President's Corner
by... Joe Sokolowski - KD5KR

O.K. dudes and dudettes. Here it is, July already. Is 1998 half gone, or is it still half to go? Only my analyst knows the answer to that one. But I do know that the first half of this year was filled with some busy and active events. We started out with the annual banquet and introduced you all to the new slate of NARS "shakers and movers." Then we went into the annual Novice/Tech license class and added a few more hams to "the movement." Can’t forget the annual picnic either. That is always fun. Throw in the Texas QSO Party, and of course, Field Day… Wow, this was one exciting six-month period! Or was it six exciting one-month segments, or maybe 185 days of…

Where was I? Oh yes, Field Day. My prediction did have credibility. It did rain on the NARS field day event, but the gods in their forgiving and benevolent ways spared us the torrents of H2O and gale winds of yesteryear and bestowed upon us Q’s by the hundreds! And, what a feast it was. Fajitas Saturday evening followed by fried turkey the next day. Everyone excelled in this event, especially the novice station gang. This group included many "YL’s,” and they did an outstanding job in racking up the points. Each year I think, "Can it get any better than this?" I wonder…

Well, things may slow down a bit during the summer. Many will go on their long awaited vacations or spend time visiting distant relatives. But for those who are still around, NARS has some interesting speakers lined up for our monthly meetings. In fact, we’re close to being booked up for the remainder of the year. With fall coming close behind, nominations and elections will be an issue to reckon with. And, with December comes the annual "Show ‘n Tell" program, a time to brag on your favorite ham projects (No, KD5KR will not be exhibiting his famous "Big Foot" power supply this year. He’s got other things up his sleeve…).

My, how time flies!

Meeting Announcement
by... Jim Kirk - KJ5X

Topic of July Meeting -
Mobileering Is Topic Of July 17 Talk

Alex Stalinsky WA5UHT, proprietor of City Electronic Supply and long time mobileer (operating mobile), will give us his expert insights and advice on mobile amateur radio. If you are now a mobileer or want to be, particularly on HF, you shouldn’t miss this one.

Soapbox
by... Keith Dutson - WD5DXL

What a Field Day we had! Were you there to witness it? If not, too bad – maybe next year.

Start now to plan your attendance at the 1998 SIRE Ride-a-thon. It will be on August 17th. Join us for a great outing in the woods near Montgomery.

Sign up today as a NARS News reporter; see me for details. You do not have to be a writer or photographer, but it will help if you can do either. Call me at 281-351-7683, or send email to kdutson@swbell.net.

DX News
by... Bill Gary - K8CSG

DX Notes --
The wind passeth over it,
and it is gone;
And the place thereof shall know it no more,
Deleted!. .

Loyd, KM5OE, prepared for a two-week visit to West Texas and agreed to meet with the Big Bend Sundancers in an attempt to straighten out the sunspot situation. Despite the protests of the Chief Sundancer, Loyd insisted they try some new steps in order to bring about the needed improvements. After considerable cajolery, the Chief grouched off into the barancas muttering some obscene thoughts about interlopers. Shortly thereafter was heard the loud, ponderous thumpings of the Big Bass Bongo, accompanied by the lesser sounds of its junior partners. Creeping into the barancas for a look, Loyd was treated to a series of swift lateral arabesques, followed by determined heel clickings of the Sundancers. Thus assured that his message had been received and that better propagation would soon follow, Loyd tiptoed back out of the barancas and headed for his mountain home to work the new DX. . .

The month of June began with a solar flux index of 96, an A index of 20, and a K index of 2. Despite the SFI, the relatively high A index resulted in some poor band conditions. Things improved relatively quickly, with the SFI increasing into the low 100 range with an A index in the single digits. By mid-June, the SFI was at 112, with the A index at 8 after reaching the mid-teens, and the K index at 2. These ups and downs created some varying DX conditions. At mid-month the evening openings on 20-meters were very encouraging, with DX of a wide variety available from Europe, the old Soviet-area countries and the Pacific. DXpeditions continued with the FO0's active thanks to some fellows from Michigan. As Field Day approached a minor solar storm pushed the A-index into the teens again, messing up DX propagation a bit. At the very end of June the SFI was 112, the A was 2 and the K was 1, accompanied by reasonably good band conditions.

