The Dayton Hamvention--the largest in the world--kicks off the summer hamfest season next week as 30,000-plus hams converge on Hara Arena and environs. Here's a puzzle that should tickle the fancy of the grizzled veteran and rookie alike. You can work on it while you're waiting to get in!

Ward Silver, N0AX, (aka The Gleaner of Garage Sale Goodies) is the author--among numerous other things--of the Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler, which appears twice a month on the ARRL Web site. He can be reached by e-mail at n0ax@arrl.net or by surface mail at Aetherworks Publishing, 22916 107th Ave NW, Vashon, WA, 98070.

Across

1. Hams chew it
3. Type of FT1000
5. A lot of cars
10. Holds small parts
11. Sellers need these
13. Spanish prefix
14. Commercial message (abbr.)
15. Symbol for Titanium
16. The alternative
17. Worst kind of hamfest weather
21. Local prosecutor (abbr.)
22. Going (CW abbr.)
23. Presents a program
26. Its age is its attraction
29. Macintosh model
30. Buy extra to get this
34. Same as five for a quarter
36. Three Greek letters move the boat
37. The head topper
38. Works fine
39. State of the Hamvention
43. Equal
45. Sells chances to win
48. Taken from a container
49. Type of FET
50. Complement to AND
51. Nickname of the Ham of the Year
54. Wire thickness (abbr.)
55. Radio fleamarket
58. A change in the wiring
61. If it's all gone, you're too ....
62. Prefix meaning reverse or not
63. Bound volume
64. Person who starts an organization

Down

1. New England state (abbr.)
2. Prefix meaning opposite
3. Wet dirt
4. Prefix of largest South American nation
5. What is won
6. Stand by (CW prosign)
7. Built from parts
8. Often confused with want
9. Where the extra stuff goes
10. A good deal
11. Opening for system components
12. Phoned home
16. Hardwood for cabinets
18. Again (CW abbr.)
19. Bad letter from FCC (abbr.)
20. Pre-owned
24. Old radios are boat-.......
25. Email abbreviation for colleges
27. Buy these to get in
28. A line
29. Delay
31. Sorry (CW abbr.)
32. Official Observer (abbr.)
33. Another New England state (abbr.)
35. Input Output (abbr.)
40. Take purchases back here
41. Flying saucer
42. Group discussion of a topic
44. Opposite of 50 Across
46. An acquaintance
47. Who must beware
51. The "in" frequency
52. Slang for food
53. Phone mode on a Globe King
56. Time past
57. Enjoyment
59. Old Boy (CW abbr.)
60. Act