The DX Bulletin 1979-1986 by James D. Cain

At the bottom of this page are downloadable links to all 324 issues of The DX Bulletin (TDXB), written and published from 1979 to 1986 by James D. Cain, K1TN. Page one of Issue 325 is Jim’s farewell message.

Iris Colvin, W6QL and Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, knew the power of the Press. As they travelled the world they stayed in touch with DX newsletters around the world, mailing reports on their DX operations. Because their schedule was so tight they didn’t have time to develop photos and send them along, but Iris wrote clear and concise reports and got them in the mail promptly.

One of those DX newsletters was The DX Bulletin (TDXB), written and published by Jim Cain, K1TN, from his Connecticut home. He published 324 issues from 1979 to 1986, the peak years of the Colvins’ wanderings and the sunspot peak in 1980-81. Scans of those 324 issues are listed below. Unfortunately, they are not electronically searchable, but the researcher can find TDXB issues relevant to a particular topic by narrowing her scope to a month or even a week.

The DX Bulletin also had news and commentary on the ARRL, CQ magazine, DXCC award rules; FCC regulations, HF radio equipment and antennas, world events, and more. Jim practiced “real journalism” whenever he could: “Amateurs Provide Grenada Communications” (Issue 213); and attempted a little humor: “All-Purpose DX News Story” (Issue 174). In 1983 he wrote a few “Tom Swifties” and readers responded with so many of their own that Swifties became almost a weekly column. You can see some of these on page four of Issue 179.

Jim Cain was a working technical writer when he founded TDXB and a working daily newspaper editor when he sold TDXB in 1986. The object to Jim’s right in the photo was quaintly referred to as a “typewriter.”

In 2003 Jim published YASME: The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio Expeditions, a 324-page book commissioned by The YASME Foundation. The complete book is available for free download on this website.

Many thanks to Jim Cain!!