LOCAL EVENTS: June began with a nice evening opening into Europe despite the bad propagation numbers. I worked FP5BU in St. Pierre & Miquelon, followed by JY5HX and DL4HRH. In quick succession, Steve, KD5AIJ, and Dick, W5VHN also worked the JY5 while the band opening lasted. KM5LA reports working 7X4AN and JY9QJ. WA8GHZ says he worked I4, EW3 and FO, all on CW bands, recently. Was it FO0PAP or FO0MAC, Jack? George, K5VUU, is proudly showing off the capabilities of his new 20m dipole antenna. He has worked ES1WW, PA3AGF, YU1AVA, FH5CB, UX0KN, 3B8CF, DK0FP, VK3OJ, VK3SU, IT9PKO, EA5JO, 9A2C, TA2OJ, ZK1EHH, OK1EFU, EA8BYR, S58AL, ZL1AOG, EA6BH, 5H3RB, FS5HI, and GW0SLM. (He did have the boots on his radio!) K5ZTY worked ZL2UW while testing his new beam. KJ5X worked FO0MAC. Dick, W5VHN, reports receipt of his long-awaited QSL from Crozet Island. Congrats, Dick! Steve, KD5AIJ, says DXCC card #85 arrived from Luxembourg (LX). It's going to be a close race between Steve and Mike, KM5LA, to see who gets DXCC first. Mike, K5NZ, reports he has packaged about 40-50 QSLs for submission to ARRL for endorsement of his DXCC, bringing his totals to about 285 worked and a few less confirmed. Good beginning, Mike. Loyd, KM5OE, was heard on 20m working some European DX from West Texas. He later said he had worked FO0MAC, HB9FBS, YO2BM, LZ1QI, YB1XUR, YB0LOG, V44NEF and other assorted stations. Mike, K5NZ, has submitted QSLs for his WAC Award with the exception of a good Zone 2 card. John, W5PDW, worked Reunion Island (FR) for A new country and reworked Angola (D2).

DX WORKED: LX9KGS (Luxembourg) 20m 0002Z; FP5BU (Miquelon Island) 20m 0027; JY5HX (Jordan) 20m 0030Z; RW6AWT (Russia) 20m 0156Z; 9M6AAT (E.Malaysia) 20m CW 1147Z; YB0DX (Indonesia) 20m 1304Z; FBC5VDM (France - World Cup Comm. Sta.) 15m 1451Z; 5Z4RL (Kenya) 15m 1931Z; UA3QDX/3 (Russia) 20m 2330Z; V63KU (Micronesia) 20m 1253Z; 9K2ZZ (Kuwait) 20m 2220Z; ZL1ANJ (New Zealand) 10m 0237Z; 3V8BB (Tunisia) 20m CW 0249Z; VK8AN (Australia) 20m 1353Z; DL0ABT (Germany - Templehof Airport Comm. Sta.) 20m 2203Z; ZK1EHH (Aitutaki Island - North Cook Is.) 15m 0010Z; VK5PAX (So. Australia) 15m 0026Z; G0SBR/MM (aboard the QE-II in the Atlantic) 20m 1852Z; BV2FT (Taiwan) 20m a406Z; 5X1T (Uganda) 20m 2308Z; BN0A (China) 20m 1300Z; 5B4LP (Cyprus) 20m 2209Z; 7X2JF (Algeria) 20m 2232Z; AP2N (Pakistan) 20m 0127Z; SV2ASP/A (Monk Apollo - Mount Athos) 20m 0149Z; 9K2HN (Kuwait) 20m 2306Z; TF8GF (Iceland) 20m 0303Z; BV5BG (Taiwan) 20m 1346Z; 5B4LP (Cyprus) 20m 0254Z; EU7SA (Belarus) 0302Z; 4X1FQ (Israel) 20m 0321Z; BY5QE (China) 20m 1229Z; DU100SAN (Philippines) 20m 1325Z; FO0MAC (Austral Islands) 20m 0218Z; FO0PAP (Marquesas Is.) 20m 0138Z; 4KA5CW (Azerbaijan) 20m 0159Z; JY5MB (Jordan) 20m 0314Z; various Aussies and Japanese stations 20 and 15m; DU3BBY (Philippines) 20m 1256Z; UA0ZBK/0 (Asiatic Russia) 20m 1303Z; 9K2HN (Kuwait) 20m 0113Z; AH8LJ (Am. Samoa) 20m 1320Z; RK3AWL (Eur. Russia) 20m 0103Z; P29CC (Papua New Guinea) 20m 1231Z; DU3BLC 20m 1410Z; 3B8AD 20m 1203Z; KH0CE 20m 1225Z; FO0HAR 20m 1223Z; YB0AI 20m 1437Z; YJ0AI (Vanuatu) 15m 0312Z; P29BW (Papua New Guinea) 20m 1130Z.

