[CQ-Contest] Running by the numbers

Tue Jul 6 09:23:42 EDT 2021

Bob, 

I have read and reread your response several times and don’t find your suggestions to be very specific. As an experienced contester, I understand what you are saying, but the original request was for green ops who I think need more detail. IMHO.

Stan, K4SBZ

"Real radio bounces off the sky."

> On Jul 5, 2021, at 2:23 PM, kq2m at kq2m.com wrote:
> 
> 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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