The DX Bulletin | Years and Issues

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1979: Issues 1 –19 | TDXB is Born; Rapid Growth
Issue 1 15 AUG 1979
Issue 2 23 AUG 1979
Issue 3 30 AUG 1979
Issue 4 06 SEP 1979
Issue 5 14 SEP 1979
Issue 6 19 SEP 1979
Issue 7 25 SEP 1979
Issue 8 10 OCT 1979
Issue 9 17 OCT 1979
Issue 10 24 OCT 1979
Issue 11 ISSUE 11 NOT PUBLISHED
Issue 12 07 NOV 1979
Issue 13 14 NOV 1979
Issue 14 21 NOV 1979
Issue 15 28 NOV 1979
Issue 16 05 DEC 1979
Issue 17 12 DEC 1979
Issue 18 19 DEC 1979
Issue 19 25 DEC 1979
1980: Issues 20-70 | Colvins in Mediterranean
Issue 20 02 JAN 1980
Issue 21 09 JAN 1980
Issue 22 16 JAN 1980
Issue 23 28 JAN 1980
Issue 24 04 FEB 1980
Issue 25 11 FEB 1980
Issue 26 18 FEB 1980
Issue 27 25 FEB 1980
Issue 28 06 MAR 1980
Issue 29 10 MAR 1980
Issue 30 17 MAR 1980
Issue 31 27 MAR 1980
Issue 32 03 APR 1980
Issue 33 10 APR 1980
Issue 34 17 APR 1980
Issue 35 24 APR 1980
Issue 36 02 MAY 1980
Issue 37 09 MAY 1980
Issue 38 16 MAY 1980
Issue 39 23 MAY 1980
Issue 40 02 JUN 1980
Issue 41 09 JUN 1980
Issue 42 16 JUN 1980
Issue 43 23 JUN 1980
Issue 44 30 JUN 1980
Issue 45 07 JUL 1980
Issue 46 14 JUL 1980
Issue 47 21 JUL 1980
Issue 48 28 JUL 1980
Issue 49 04 AUG 1980
Issue 50 11 AUG 1980
Issue 51 18 AUG 1980
Issue 52 25 AUG 1980
Issue 53 02 SEP 1980
Issue 54 08 SEP 1980
Issue 55 15 SEP 1980
Issue 56 22 SEP 1980
Issue 57 29 SEP 1980
Issue 58 06 OCT 1980
Issue 59 13 OCT 1980
Issue 60 20 OCT 1980
Issue 61 27 OCT 1980
Issue 62 03 NOV 1980
Issue 63 10 NOV 1980
Issue 64 17 NOV 1980
Issue 65 24 NOV 1980
Issue 66 01 DEC 1980
Issue 67 08 DEC 1980
Issue 68 15 DEC 1980
Issue 69 22 DEC 1980
Issue 70 29 DEC 1980
1981: Issues 71-122 | Colvins in Caribbean
Issue 71 05 JAN 1981
Issue 72 12 JAN 1981
Issue 73 19 JAN 1981
Issue 74 26 JAN 1981
Issue 75 02 FEB 1981
Issue 76 09 FEB 1981
Issue 77 16 FEB 1981
Issue 78 23 FEB 1981
Issue 79 01 MAR 1981
Issue 80 09 MAR 1981
Issue 81 16 MAR 1981
Issue 82 23 MAR 1981
Issue 83 28 MAR 1981
Issue 84 04 APR 1981
Issue 85 11 APR 1981
Issue 86 18 APR 1981
Issue 87 25 APR 1981
Issue 88 02 MAY 1981
Issue 89 09 MAY 1981
Issue 90 16 MAY 1981
Issue 91 23 MAY 1981
Issue 92 30 MAY 1981
Issue 93 06 JUN 1981
Issue 94 13 JUN 1981
Issue 95 20 JUN 1981
Issue 96 27 JUN 1981
Issue 97 04 JUL 1981
Issue 98 11 JUL 1981
Issue 99 18 JUL 1981
Issue 100 25 JUL 1981
Issue 101 01 AUG 1981
Issue 102 08 AUG 1981
Issue 103 15 AUG 1981
Issue 104 22 AUG 1981
Issue 105 29 AUG 1981
Issue 106 05 SEP 1981
Issue 107 12 SEP 1981
Issue 108 19 SEP 1981
Issue 109 26 SEP 1981
Issue 110 03 OCT 1981
Issue 111 10 OCT 1981
Issue 112 17 OCT 1981
Issue 113 24 OCT 1981
Issue 114 31 OCT 1981
Issue 115 07 NOV 1981
Issue 116 14 NOV 1981
Issue 117 23 NOV 1981
Issue 118 30 NOV 1981
Issue 119 07 DEC 1981
Issue 120 14 DEC 1981
Issue 121 21 DEC 1981
Issue 122 28 DEC 1981
1982: Issues 123–171 | Colvins in Africa, Mid-East
Issue 123 04 JAN 1982
Issue 124 11 JAN 1982
Issue 125 18 JAN 1982
Issue 126 25 JAN 1982
Issue 127 01 FEB 1982
Issue 128 08 FEB 1982
Issue 129 15 FEB 1982
Issue 130 22 FEB 1982
Issue 131 01 MAR 1982
Issue 132 08 MAR 1982
Issue 133 15 MAR 1982
Issue 134 22 MAR 1982
Issue 135 29 MAR 1982
Issue 136 05 APR 1982
Issue 137 12 APR 1982
Issue 138 19 APR 1982
Issue 139 01 MAY 1982
Issue 140 10 MAY 1982
Issue 141 17 MAY 1982
Issue 142 24 MAY 1982
Issue 143 31 MAY 1982
Issue 144 07 JUN 1982
Issue 145 14 JUN 1982
Issue 146 21 JUN 1982
Issue 147 28 JUN 1982
Issue 148 05 JUL 1982
Issue 149 12 JUL 1982
Issue 150 19 JUL 1982
Issue 151 26 JUL 1982
Issue 152 02 AUG 1982
Issue 153 09 AUG 1982
Issue 154 16 AUG 1982
Issue 155 23 AUG 1982
Issue 156 30 AUG 1982
Issue 157 06 SEP 1982
Issue 158 13 SEP 1982
Issue 159 20 SEP 1982
Issue 160 27 SEP 1982
Issue 161 11 OCT 1982
Issue 162 18 OCT 1982
