FROM ISSUE 170 17-Jun-94          SHOW/GO
                                    (c)
                         a column written by W6GO

                    This is the LAST newsprint edition!

Last month  I told  you about  our intent  to either  sell our  business or
downsize it  so Jan  and I can continue to perform a service for you.  This
is because  family and health matters are demanding more of our time and we
must cut  back to  keep our heads above water.  Last month there were three
folks  with   PacketCluster  SYSOP  backgrounds  that  were  interested  in
purchasing our  business outright.  All three were seriously interested but
have declined.  So, we will proceed to downsize.  Here's how it will work.

We publish  four monthly  "editions".   "GOQSL", installed on PacketCluster
nodes,  provided   lookups  for  2673  people  last  month  (we  have  1212
subscribers who  use PacketCluster).   "GOLIST"  is available in the floppy
disk edition  via mail  and in  the telephone  modem download edition.  The
fourth edition  is newsprint,  still in  the same  format as  when we began
publishing in March 1980.  $10/yr from each of these subscriptions pays for
our data gathering and distribution.  Many of our subscribers are "GO-LITE"
only, which  for $10/yr  supports our  process.  GO-LITE subscribers access
our data electronically either on PacketCluster or via DX-BBS.

This is  our last  monthly issue with a newsprint edition.  The DX Magazine
will include  a W6GO/K6HHD  QSL Manager List section which will replace our
newsprint edition.   If  you are  a newsprint  subscriber, you  will  begin
receiving The DX Magazine unless you tell us otherwise (see below).  The DX
Magazine you  receive about  September first  will include next month's QSL
Manager data.  Each DX Magazine will contain the most recent 1000 or so QSL
routes in  it's W6GO/K6HHD  QSL Manager  list section.   The  DX  Magazine,
published by Chod Harris, VP2ML,  also contains much more information about
DXing in general, and we are sure that you will enjoy it.

As $10/yr  of your subscription is the "GO-LITE" part, you will continue as
GO-LITE subscribers and will be identified as such when you type SH/GO SUBS
on your  PacketCluster node.   Hopefully you will see fit to renew your GO-
LITE  subscription   ($10/yr)  in  the  future.    The  remainder  of  your
subscription will  be fulfilled  with copies  of The  DX Magazine.   The DX
Magazine is  published every  other month.   If  your subscription  with us
ends, for  instance, in  March 1995,  then your  subscription with  The  DX
Magazine will  end with  the March-April  1995 issue.  If you already are a
subscriber to  The DX  Magazine, your  subscription will  be  extended  the
number  of   months  remaining   on  your   W6GO/K6HHD  QSL   Manager  list
subscription.

There are other options you should consider.  If you have an IBM compatible
computer, you  may change  your subscription  over to  GOLIST.   GOLIST  is
provided on  3.5" disk  (5.25" HD  on  special  order).    GOLIST  contains
everything in  the current issue PLUS routes from our archives, over 20,000
lookups!   Jan's and  my columns  are included  (plus past columns for many
years).  A quarterly subscription (US) is regularly $32/yr.  If you tell us
"Change me  to disk", we will send you the current disk and one every three
months until when your newsprint subscription would end.  If your remaining
subscription isn't a multiple of three months, we will extend it so that it
is.   If you  select this  option, let us know right away by phone, fax, or
mail. If  this doesn't  work out  for you,  you have  until August first to
cancel the change to disk.

Another option  is a  change to  DX-BBS.   This is really the fastest, most
cost effective  way to  obtain GOLIST.   A DX-BBS subscription is regularly
$30/yr, and  you can  download GOLIST  every month.   Use  your 9600 bps or
faster modem to connect to DX-BBS at 916 992-0923.  Send a comment to SYSOP
(that's me)  by typing  C at a menu prompt.  Tell me "Change me to DX-BBS".
You will  get a "bonus month" if you select this option.  Note: XModem file
transfers are  not acceptable as they are slow and unreliable; you must use
ZModem or  YModem-G.   If this  doesn't work  out for  you, you  have until
August first to cancel the change to DX-BBS.

Call if  you have  requirements not detailed above, and we will try to work
with you  to fit your needs.  If none of these options seem satisfactory to
you, send  us a S.A.S.E and a request by August 1, 1994, and we will refund
the unused portion of your subscription.

Some have  commented, wistfully,  "an end  of an  era".   I would prefer to
believe that this is the beginning of an era.  An electronic era.  Computer
lookups are faster and easier than newsprint.  Once you look up a callsign,
you have  all of  the data.  You don't have to refer to back issues or "key
issues".

Many of you loyal subscribers have continued your newsprint subscription to
show your support, even though now you look everything up on PacketCluster.
For the  same price  ($10 for  GO-LITE, $15  for The  DX Magazine)  you can
continue to  support us  AND get  very useful  information on  other  DXing
subjects.   Thanks to  all for  your support  over the  years.   We plan to
continue to provide the information you need, in a format you can use.

                                 Jay, W6GO
                                     
    916 991-7263 (voice, after noon Eastern time)   916 991-1000 (fax)
                  916 992-0923 (DX-BBS, 14400/9600 8-N-1)
       PacketCluster is a registered trademark of Pavillion Software
                        SHOW/GO Copyright (c) 1994

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