[CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

[kq2m at kq2m.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 at 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 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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