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Best way (after you have opened account on bitshares.org) I have found is transfer in BTC to 'openBTC' and then use exchange to buy BTS. To transfer in BTC gonto deposit page, choose openledger from drop down menu and then choose openBTC and send to the address it gives on RHS. Sounds complicated but its not once you get used to it. Feels robust!

Thanks so much, I'm off to try it....gotta find my passport, lol! :-)