DX HEARD (Not Worked): 4Z4UR (Israel); 4X1FQ (Israel); J49IL (Crete) 15m 1351Z; HS0/SM3DYU (Thailand) 20m 1412Z; T32O (E. Kiribati) 20M 1239Z; JA7DY (Japan) 20M 1239Z.

QSL ROUTES: LX9KGS via LX2AJ; FP5BU via (F5TJP; 9K2ZZ via W8CNL; 3V8BB via YT1AD; VK8AN via VK4AAR; FBC5KAC via F6JSZ; DL0ABT via DL7VRO; ZK1EHH via K8VIR; FO0PAP & FO0MAC via K8OU; VK8DK via KC6AWX; 5X1T via ON5NT; 9A7C via KA9WON; BN0A via JA3DPB; P29CC via Box 1079, Goroka, Papua New Guinea; HS0/SM3DYU via SM3CVM; FO0HAR via K8VIR; LY98BA via LY3BA; FBC2YT via F2YT; YJ8PU via KF4VPU.

A group of U.S. operators landed on Aitutaki Island in the South Cooks on June 4 and began operating as ZK1EHH. When found on 15m, they were readily workable. K8VIR is their QSL manager. The operator, Ed, was capable, but obviously not an experienced DXpedition-class individual. Walter, KK5LO, Dick, W5VHN, and George, K5VUU quickly followed after I mentioned the ZK1's presence on the band via the .66 repeater.

One evening when 5X1T (Peter Casier in Uganda) was having trouble attracting a pileup, I had a little ragchew with him. One of my questions was when he and his buddies from Heard Island were planning a trip to Scarborough Reef. Peter says they have no plans for a Scarborough trip, due to the political difficulties involved. He did say, however, that a trip now in the works will be to A5/Bhutan, the #6 country on the most wanted list. The tentative schedule is for the first quarter of [1999]. Interesting to ponder, eh wot?

Monk Apollo has become the most viable candidate for recognized contacts with Mount Athos. He appears on 20 meters from time to time, usually with a fairly modest signal. Mount Athos first appeared on the DXCC list after Martti Laine's operation there in 1975 as SV1GA/A. Since then a variety of operations have been attempted or carried out, with widely varying results. Some of the Greek operators have become offended by certain of these attempts. This caused Mt. Athos to become a pariah in DXing for a while. Monk Apollo is a resident there and he has become an accepted operator for DXCC purposes, virtually the only one. Forget CW contacts for now; his keyboard is broken. Not always easy to work, even when he is on the air. A good one to get when you can.

K8YSE and W8JGU started an operation in the Austral Islands as FO0MAC and FO0PAP about June 8. On June 13 they moved over to the Marquesas using the same callsigns. Another opportunity to get possibly new countries into the log. Readily available on SSB CW and RTTY, this latest operation provides an excellent opportunity for new DXCC Entities to be well worked and hardly needed by the time they are added to the List.

DXPEDITIONS: The CY9RF operation on St. Paul Island was cancelled before it happened, something about not having enough manpower to mount the operation.

Kermadec should be available again shortly, with Bob (ZL1RS) active there from June 28 to July 17. This will be a working trip with radio operations taking second place in his schedule.

