Monthly Archives: March 2025

G3ZGC

09 Sunday Mar 2025

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VP8TXF was worked by myself and M0TDW also near Newbury between 1600 and 1800z. I had also worked the VP8s, both calls Nigel and Ian within two minutes of each other the day before. One on 12m and one on 10m. All week I had been listening and heard very weak signals. Only peaking about 1700z. Too weak for me to work or read properly. Luckily they were a bit stronger over the weekend.Interesting there was no pick up on our local RBN. And even the cluster was quiet.  I normally get up at 0400 so today I got up at 0300! (I do suffer from sleeping issues though which helps in contests!)

Similarly Dave ZL/G4BUO I found calling CQ with no mention at the time on the local RBNs. I dont understand why that happens! I have noticed it a few times recently.

Richard

G4DBW

09 Sunday Mar 2025

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Great fun again this year. Possibly my favourite Contest . I wont embarras myself in listing scores and QSO’s worked at this little pistol station, but as always delighted to be able to work VK’s ZL’s and the crop of traveller stations that make the effort to liven up this contest. Made the effort to get up at 0500z to pick up some on 80m and 40m.

Outstanding loud signal from Dave ZL/G4BUO who gets a special mention.  Highlight for me with my low power entry was being able to actually hold a small run several times ! Only got away of note was ZD7BG  – just couldn’t break the pile up 🙁 

Nothing heard here from VP8 land … seems propagation wasn’t favourable ?

Great contest  Thanks to all involved in the organising of the event. .

73 Bob G4DBW

Changes to the Australian teams and HQ stations

08 Saturday Mar 2025

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Due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred there are changes to the Australian teams and HQ stations for the 2025 Commonwealth Contest. The updated list follows:

Australia 1

VK2GR     Captain

VJ3A (VK3JA)

VK5GG

VK6T (VK6LW)

VK7BO

Australia 2

VK6VZ      Captain

VK2BJ

VK2PN

VK4M (VK4SN)      * 1

VL6M  (VK6GX)      *2

Australian HQ Stations

VK1WIA  (VK1DA)  *3

VK2WIA  (VK2WQ)

VK3WIA  (VK3GK)

VK4WIA   (VK4TT)   *1

VK5WIA  (VK5GR)

VK6WIA  (VK6RZ)

*1   The VK4 stations may not be operational due to cyclone damage and power availability.

*2  Due to antenna storm damage, VL6M  (VK6GX) may not be operational.

*3   Weather permitting, Andrew VK1DA plans to activate VK1WIA as a SOTA operation in the Australian Capital Territory.

73,
Allan Mason, VK2GR

Commonwealth Contest UK England Team – can you join it?

07 Friday Mar 2025

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Hi,

I am not sure if anyone has already done this, in which case please let me know. I am not involved in a team this year as I am running G6XX as an HQ.

Graham G4FNL is hoping to assemble a team for the contest tomorrow. He only has his phone, as he is at Chris Danby’s place.

If you are not already in a team and would like to join one with Graham, please email him using graham@g4fnl.co.uk. It will be a case of first come, first served and time is pressing (obviously). Teams are five stations and so far Graham has one.

Good luck and I hope to work you on five bands despite a dreadful cough – thank goodness it isn’t SSB.

Kind Regards
Nick Totterdell

News from VE7JH

07 Friday Mar 2025

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The two teams comprised from members of the newly formed “IslandHF” group from Vancouver Island (with one Mainlander thrown in) are gearing up for the CC.
VE7RAC is also going to be on from the Capital City, Victoria.
A mixture of big guns and little pistols, I hope everyone around the Commonwealth will get a few VE7’s in the log.

Commonwealth Contest UK background

07 Friday Mar 2025

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Hi,

I hope you are looking forward to taking part in this year’s Commonwealth Contest. As you know, the Contest is no longer an “RSGB” Contest but has shared ownership. Perhaps a few UK stations who are not RSGB members will enter this year?

We are hoping for more Commonwealth participation, so look out for VU and AP stations who may not have taken part before. Don’t expect everyone taking part to understand what “Beru” means either, with the focus being more on Commonwealth.  Nobody will be penalised for calling CQ BERU, except possibly by natural selection. I will be calling TEST CC with G6XX, so you can look out for that. I will happily QSY to bands that you haven’t yet worked me on, but not in the first few hours.

Vic G4BYG has contacted me with a question about self-spotting. Although this was discussed on the “Evans” committee, it was not agreed that the contest should permit self-spotting this year. RBN spots should be good however, so assisted stations (me included this year) should have plenty of spots for guidance. Do be careful though, as often you will be able to work stations who are not spotted – best to slowly tune across each band to see who is calling, not just rely on spots.

We have had some health issues among the UK HQ activators so we are not certain who will be QRV yet but we should have five stations. From the UK you can work the UK HQ stations on each of the five contest bands for QSO points (5 points for same continent) and bonus points (20 points for each QSO).

If you haven’t found the new Commonwealth Contest page on the RSGB website you can get to it here plus there is lots of Commonwealth Contest news on Bob G3PJT’s site here.

For Commonwealth website promotion, you might like to look through the following…

Canadian Commonwealth Contest news is at https://www.rac.ca/commonwealth/.

New Zealand Commonwealth Contest news is at https://nzart.org.nz/event/commonwealth-contest/.

India Commonwealth Contest news is at https://arsi.info/commonwealth-contest/.

Australia Commonwealth Contest news is at https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/commonwealthcontest/.

I will see you all on Saturday/Sunday.

Kind Regards,

Nick Totterdell G4FAL,

RSGB HF Contest Committee Chair

VK4SN is out

06 Thursday Mar 2025

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From: Alan VK4SN
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:41:32 GMT

Hi Guys,

Rather than pull out last minute and cause a hassle, I’ll say I’m not able to contest this weekend. 

With the delay in the cyclones arrival now being late Friday/ early Saturday, I doubt I’ll even have power and antennas are down.  Looking like it will pass right over my head with winds at 150km/hr. 

Looking for a team one replacement… anyone??

GL from a worried op.  🫤

73

Alan VK4SN