1. Analyzing WRTC Logs to Improve Performance
Secrets of Success #2:
Analyzing WRTC Logs to Improve Performance
Eric Scace K3NA k3na.org 03 Jan 18 – CCF Vantaa Finland

2. Contents Review: Lessons from WRTC-2000. 2002 play-by-play highlights.
Overview statistics.
Lessons learned.

3. Review: 3 lessons from 2000 Always interleave QSOs: Run constantly.
S&P constantly.
Don’t wait: work when you find a mult. Do NOT work from a list.
Don’t be a serial DXer!
90% S&P mults will be unique.

4. Review: 3 lessons from 2000 Always pass:
Running: an ordinary QSO can be a mult on a different band/mode.
S&Ping: Even a non-mult or dupe can be a mult on a different band/mode.
~75% passed mults will be unique.

5. Review: 3 lessons from 2000
Accuracy pays:
Double-check for typos.

6. 2002 play-by-play highlights
12z: opening.
14z: 1st breakaway.
17z: 1st clawback.
20z: twilight duel.
01z: 2nd breakaway.
0330: 2nd clawback.
04z: Russian breakaway.
05z: Europe ahead!
0730: 3rd clawback.
09z: convergence.
1020: 4th breakaway.
11z: sprint to finish.

7. 1ST place changed 30 times!

8. 12-14z: Opening Nice rate… Why are KQ2M+W7WA last? SSB QSO/min
CW QSO/min
Multiplier/min
QSO on this band during this minute

9. Lesson 1: Always interleave QSOs.
12-14z: Opening

10. 12-14z — multipliers
Changed bands; ran a list; still behind at 14z.

11. 14-17z: 1st breakaway Slightly better rate on 20m…
2-pt 15m NA QSOs while others are working EU on 20m.
Early to 40m for many double-mults.

12. Your rate meter is not your friend!
16z hour
N5TJ+K1TO
Mostly 15m 2pt NA QSOs.
114 QSOs … 186 QSO pts
RA3AUU+RV1AW
Mostly 20m 1pt Eu QSOs.
114 QSOs … 149 QSO pts.

13. 17-20z: 1st clawback
How did DL2CC+DL6FBL and RA3AUU+RV1AW recover?

14. Lesson 1: Always interleave QSOs.
17-20z — multipliers
After 15m NA closed, went to 20m for more 2-point NA QSOs.
Lesson 1: Always interleave QSOs.

15. 17-20z — multipliers N6MJ+N2NL and KQ2M+W7WA have similar mults.
Why are they behind?

16. 17-20z — QSO points
At end of 15m NA run, skipped 20m run & went to 40?!
Ran their mult list on 10, 20 & 40m.

17. 20-01z: twilight duel N5TJ+K1TO: 1st 40m run.
DL2CC+DL6FBL: 1st 80m ops.
DL2CC+DL6FBL: 20m CW. N5TJ+K1TO: 80+20m runs.
RA3AUU+RV1AW: also on 20m.

18. 20-01z — 20m frequency usage N6MJ+N2NL: 145q 243pt 10m
RA3AUU+RV1AW: 115q 181pt 6m
N5TJ+K1TO: 123q 195pt 5m
DL2CC+DL6FBL: 130q 200pt 6m
KQ2M+W7WA: 20q 25pt 7m

19. 20-01z: twilight duel After 12 hours – a tie!
N5TJ+K1TO: 1507q x 321m = 645,531 pts
DL2CC+DL6FBL: 1317q x 348m = 644,844 pts
N6MJ+N2NL: strategy shift: rather than stay on a band for 1 hour, shift every 20 minutes.
KQ2M+W7WA: 80m + 20m runs

20. Tactical decisions Strategy: general approach to contest
Helps you decide what to do, when several equivalent tactical alternatives are available.
Tactics: what you do now
What: run vs. S&P
Where: band, mode, position in sub-band
When: for how long?
Why: purpose

21. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2
Is your tactic successful?
Measuring success:
Needed: Metric to compare performance of alternatives.
Rate: in QSO points
Mults: in QSO point-equivalents
Combined metric: “EQPs”: equivalent QSO points

22. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2z
N5TJ K1TO
DL2CC DL6FBL
KQ2M W7WA
run S&P
80 cw 20/15 ssb
20 cw 80/40 ssb
20 ssb 40 ssb/cw

23. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2z
N5TJ K1TO
DL2CC DL6FBL
KQ2M W7WA
run S&P
80 cw 20/15 ssb
20 cw 80/40 ssb
20 ssb 40 ssb/cw
QSOs 17 7

24. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2z
N5TJ K1TO
DL2CC DL6FBL
KQ2M W7WA
run S&P
80 cw 20/15 ssb
20 cw 80/40 ssb
20 ssb 40 ssb/cw
QSOs QSO pts
17 24
7 11
7 12

25. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2z
N5TJ K1TO
DL2CC DL6FBL
KQ2M W7WA
run S&P
80 cw 20/15 ssb
20 cw 80/40 ssb
20 ssb 40 ssb/cw
QSOs QSO pts
17 24
7 11
7 12
mults 2 4 6
1544 Qs 2066 pts mults pts/mult
1366 Qs 1921 pts mults pts/mult
1488 Qs 1978 pts mults pts/mult

26. Your rate meter is not your friend: part 2z
N5TJ K1TO
DL2CC DL6FBL
KQ2M W7WA
run S&P
80 cw 20/15 ssb
20 cw 80/40 ssb
20 ssb 40 ssb/cw
QSOs QSO pts
17 24
7 11
7 12
mults 2 4 6
Equivalent QSO pts
36.6
32.1
49.2

27. Using the EQP meter

28. Strategy & tactics with EQP rates
Strategy: guides what to choose, when several equivalent tactics are available.
Tactics:
What: run, S&P
Where: band, mode, position in sub-band
When: how long?
Why: e.g., 2-pt QSOs; under-exposed
Always know Tactical Plan A:
“I’m running 40m cw and S&P on 80m cw.”
“The EQP is better than what I was doing on a dying 10 and 15m.”
“I’m doing this because 40m is a new band that I can run, and 80m is virgin but harder to run. New mults will offset low pts/QSO and slower rates; the EQP should be high.”
Always have Tactical Plan B ready:
“I will try running 20m SSB high in the band, and S&P on 80/40m cw.”
“I will start doing this when my EQP fades below my 60-minute average.”
“I’m doing this because 20m should be open to USA with 2-pt Qs. I have spent less time on SSB than CW on 20m. There may be more space and more USA stations above ”
Is this tactic better than what I was doing before?
Is this tactic still good?

29. 01-04z: 2nd breakaway & clawback
N5TJ+K1TO: trouble on
DL2CC+DL6FBL: 1 hour late to 20m.

30. 01-04z: 2nd breakaway & clawback
RA3AUU+RV1AW: switch from CW to 14334!

31. 04-0730z: Europe breakaway What if they stayed on SSB?
And 50 mults behind DL2CC+DL6FBL at 0730z…

32. 04-0730z: Europe breakaway 20m SSB tactic abandoned early?
Early move to 15m & interleaving 10m QSOs and mults pays off.

33. 04-0730z: Europe breakaway Early move to 20m SSB… … then interleaving…
… and landing on 10m.

34. z: 3rd clawback
0815z: Less than 4 hours remain. Three teams tied for first!
N5TJ+K1TO: Large batch of 10m multipliers wipes out a 25-QSO lead by the European teams.
N5TJ+K1TO: Hot run on kHz: 135 Qs in 45 mins… DL2CC+DL6FBL: 65 QSOs on 21039…

35. 0730-1030z: convergence The Great Convergence 1h 20m remaining:
1st through 4th separated by < 1% (~20 QSOs)
… N5TJ+K1TO switch to slower 15m CW
DL2CC+DL6FBL: switch to 15 SSB

36. z: 4th breakaway
RA3AUU+RV1AW: hot 20m SSB run

37. 1030-12z: 4th breakaway …while DL2CC+DL6FBL are slower on 20cw…
…then everyone goes to 15m SSB…

38. z: 4th breakaway
…except N5TJ+K1TO, who go to
All teams are on 20m SSB in the last ½ hour… (except KQ2M+W7WA on 20m CW)
but it’s too late to recover.

39. QSOs, points, or mults? N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
score
1,630,204
1,615,014
1,603,320
1,562,976
1,534,953
QSOs
2,786
2,638
2,481
2,714
2,844
QSO pts
3,739
3,818
3,448
3,618
3,847
pts/QSO
1.34
1.45
1.39
1.33
1.35
mults
436
423
465
432
399

40. QSOs, points, or mults? N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
score
1,630,204
1,615,014
1,603,320
1,562,976
1,534,953
QSOs
2,786
2,638
2,481
2,714
2,844
QSO pts
3,739
3,818
3,448
3,618
3,847
pts/QSO
1.34
1.45
1.39
1.33
1.35
mults
436
423
465
432
399

41. QSOs, points, or mults? N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
score
1,630,204
1,615,014
1,603,320
1,562,976
1,534,953
QSOs
2,786
2,638
2,481
2,714
2,844
QSO pts
3,739
3,818
3,448
3,618
3,847
pts/QSO
1.34
1.45
1.39
1.33
1.35
mults
436
423
465
432
399