Issue 163 25 OCT 1982
Issue 164 01 NOV 1982
Issue 165 08 NOV 1982
Issue 166 15 NOV 1982
Issue 167 22 NOV 1982
Issue 168 29 NOV 1982
Issue 169 06 DEC 1982
Issue 170 13 DEC 1982
Issue 171 21 DEC 1982
1983: Issues 172-219 | Colvins in South America
Issue 172 03 JAN 1983
Issue 173 10 JAN 1983
Issue 174 17 JAN 1983
Issue 175 24 JAN 1983
Issue 176 31 JAN 1983
Issue 177 07 FEB 1983
Issue 178 14 FEB 1983
Issue 179 21 FEB 1983
Issue 180 01 MAR 1983
Issue 181 08 MAR 1983
Issue 182 14 MAR 1983
Issue 183 28 MAR 1983
Issue 184 04 APR 1983
Issue 185 11 APR 1983
Issue 186 18 APR 1983
Issue 187 25 APR 1983
Issue 188 02 MAY 1983
Issue 189 09 MAY 1983
Issue 190 16 MAY 1983
Issue 191 23 MAY 1983
Issue 192 30 MAY 1983
Issue 193 06 JUN 1983
Issue 194 13 JUN 1983
Issue 195 20 JUN 1983
Issue 196 27 JUN 1983
Issue 197 04 JUL 1983
Issue 198 11 JUL 1983
Issue 199 18 JUL 1983
Issue 200 25 JUL 1983
Issue 201 01 AUG 1983
Issue 202 08 AUG 1983
Issue 203 22 AUG 1983
Issue 204 30 AUG 1983
Issue 205 06 SEP 1983
Issue 206 12 SEP 1983
Issue 207 19 SEP 1983
Issue 208 26 SEP 1983
Issue 209 03 OCT 1983
Issue 210 10 OCT 1983
Issue 211 14 OCT 1983
Issue 212 24 OCT 1983
Issue 213 31 OCT 1983
Issue 214 07 NOV 1983
Issue 215 14 NOV 1983
Issue 216 28 NOV 1983
Issue 217 05 DEC 1983
Issue 218 12 DEC 1983
Issue 219 19 DEC 1983
1984: Issues 220-269 | Back to South America
Issue 220 02 JAN 1984
Issue 221 10 JAN 1984
Issue 222 16 JAN 1984
Issue 223 23 JAN 1984
Issue 224 30 JAN 1984
Issue 225 06 FEB 1984
Issue 226 13 FEB 1984
Issue 227 20 FEB 1984
Issue 228 27 FEB 1984
Issue 229 12 MAR 1984
Issue 230 19 MAR 1984
Issue 231 26 MAR 1984
Issue 232 02 APR 1984
Issue 233 09 APR 1984
Issue 234 16 APR 1984
Issue 235 23 APR 1984
Issue 236 30 APR 1984
Issue 237 07 MAY 1984
Issue 238 14 MAY 1984
Issue 239 21 MAY 1984
Issue 240 28 MAY 1984
Issue 241 04 JUN 1984
Issue 242 11 JUN 1984
Issue 243 18 JUN 1984
Issue 244 25 JUN 1984
Issue 245 02 JUL 1984
Issue 246 09 JUL 1984
Issue 247 16 JUL 1984
Issue 248 30 JUL 1984
Issue 249 06 AUG 1984
Issue 250 13 AUG 1984
Issue 251 20 AUG 1984
Issue 252 27 AUG 1984
Issue 253 03 SEP 1984
Issue 254 10 SEP 1984
Issue 255 17 SEP 1984
Issue 256 24 SEP 1984
Issue 257 30 SEP 1984
Issue 258 08 OCT 1984
Issue 259 15 OCT 1984
Issue 260 22 OCT 1984
Issue 261 29 OCT 1984
Issue 262 07 NOV 1984
Issue 263 14 NOV 1984
Issue 264 21 NOV 1984
Issue 265 28 NOV 1984
Issue 266 05 DEC 1984
Issue 267 12 DEC 1984
Issue 268 19 DEC 1984
Issue 269 26 DEC 1984
1985: Issues 270-316 | Yasme Business, then to Africa
Issue 270 09 JAN 1985
Issue 271 18 JAN 1985
Issue 272 25 JAN 1985
Issue 273 01 FEB 1985
Issue 274 08 FEB 1985
Issue 275 15 FEB 1985
Issue 276 22 FEB 1985
Issue 277 01 MAR 1985
Issue 278 08 MAR 1985
Issue 279 15 MAR 1985
Issue 280 22 MAR 1985
Issue 281 29 MAR 1985
Issue 282 05 APR 1985
Issue 283 12 APR 1985
Issue 284 19 APR 1985
Issue 285 03 MAY 1985
Issue 286 10 MAY 1985
Issue 287 14 MAY 1985
Issue 288 24 MAY 1985
Issue 289 31 MAY 1985
Issue 290 14 JUN 1985
Issue 291 21 JUN 1985
Issue 292 28 JUN 1985
Issue 293 05 JUL 1985
Issue 294 12 JUL 1985
Issue 295 19 JUL 1985
Issue 296 26 JUL 1985
Issue 297 02 AUG 1985
Issue 298 09 AUG 1985
Issue 299 16 AUG 1985
Issue 300 23 AUG 1985
Issue 301 30 AUG 1985
Issue 302 06 SEP 1985
Issue 303 13 SEP 1985
Issue 304 20 SEP 1985
Issue 305 27 SEP 1985
Issue 306 11 OCT 1985
Issue 307 25 OCT 1985
Issue 308 01 NOV 1985
Issue 309 08 NOV 1985
Issue 310 15 NOV 1985
Issue 311 22 NOV 1985
Issue 312 29 NOV 1985
Issue 313 06 DEC 1985
Issue 314 13 DEC 1985
Issue 315 20 DEC 1985
Issue 316 27 DEC 1985
1986: Issues 317-325 | Colvins in Africa
Issue 317-318 10 JAN 1986
Issue 319 17 JAN 1986
Issue 320 24 JAN 1986
Issue 321 31 JAN 1986
Issue 322 07 FEB 1986
Issue 323 14 FEB 1986
Issue 324 21 FEB 1986
Issue 325 28 FEB 1986