G3VMW AND G3XAQ plan a DXpedition to Ethiopia from Sept. 17 to Sept. 27. They plan to operate from an existing club station on all bands and modes. QSLs will go to G3VMW. Ethiopia (ET) is not all that easy, but it is often not too difficult to work. The key is to find someone on the air from there.

J52IM has left Guinea-Bisseau, leaving no known amateurs in that country. There is a coup in progress there, which spells problems for those who need this DXCC entity.

Zoli, HA5PP, says we can look forward to a legitimate operation from Yemen -- sometime. He says he was welcomed warmly in Sana' recently, and that "the Yemenis are eager to get amateur radio started in their country."

Ralph, K0IR, and Peter Casier, 5X1T, of Heard and Peter I Islands fame promise an early 1999 operation from Bhutan (A51).

Roberto HK0TU says there will be a major DXpedition to Malpelo during the Fall of 1999. This will be the first significant operation from Malpelo since 1990.

FINALLY: It has been interesting to watch the contest between Loyd, KM5OE, Mike KM5LA and Steve KD5AIJ as they all close in on DXCC. On June 29, Loyd had about 89countries confirmed, Mike had 89 and Steve had 91. By the end of July, one or all of them may have crossed the DXCC threshold of 100. How shall we celebrate their accomplishment?

Front Page
by... Mark Tyler - K5GQ

Show Your Mobile

The HF station operates from 75m (Hustler resonator) to 10m. CW is operated going to and from work. I have worked Japan on 40m CW and Europe on 20m. Unfortunately, I have heard the QRP fox on the way home, but not been able to work the station. The station consists of a Yaesu FT900, super CMOS III modified keyer, Ameritron amplifier and bug-catcher antenna.

Radio Installation

The detachable front head type radio was the only choice left after a TS50 radio was not suitable for installation. The location was the unused ashtray. The ashtray is removed and a 1/4" piece of aluminum is attached to the radio remote head and slid into the ashtray guides. The radio is mounted out of the way.

A bug-catcher antenna is used because of its center loaded high Q. The bug-catcher is attached using a stainless steel set screw. The first four threads have been removed to allow centering the set screw into the threads. The tap connection to the bug-catcher uses a female spade and a pinch clip that has been modified. To change the band one just pulls off the spade connector and slides it on the appropriate band connection. On frequencies above 20m the impedance is close to 50 ohms. No matching is required. For frequencies 20m and below, matching is required to improve the bandwidth and allow the rig to put out rated output. To improve the ease of changing bands a plug in capacitor is used on the base load.

Adjustment

Start with 10m. The whip and the coil shorted out was either equal to or shorter than required. To operate on 75m using the 3" coil the whip needs to be longer or more inductance is required of the coil.

An Autec antenna analyzer was used to determine the resonance and appropriate loading capacitance.

Contest Connection
by... Keith Dutson - WD5DXL

Field Day's Over

Field Day 1998 was a banner event for NARS. Mike K5NZ reports we scored the second highest number of QSOs in recorded history.

On Saturday morning I tuned up W5SB’s TS940 on 20 meters into the Mosley TA-33 to get a little practice before the start. The first contact was with a station in Ohio using a dipole at 30 feet. He registered S3 on my meter and reported back S9 on his. This sounded pretty good to me, so I signed with him feeling we had a decent antenna setup. A few seconds later I got a call from a South Carolina station asking for a report. I gave him S2 and he gave me 10 over S9. Hmmm, is there more to this than I was thinking? He was using one of those Alpha Delta field verticals like the one reviewed recently in QST or CQ. It is a vertical element with three radials that lay on the ground. I mentioned this to Bill Gary K8CSG and he reminded me of the steady, reliable service he has experienced with his TA-33 Classic. This was a harbinger of what was to follow.

When I announced to W5SB that I was going home to eat lunch, and would be back later for my two-hour time slot following his leadoff position, he said he would have 200 Q’s to pass to me. I responded that I would try to return the favor to the next operator.

Leaving home after lunch later than expected, I found myself rushing back to Fritsche Park. Fortunately, traffic was light and I arrived with 15 minutes to spare. At the changeover Bill had logged an incredible 256 QSOs. As the operation proceeded, it seemed there were thousands of calls piled on top of each other after each QRZ. This was a totally new experience for me. At one point a gust of wind blew over the cup of lemonade that had been strategically placed on the table for a quick sip between Q’s. As the table was tilted slightly down, I suddenly found myself standing, brushing liquid from my lap, asking for a towel and continuing to operate.

