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Re: [CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

To: Stan Zawrotny <k4sbz.stan@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers
From: kq2m@kq2m.com
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:23:16 -0500
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Stan,

I listed several specific techniques, and some of the previous posters did as well, aside from "running numbers".


Bob, KQ2M



On 2021-07-05 12:40, Stan Zawrotny wrote:
I have been following this thread with great interest, hoping to
improve my technique. Everyone talks in generalizations about using
techniques and strategies, but so far, running numbers is the only
technique described. I heard that there are "better techniques," but
no reference to what they are. I believe the original post was seeking
some specific information that he could pass on to his operators.

__________
Stan, K4SBZ

On Mon, Jul 5, 2021 at 11:19 AM <kq2m@kq2m.com> wrote:

That article was really well written and informative Steve, thank
you
for posting it!

Each op naturally has their own style and strengths and weaknesses
in
running pileups - and the op should  realize and understand that the

most effective techniques and strategies to be used should differ
somewhat between running a pileup during a DX contest where there
are
many pileups of small size by many stations vs. running a pileup
during
a DXpedition when thousands of people are focusing their attention
on
working ONE station.

A good op should endeavor to employ all of their strengths and
minimize
all of their weaknesses while operating - experience with
understanding
and or speaking multiple languages can help, experience operating
contests is helpful, knowledge of the radio(s) being used and how to

filter stations and switch between frequencies is important, speed
and
accuracy of working stations by the op can build confidence and
patience
in the stations in the pileup and increase efficiency; likewise, the
ops
own attitude and mental flexibility is central to a good performance

that benefits the greatest number of people.

Some ops are more patient and efficient than others; tone of voice
and
speed of speech can and should be altered depending on whether the
op is
trying to calm down the callers in a pileup vs speeding them up and
moving them around.  Some ops are better are "learning on the fly"
how
to improve, others are not.  All things being equal you want a more
resilient and adaptable op to work the more difficult pileups rather

than giving them an inexperienced op with a rigid manner - this is
especially true under conditions of physical and/or mental stress,
lack
of sleep, etc.

The same goes for hearing ability - we are not born with equal
abilities
to process and understand language and accents and we don't all have
the
same audio frequency processing range. This matters in larger and
more
challenging pileups when station are calling on top of each other
and
especially so during qrn, qsb and qrm when the ability and
willingness
to quickly get a piece of a callsign and efficiently turn that into
a
qso is critical to rate and pileup control.

In the end, regardless of what we are naturally born with, all of
these
mental and physical skills can be developed and hopefully mastered
with
dedication, persistence and a willingness to be flexible in
operating
style - matching the strategies employed to the conditions on the
freq.
A good op, inexperienced or not, will attempt to experiment and try
different things while operating in an effort to improve efficiency.

Energy and enthusiasm for working the calling stations; conveyed
through
the pace of speech and tone of voice is also an excellent way to
manage
an "enthusiastic" pileup and gain their cooperation.

Even if there is an inexperienced op who is overmatched by the
challenges of running a particular pileup, if they maintain the
right
attitude and keep in mind the "bigger" picture of what to strive for
as
an operator, they will achieve better results and make far more
people
happy, than if they don't.

73

Bob, KQ2M

On 2021-07-04 13:55, Steve Dyer W1SRD via CQ-Contest wrote:
Everyone has an opinion here, but Martti Laine put some good words
down about pileup management several years ago.

Worth a read or re-read.

http://www.ncdxf.org/newsletters/2015-AUTUMN.pdf

73,
Steve
W1SRD


There are better ways than by the numbers.

73
Ria, N2RJ


Such as?  I've heard ideas from other people, but what are your
suggestions?

73,
Ken, AB1J


-----Original Message-----
From: rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com>
To: Hans Brakob <kzerohb@gmail.com>
Cc: xaxaxaxa yayayaya <cqtestk4xs@aol.com>;
cq-contest@contesting.com
<cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Sun, Jul 4, 2021 2:42 am
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

I have not. I have operated from 9Y beaming Europe though. The W,
particularly W4 wall is real. And I did manage to work one Guam
station in that pile too by the way.

There are better ways than by the numbers.

Care to assume something else? :)

73
Ria, N2RJ

On Sat, Jul 3, 2021 at 10:39 PM Hans Brakob <kzerohb@gmail.com>
wrote:
You’re never been on Guam beaming USA on 15m, over the top of
1.2
million JA “10 watters”, all needing their first KG6 in the
log

73, de Hans, KØHB
“Just a Boy and his Radio”™
________________________________
From: CQ-Contest
<cq-contest-bounces+kzerohb=gmail.com@contesting.com> on behalf
of
rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 3, 2021 3:02:14 PM
To: xaxaxaxa yayayaya <cqtestk4xs@aol.com>
Cc: cq-contest@contesting.com <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

As a rule I never do it. I've had some thick pileups like ARRL
centennial and 13 colonies. I just never do it. I have other
ways to
thin the pile that to me are more effective.

73
Ria, N2RJ

On Sat, Jul 3, 2021 at 2:13 PM Bill kollenbaum via CQ-Contest
<cq-contest@contesting.com> wrote:
I've been running by the numbers for years...when necessary.
I've
done it  both in and out of contests.
from KH6 fluttery weak EU stations were an issue, as were big
USA
pileups.
Keys to success:
Only do it when your rate slows because you can't pull them out
fast
enough (especially in spotted pileups)
Stick to the number.  NEVER call someone with the wrong number.

You'll be sorry you did.
Go quickly through the numbers...maybe two or three for each to

avoid getting the natives restless.
End with zeroes or nines.  The guys get pissed if you stop at
five
or six etc.
Back around 2009 a few guys and I decided to a 1E  from my
station
in KH6 using high power.  The pileups were as big as I've ever
had
and we were forced to go by the numbers.  Dozens of modest FD
stations all sounded like an S-5 buzz.  We did the numbers for
hours
with that one.  However, one of the inexperienced guys broke
the
cardinal rule and started taking anybody while doing it by the
numbers and all hell broke loose.
Bill  K4XS/KH7XS/V31XX
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