42. QSOs, points, or mults? N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
score
1,630,204
1,615,014
1,603,320
1,562,976
1,534,953
QSOs
2,786
2,638
2,481
2,714
2,844
QSO pts
3,739
3,818
3,448
3,618
3,847
pts/QSO
1.34
1.45
1.39
1.33
1.35
mults
436
423
465
432
399

43. QSOs, points, or mults? N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
score
1,630,204
1,615,014
1,603,320
1,562,976
1,534,953
QSOs
2,786
2,638
2,481
2,714
2,844
QSO pts
3,739
3,818
3,448
3,618
3,847
pts/QSO
1.34
1.45
1.39
1.33
1.35
mults
436
423
465
432
399

44. Overviews & statistics
Passing strategy.
Interleaved S&P QSOs.
Waiting for mults.
Logging accuracy.
Home country advantage.

45. WRTC-2000 passing performance
WRTC-2000: Top 5 teams passed 201 multipliers & QSOs.
WRTC-2002: Top 5 teams passed 63 multipliers & QSOs.

46. WRTC-2002 passing N5TJ K1TO RA3AUU RV1AW DL2CC DL6FBL N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
Passed QSOs 16 14 12 7
Passed multipliers 13 15 11 5

47. Top 3 teams interleaved significantly more QSOs: 1 of every 12 QSOs!
Interleaved QSOs
N5TJ K1TO
RA3AUU RV1AW
DL2CC DL6FBL
N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
Interleave QSOs
235
218
222
113 53
% of total QSOs
8.4%
8.3%
8.9%
4.2%
1.9%
Resulting multipliers
213
238
209
104 39
Top 3 teams interleaved significantly more QSOs: 1 of every 12 QSOs!

48. Time spent interleaving QSOs
N5TJ K1TO
RA3AUU RV1AW
DL2CC DL6FBL
N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
Interleave QSOs
235
218
222
113 53
Total wait time
3h 39m
4h 24m
4h 20m
2h 12m
1h 21m
wait time per QSO
0.93 min
1.21 min
1.17 min
1.69 min
N5TJ+K1TO save 40 minutes for running QSOs!

49. Approximate logging accuracy (does not indicate actual penalty)
N5TJ K1TO
RA3AUU RV1AW
DL2CC DL6FBL
N6MJ N2NL
KQ2M W7WA
% Bad or NIL QSOs
0.4%
0.8%
0.6%
1.6%
% score affected
1.1%
3.0%
1.9%
1.7%
5.3%
All teams are very accurate compared to typical contesters.
Accuracy did not affect final standings.
N6MJ+N2NL had uniform error rates. Other teams had somewhat higher potential errors on 20 SSB.

50. Home country advantage?
1871 calls from USA, Russia, Germany.
790 were unique.

51. Russia advantage? Russia uniques: Group average: 0.8% of total Qs.
Group range: %
No advantage to RA3AUU+RV1AW.

52. Germany advantage? German uniques: Group average: 1.7%
Highest team: N5TJ+K1TO — 2.4%
No advantage to DL2CC+DL6FBL.

53. No home country advantage!
USA advantage?
USA uniques:
Group average: 3.4%
Highest team: RA3AUU+RV1AW — 5.3%
(2-pt QSO focus)
No advantage to USA teams.
No home country advantage!

54. Lessons learned Always interleave QSOs. Run constantly.
S&P constantly.
Don’t wait: work when you find a mult. Do NOT work from a list.
Don’t be a serial DXer!
90% S&P mults will be unique.

55. Lessons learned Always pass.
Running: an ordinary QSO can be a mult on a different band/mode.
S&Ping: Even a non-mult or dupe can be a mult on a different band/mode.
~75% passed mults will be unique.

56. Lessons learned Accuracy pays. Raw rate may deceive.
Double-check for typos.
Raw rate may deceive.
Unequal points/QSO.
Value of multipliers.

57. Lessons learned Achieve Zen energy.
Speak quickly but quietly: let the radio do the work.
Speak rarely: let the keyer do the work.
No wasted motions or effort.

58. Lessons learned Achieve Zen time. The past: The present: The future:
Under-utilized bands, modes, openings.
Past EQP.
The present:
Around your frequencies.
Current EQP.
The future:
Constant review with your teammates.
Know your Plan A: where, what, when, why?
Know your Plan B, when A isn’t working anymore.

59. The Secrets of Success Always interleave. Always pass. Accuracy pays.
Raw rate may deceive.
Achieve zen energy & time.