Two hours of this led to mental exhaustion. The first hour yielded 119 contacts, but the final count for the slot was 201. So, even though this is my highest rate ever, it could have been even higher. Still, there remains a deep feeling of satisfaction. Several days later, at the Board meeting, this feeling was prevalent from all those who attended / operated during this landmark event.

Feature Article
by... H. O. Townsend - WA5MLT

NA55AU - Interplanetary DX
It's Possible with the Right Antenna

Once in a lifetime does a real died in the wool DX'er expect to meet just one of the great ones, but two? It's like the biggest asteroid ever crashing your G5RV (thanks to my friend of many years, G5RV - Louis Varney). But such was the case recently for Anita - KD5EIP and I as we sailed the Caribbean just west of the Bermuda Triangle in C6 land.

Before departing, I had contacted Jack - WA8GHZ about an alien license for the area, but I decided that with the typical length required to obtain same, it was probably too late and not worth a handful of 2m/70cm contacts. Instead, we wore our Yaesu gimme caps hoping to weasel a tour of the radio room or at least meet another ham type person or fellow alien.

After what seemed weeks on board the ship, pacing the ship's walking deck, and visiting the fruity-drink watering station, we docked. Little did we know everything was about to turn completely around.

As we departed the ship and boarded the Benz touring bus whose air conditioner was non-existent in the 115-degree heat of the C'bean, we were off. Not far over the Cay just beyond the lighthouse and around the spit, there it stood, the world's only all weather, all band, all frequency, all mode, and all RFI antennae. See attached photo.

Our minds instantly flashed back some twenty years ago when I caught a glimpse of the famed Q. R. Zedd working a group 120Hz-VLF bicycle mobiles in downtown Hong Kong from high atop the Liberty Bank building in Oklahoma City. Keep peddling Dewey - KC5UCI. At the time, Zedd's feats were reported numerous times by Jack Bickham - KU5B sk. The feats of Zedd were challenged at every turn by the somewhat equally famed "Bill Blast," who lived just a hoot-an-a-holler south of town. In those days, these two DX'ers invented Digital Signal Processing "DSP" later picked up by the rice-rocket manufactures of ham gear. Of course the integrated circuits had to be carried around in common grocery carts with long leads attached.

But we could hardly take our eyes off the Matterhorn of DX antenna. Again, see photo. It was what Wilson, Mosley, Hy-Gain, Butternut, KLM, Cushcraft, Hustler, Outbacker, Comet, Diamond, and Larsen could never do, build a true eggbeater, a butterfly-beam with isotropic-radiator characteristics in the shape of a pair of well tuned TV rabbit ears with foil. The kind of rabbit ears Steve - KD5AIJ's neighbor uses. It had a 300 ohm feed point and sported a series of looped dipole elements phased in every conceivable direction, at once! It was quadruply polarized in W, X, Y, and Z planes. It was even coated with that famous Radio Shack "gold anodized" glarp perfect for all weather Caribbean DXing. It was a true alien antenna.

As Anita contacted local authorities to splint my neck after looking straight up for 45 non-blinking minutes, I realized this thing must be connected to a radio, somewhere? We carefully followed the 2-inch thick-wall nitrogen-charged wave-guide down the mast and rounded the bulwark to a small room just off the dentist salon where Larry - WA5SAJ recently underwent a painless, non-RF induced, low frequency root canal. To see the operating position of Ted - NA55AU was without a doubt a thrill. To be in his presence was almost more than we could handle.

With eyes as big as a pair of freshly lit, filament glowing 3-500Zs, she and I could see a fuzzy silhouette of one of the great DX’ers of all time cast across the face of an ARRL DX map. The map, of course, was pitted at every latitude and longitude with fruity-drink umbrella pinholes indicating countries worked. The latest pinholes included BY and 3B7. In addition, every award known to hamdom was carefully displayed in new specially designed WalMart frames. We saw a plaque that read LSS - "Licensed Since Sparkgap," and plaques for WAS, DXCC, 5BDXCC, 5BWAZ-QRP (a 'ZTY and 'NZ thing), 7BWAS, 6BWAC, WAC- QRP, IOTA (Islands On the Asteroids), VUCC-2m, VUCC-6m, WAE-#2 (Worked All Everything), ROWH, and 10-X International membership certificates.

