To: All NA Users
From: Dave Pruett, K8CC
In the near future, there are going to be changes in the way
the NA Contest Logging Program is marketed, distributed and
supported. I would like to take this opportunity to share
with you what is going on with the NA program and some exciting
developments to come.
Virtually every NA user has dealt at some time with LTA (the
sole source for NA) and it's proprietor, Tim Duffy, K3LR. The
past few years have seen significant changes for Tim in his
personal life which have placed additional demands on his time.
With regret, Tim has informed me that he can no longer devote
sufficient time to keep LTA going so he intends to cease
operations in the near future. LTA will not have a booth at the
1997 Dayton Hamvention.
Therefore, as of May 15, 1997, LTA will no longer be providing
marketing, distribution, or user support for the NA Contest
Logging Program.
A new era for NA begins on May 16, 1997, a date that
conveniently coincides with the first day of the 1997 Dayton
Hamvention. As of that date, retail marketing and distribution
for NA will be through the Radio Bookstore. Craig Clark, W1JCC,
President, is the former assistant publisher of the late (but
not forgotten) HAM RADIO magazine, a former ARRL and CQ staffer,
and an active low-band DXer.
Radio Bookstore has been in business for over twenty years
providing books, software, and publications for all kinds of
amateur, SWL, and CB radio operators. They are open throughout
the normal business day and can receive orders by voice 800
number, fax, or e-mail. They can accept credit cards, and offer
same day shipping. Their address:
Radio Bookstore
P. O. Box 209
Rindge, NH 03461 USA
800 457-7373 order line
603 899-6957
603 899-6826 fax
e-mail: nx1g@monad.net
www.radiobooks.com
While Radio Bookstore will provide a retail source for new NA
programs and upgrades, user support and upgrade maintenence will
be taken over by DATOM Engineering. Some of you may have seen
the DATOM name on certain hardware products sold by LTA - the
Remote Band Controller for Icom radios and the Universal
Interface for CW keying and external voicekeyer control. DATOM
Engineering is NA program author Dave Pruett, K8CC and his
brother Tom Pruett, WB8VMN, who is the author of the Contest
Voice Blaster program (CVB).
For user support, DATOM has already established an easy to
remember e-mail address for NA and CVB questions:
DATOM@contesting.com
By Dayton we expect to have an Internet WWW site on-line,
initially with a catalog of DATOM products, ordering information
with links to the Radio Bookstore WWW page, and program support
information. By early June we expect to be able to offer
Internet downloads of NA and CVB upgrades, and also a
subscription service where users can automatically receive via
e-mail each new program version as its released. DATOM will
also continue to be active on the NA-USER Internet Reflector.
For users without Internet access, the NA USER HELPLINE will be
moved to DATOM and be supported on a one day per week basis.
The HELP LINE will be manned at (313) 481-0696 on Wednesday
evenings ONLY from 9-11 PM. At other times, the HELP LINE will
forward into phone mail, and we will return calls from
registered NA users.
K3LR has agreed to keep the LTA BBS on-line until the end of
December 1997. Once the DATOM Web site is set up for NA program
downloads, all current registered NA10 users will be granted
priviledges for a period of time up to a date twelve months from
their last NA purchase, or September 1, 1997, whichever is later.
Twelve month extentions available for $10. NA9 support will be
phased out at the end of 1997 - prior to that time, registered
NA9 users may still upgrade to a full package of the latest NA10
available from RBS at the reduced upgrade price.
Those of us involved with the NA Contest Logging Program believe
wholeheartedly that these changes will significantly improve the
convenience and quality of service available to most NA users.
We would like to thank Tim Duffy and LTA for seven years of
service to the NA user community and we wish them well in the
future.
Those of you coming to the 1997 Dayton Hamvention will find both
NA and CVB available for sale at the Radio Bookstore exhibit at
booth 68-69 in the main arena.
73,
Dave Pruett, K8CC
DATOM@contesting.com
P.S.: All registered NA9 and NA10 users will receive a hard copy of
this announcement in the mail in a few days. Folks on the
NA-USER reflector get the news first.
--
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