[CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

Sun Jul 4 13:50:24 EDT 2021

Hi,

unfortunately, there is no MorseRunner or RUFZ for SSB. Not yet... So training has to happen more or less on the bands. The first thing as for all modes: Listen, listen and listen. Sit next to a pro while he/she is handling a pileup, try to copy as many callsigns as possible, write them down, compare with the pro's log. Maybe you can do some offline training in a small group sitting in one room and creating your own pileup and learn to manage it. But you have to get used to the noise and dynamics of a pile-up. You don't want to hear it for the first time when you call CQ and switch to RX.

But there comes a time when you have to go on the band and you are thrown into the cold water. And in the beginning, it should not be a rare DXCC / IOTA / ... Of course, you will be called lid or idiot when it is not going as it should be. But a newbie has to go through it. The more important is that a pro is sitting next to the newbie explaining what's going on on the band, that the newbie is not a lid or idiot. And giving advice what to do if the newbie doesn't know what to do.

Running low power instead of high power when you are a newbie: Maybe the wrong way. If you are a semi-rare station and your signal is not loud, you have to have excellent pile-up skills to keep the pile-up controlled. Having a loud signal should help to have more control over the pile-up.

Working by numbers: As already wrote before, you need to know how to do it and do it consequently 100%. Otherwise you are f....d.

So my short advice: 
- Listen to a pro
- offline training with a pro
- working first pile-up with a pro (never alone!)
- continous training
- when you are used to it, enjoy the rates

73s Chris DL1MGB

Am 04.07.2021 um 18:51 schrieb Jeff Blaine:
> Ria,
> 
> Can you expand on the better alternatives to running numbers? Curious 
> here...
> 
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
> www.ac0c.com
> 
> 
> On 7/4/21 9:47 AM, AB1J via CQ-Contest wrote:
>>
>> 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 at gmail.com <rjairam at gmail.com>
>> To: Hans Brakob <kzerohb at gmail.com>
>> Cc: xaxaxaxa yayayaya <cqtestk4xs at aol.com>; cq-contest at contesting.com <cq-contest at 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 at 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 at contesting.com> on behalf of rjairam at gmail.com <rjairam at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 3, 2021 3:02:14 PM
>>> To: xaxaxaxa yayayaya <cqtestk4xs at aol.com>
>>> Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com <cq-contest at 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 at 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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