Commonwealth Medal to Arasu, VU2UR, for his support and activity over many years. Many thanks Arasu!

Activity Statistics

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, 3DAØ, 4S7, 5B, 5X, 5Z, 6Y, 7Q, 8P, 9H, 9J, 9M2, 9V, G, G(HQ), J3, J8, S2, T3Ø, 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.

Adjudication/logs.

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 disqualify any entrant who is deemed 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.

Next Year

The 68th Commonwealth Contest will take place on 12/13th March, 2005. Start time is 1000 UTC. You will need 68 band-call areas or more to qualify for a certificate, which must be requested in the comments field or summary sheet of your log entry.

Soapbox:
BERU 2004 SOAPBOX COMMENTS:

G3YMC : To say conditions were lousy was an understatement! But they did get better. Certainly hard work on QRP
Request again to change the restricted section to
be more than just a time limit there should be a
power or antenna restriction as well

VA3IX : TOUGH CONDX,GOOD FUN!

GM4KGK: A pretty dismal offering this time considering that I had
spent most of the week working on the antenna (which has just blown down in tonight's gale!!).I blame the conditions, well, that's my excuse.

VE3ZI : For various reasons I was only able to be active for a few hours, but I hope
my participation helped a little.

I normally have a very quiet location, but the morning of the contest some
power line decided to start arcing which made life difficult on the hf
bands. (On lf I have beverages a long way from the lines so they were OK.)

Found conditions quite difficult, but that may just have been the particular
hours I was active.

NEXT year will of course be different!

G3YEC : Had visitors for the weekend and you know what that means.

GB5CC : (FRASER/G4BJM): Good fun, had two 90 minute sleep breaks.
Some very big signals at times.

G3GLL : Band condtions not very good. Lots of noise and local QRM
A hard struggle as usual for this contest!

VY2SS : Didn't get many with 100W and R7 vertical.

G4TSH : Some good stuff on LF this year. Just a part time affair for me as I had to prepare for a little DXpedition to 3B9! Could
not resist interleaving QSO's with JT1CO and XV1X on 80 and 40. Heard a VU2 on 10m on Sunday morning, but he faded into the noise as I
started to call. Pleased to make it with VK6VZ on 10m.

G3BJ : Submitted in great haste, as I leave for 3B9C tomorrow !

G3VQO : Just finished night shifts so not best prepared forcontest - into shack at 1005 Sunday ready for "last two
hours" - oops - didn't it used to be 1200 to 1200 ???
Must read the rules next time !!!

MU0FAL: Conditions were terrible but still an enjoyable contest
nice to work a few VK's but only heard one ZL and
the pile up was a bit unruly.

G4ARI : I didn't intend to enter, but after half an hour I found was was enjoying it,
the Commonwealth angle made it more interesting. I must think about computerised
logging, I was getting confused with just a handful of QSOs on different bands.

VE3IGJ: Elecraft K2 and 15 W into inverted V dipole. I did much better last year!

GW3SB : VO1AU was on all the time but what happened to the others ?

VA7ST : Thanks for the fine and enjoyable contest!

G3ZRJ : Nice contest shame about the conditions !

VE2AYU: Special thanks to contest manager and all participants for a very
enjoyable and rewarding contest. Propagation conditions provided generally poor openings on 15, 20 40 and 80m mainly with Europe. There were periods of serious propagation difficulties.

G2AFV : Bands seemed very noisy. Heard only 2 stns on 10m; wrkd only ONE!

G3BFP : Confused about starting time, January Radcom said 1200
but it appeared last year's time of 1000 applied.
Did I miss an amendment? Condx fair VK2BJ was an enormous signal.

G3ZDD : When publishing the results in Radxom, please will you mention that my trap
dipole was out of commission due to a fault and I was confined to three bands.

VK4WIA: Unfortunately had to close station 0130z/0700z 14th due to unforseen Grand Parent commitments. Lost a lot of valuable time.

G0MRH : Band conditions and time available not in my favour!

G3WPH : I believe there is a sentiment amongst operators of modest stations like mine that in this contest you can only compete with yourself. That problem has been well solved in contest like the RSGB 7MHz and RSGB 21/28 MHz by the inclusion of a restricted section of 100 watts and a single element antenna not above 15 metres in height.

I request that you consider the inclusion of such a section starting next
year, I have also suggested the idea on the uk-contest reflector, so perhaps you would be interested in monitoring any feedback on that forum.

Again any thanks for organising the contest, an considering my
suggestion.

G3LHJ : Time is OK - Condx as expected only one Q on 10M this
year good to hear ZS in force this year and lots
of VK/ZL activity in spite of the poor condx
Enjoyable contest as always cu next year.

G4SLE : bands very noisy here and experimenting with ant. pc crashed and restricted time hr.
very enjoyable and good to hr all stns.

G3LIK : HF conditions very poor and a struggle with wire aerials.
Lot of people missing this year but good to see some friends.

VE1LS : AS ALWAYS GREAT CONTEST. BAND CONDX COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.

G4IRN : Conditions were dire on Saturday; I retired to the pub
for a pint or two! Sunday morning things picked up
and some fun was to be had, even with a hangover.

VE4YU : Had problem finding a logger for this contest - had to do it manually.
Fortunately only had short time to operate - thus few contacts to enter.

G3TXZ/P: Conditions poorer on 10/15 than last year, but more on 40/80.
Seemed more activity from ZS this year. Thanks to those stations and others
that activated some of the more exotic BERU locations. The timing decisions that
have to be made in the Restricted Section give extra interest. I'll get them right,
one day!

G4EBK : Even slower than last year. Must get some real antennas.

VU2NXM: DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE REQUIRED BCA (67).

VP9/G3TXF: QRV for 22 hours. Working the UK on HF was achallenge as the beam was stuck on the west, but
plenty of UK were worked on 40m and 80m. Gave up
two hours before end because it got so slow!

VK4BUI: An enjoyable contest but a pity that conditions down here were not more
favourable. 67 BAND CALL AREAS (MISS CERTIFICATE BY 1 - BOOHOO)CONDITIONS NOT GOOD IN VK FOR MY G5RV. MOST ENJOYABLE CONTEST.

VE3PYG: Conditions not good, plenty of local QRN, especially when beam towards Europe!

VO1AU : VKs were very few and far between for me, consequently,my bonus total is poor.
Conditions were pretty poor, especially on 10m.

ZL6QH : (ZL1AZE OP:) Full size vertical for 80m
Rhombic with 200m legs for short and long paths to UK
Vee beams with 300m legs for short and long paths to North America and Europe
6 el 10m yagi beams for short path to North America and Europe.

I was planning to improve on last year's effort and beat the ZL record score
of 8062 set by Bob G3PJT in 2002. However it was not meant to be - this year's
score is the lowest that I have achieved since entering the contest from ZL6QH
in 1998!

ZL1BHQ: An anomaly has been detected in the rules for this contest. The Canadian
prefix VA does not appear to be an authorised listing in terms of the Commonwealth Countries prefixes, whereas that prefix is listed in another
section of the RSGB Website as being so. A most confusing matter for Steve, N9OH the software designer of the Commonwealth Contest module for Writelog users. Perhaps this could be tidied up before the 2005
contest, after all Bob, G3JXP is a Writelog supporter !. I have taken this matter up separately with the Chairman of the HFCC Committee by email i n recent days.
Had the beam down for maintenance so was using the 80mx antenna, but hope to be back in 2005.