Sensing that a pair of feller 5-landers had entered the near great Interplanetary DX shack, NA55AU spun the double-overdrive LazyBoy around never missing a swipe of the Benchers or tug on the foot switch. As my mouth stuttered for human words, I asked about Houston Interplanetary QRO DX. A sheepish grin came across his face as he directed us to K8CSG's QTH. Leaving the shack with our Yaesu caps turned backwards for close up HF work, he confirmed Q's for both Steve - KD5AIJ and Michael - KM5LA. He said, these boys 'll have DXCC wrapped up by mid-August.

Our brush with the great one included a captivating pass through the walk-in linear (surplus equipment from WOAI clear-channel 1200, San Antonio). The message was clear. Interplanetary DX is possible with the right antenna, a competitive station, and a no non-sense vanity callsign. Good DX to all.

Feature Article
by... Jerry Whiting - KB5VGD

Thank You from Honduras

Thank you so much for your generous donation. The CB radio you gave has been a great blessing to us here in Honduras.

Amazingly the CB frequencies are crystal clear here. Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere so there aren’t many people who can afford one. Our biggest interference comes from truckers in the US occasionally! This serves as an alarm for me; when the truckers come in, I know 10 meters is open too!

We are using the radios to set up communications among the missionaries here, and between us and a few people in very remote locations near our home. For example we have friends who run a remote medical clinic three hours away by car over bad roads and up very steep mountain passes. The clinic is only five miles away as the crow flies and is located about 2,000 feet higher than us (we are at 3,000 feet). We are pretty sure that with a good antenna we will have dependable communications.

In a few weeks – end of May – I will go up to set up the radio and antenna for them – before the rainy season starts. Once the rains start the roads are impassible.

I work here in Guaimaca as a missionary. I am originally from the Tomball area but moved here two years ago to work as a Baptist missionary. Aside from evangelism efforts I also tend to the basic medical needs of local villagers. I serve as the village health care worker for two villages in the mountains near our home. [Most treatments are for] infections, machete wounds, Dengue fever (a type of illness similar to Malaria) and Malaria.

Even though I am a Baptist minister too, our mission does not have a doctrinal agenda here. We’re just trying to help out some very poor people as they try to improve the quality of their lives.

I took the liberty of putting you on our mailing list so that you can hear more about what we’re doing and how things are going.

Please excuse the tardiness of this thank you Jerry. I was sidetracked by a forest fire near our home… no fire department here, or phones etc.

I sincerely appreciate your gift. We thank God daily for friends like you who have given so generously to our efforts. Thanks Jerry!

Hope to talk to you some time on HF. I talk with my friend Steve Niles KD5AIJ on 28.430 @ 2400 UTC (daily or as often as we are both free). And 14.335 @ 0200 UTC.

Thanks again Jerry. May God richly bless you.

Mike Felcyn KC5HEI

Feature Article
by... Keith Dutson - WD5DXL

Public Service Events
Your radio skills are needed

SIRE 6th annual Ride-A-Thon, Saturday, October 17
Contact: Keith Dutson, 281-351-7683

Here’s a chance to take part in an event that NARS members have supported with radio communications since Saddle Up For SIRE started six years ago. With reasonable weather, it is always fun and requires only a 2 meter HT, fresh batteries and a few hours time. Volunteers are stationed along a ten mile trail near Montgomery where participants ride horses to raise money for SIRE, Self-Improvement Through Riding Education, the charity dedicated to the rehabilitation of children and adults with disabilities. For more information, call Keith Dutson.

Webelos

On Monday, June 1st, Bill Gary K8CSG, Allen Majeski WA5REJ, Bob Argo KC5JZO and Mark Tyler K5GQ provided amateur radio demonstration at the Webelos Day and Evening camp at the Cypress Fairbanks indoor rodeo arena. Over 300 hundred scouts participated in the communication demonstration. A HF and VHF station was set up. The NARS 146.66MHz repeater was also used.

