History of NCDXA

The National Capitol DX Association (NCDXA) was the outgrowth of a small informal group which in the summer of 1968 was planning a DXpedition to Navassa Island that did not materialize. This group of Washington, D.C. area members promptly grew in number and passed information regarding DX matters via High Frequency and the Telephone. It quickly became apparent that a more efficient and timely method of DX alerting was needed. To support this need, a simplex channel was established on 147.420 KHz with the first use in the summer of 1971.

To document the countries needed by fellow DXers, a central directory list was compiled and circulated. This system was described in the February 1976 issue of CQ Magazine.

With the increasing interest in DXing and the use of the 2 meter band, W3BWZ (now W4NL) proposed that a formal DX Association be established. The first meeting was in August, 1972 at the home of Bill May, W3RX. At that meeting the National Capitol DX Association was formed with 19 charter members1 The following officers were elected; President, James Douglas, W3ZNH (Now W3ZN, SK); Vice President, Peter Huber, WA3KSQ (Now K3ZR); Secretary, Lynn Lamb, W3BWZ (Now W4NL); Treasurer, Dick Price, W3DBT (Now K3RS, SK).

The preamble of the constitution summarizes the purpose of the association and reads;
"The Association shall further the exchange of DX information and
cooperation between members; promote Amateur Radio and DX knowledge, fraternalism and individual operator efficiency."

The Association immediately affiliated with the American Radio Relay League and promptly nominated a member to serve on the ARRL DX Advisory Committee. From that point in tine to the present, the NCDXA has had at least one member on the DX Advisory Committee.

In addition to providing a local organization to bond the sincere Washington, D.C. area DXers together, The NCDXA has sponsored or participated in the following successful activities;

* DX Program at the 1973 ARRL Roanoke Division Convention
* DXPC 74, a tradition is started
* DX Program at the 1975 ARRL National Convention - a very revealing program
* DXPO 78, most successful to date

All of these activities drew DXers from across the U.S., Canada and from around the world.

In 1974 the NCDXA took on the task of operating the W4/K4/N4 QSL Bureau, W4WSF (Now N4MM) served as Bureau Manager until 1978 when W4WWG (Now W4WG) became the Manager. This Bureau processes in excess of 300,000 DX QSL-CARDS each year.

In addition to the DXPO and Convention participation, the NCDXA has contributed funds to Dxpeditions; maintained around-the-clock contacts with Bermuda during the riots on that Island; and transmitted nightly navigation weather information to the Japanese explorer, Naomi Uemura, JG1QFW during his solo dog sled trip to the North Pole.