Feature Article
by... Bill Gary - K8CSG

Winner

A few weeks ago the Icom display trailer made a stop at Houston Amateur Radio Supply. Those who visited it will recall the broad range of radios displayed inside. Some may remember the "guest book"; of those who signed, one of NARS' new DXers was guilty. It has just been learned that Loyd Overcash (KM5OE) became the lucky winner of one of the four radios given away during the nationwide Icom odyssey. Congratulations, Loyd! Someone must always win, eh wot?

Feature Article
by... Keith Dutson - WD5DXL

Perfect Weather Adds To Ham-Com'98's Success
Over 4,500 Attend West Gulf Convention in Arlington, TX

What a way to spend the weekend enjoying ham radio activities! Picture perfect weather provided the ideal setting for the 1998 edition of the Ham-Com'98/ARRL West Gulf Division Convention in Arlington Texas. The flea markets were an enormous success both inside and out with additional tables added to the inside area to accommodate the last minute rush (425 tables total). Outside, the DARC 'tailgate' section was bigger and better.

The weather was so nice that attendees spread all over the Arlington Convention Center property, which gave everyone, room for their favorite activity. About 60 different commercial concerns were present, several for the first time to show their products to the Ham-Com crowd both in the flea market area and the 'Exhibit Hall' section. Programs from Digital Techniques to 'Boat Anchor' Forums provided a busy Saturday schedule while Sunday the Annual Sky-Warn School put on by the NWS was full as usual.

We say 'Thank You Volunteers' to all those who donated their time and effort to populate the unpaid staff and management which plans and operates Ham-Com conventions. Bigger and better is the plan for 1999 with the date moving to the second weekend in June (June 11, 12, 13, 1999). Start your planning today for Ham-Com'99.

Contact: Tom Gentry K5VOU Ham-Com, Inc. chairman@hamcom.org

Ham-Com, Inc. - PO Box 861829 - Plano, TX 75086-1829

VE Session Results
by... Bill Gary - K8CSG

Because of Field Day, there was no VE session during June.

Board of Director's Meeting
by... Bob Argo - KC5JZO - Secretary

NARS Board of Directors Meeting - June 30, 1998

Treasurer's Report - Checkbook balance on 5/31/98 was 5318.83.

Programs - August – Jim Kirk KJ5X, Dayton '98 slide show.

TQP - Preliminary report of about 40-45 members participated and made almost 6000 Q’s. It was a resounding success.

Field Day - Preliminary report was about 4400 Q's (1300 more than last year) by about 40 operators and loggers. Outstanding results from Bill W5SB and OJ K1OJ 's leadership and participation of members.

Webelos- Over 600 Cub scouts were introduced to Amateur Radio at the Day Camp events on June 1st.

Important Dates
by... Keith Dutson - WD5DXL

July '98

NARS Breakfast
Many members meet for an informal breakfast every Saturday at 8:00 am at Victor's Deli and Restaurant. Join us for informal ragchew, conversation, information exchange, and usually a few tall tales. Victor's is located at 4710 FM 1960 West.

Monthly Meeting
Friday, July 17, 1998, 7:30 pm - NARS monthly General Membership meeting, Spring Cypress Presbyterian Church, 6000 Spring-Cypress Road (1.7 miles East of Stubner-Airline) - Eyeball QSO's, 7:00 p.m..

Board Meeting
NARS Board of Directors meeting - Tuesday, July 28, 7:30 PM - NARS Board of Directors meeting, Terra Nova Clubhouse, 5200 Woodville.

VE License Exam Session,
Saturday, July 25, 8:30 AM - Tomball Community Center, S. Cherry & Market streets (just South of Main).

Contests
July 18-19 - North American QSO Party, RTTY
August 1-2 - ARRL UHF Contest
August 15-16 - North American QSO Party, Phone

Notice
NARS membership dues is $20 per year, renewable on anniversary of last year's full payment.

NARS News deadline for articles to appear in NARS Newsletter - The last day of month.