Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Jun 12 2020 08:05:25 YOUNG WOULD-BE HAM DESIGNS HIS FIRST YAGI JIM/ANCHOR: In Sri Lanka, one radio enthusiast has shown that while he may be too young to get on the air, that's not getting in the way of him building his dream antenna. We hear more from John Williams, VK4JJW. JOHN: He may still be too young to get his ham radio license in Sri Lanka, but for Anuhas Edirisinghe, there's no age restriction on becoming an antenna designer. His proud father, Kamal, 4S7AB, has documented the 6-year-old's creation of his first Yagi antenna, and posted it on YouTube for all the world to see. In it, he explains his project, which he designed for his playhouse roof. He crafted it from plastic tubing, and later added a rotator. To see him in action, follow the link in this week's printed script of Newsline: [FOR PRINT ONLY: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=140&v=VtfKQ3G4jLo&feature=emb_logo] It's not that Anuhas can't get on the air at all: Dad has provided handheld GMRS radios for Kamal, and his sister Ahinsa, who is 8. The two have been practicing good radio manners, and taking their cue from watching their dad logging QSOs. They also accompany him and their mother to amateur radio events, and have been learning CW. Perhaps radio is in their genes: Kamal has been licenced since he was 17, when the minimum licencing age in Sri Lanka was 16. Even with Sri Lanka dropping its age limit to 14 for young hams, the time can't come soon enough for this antenna wizard. Kamal told Newsline in an email: [quote] "He is asking me why the little sisters and brothers like me in other countries get to talk on ham radio, and why I can't." [close quote] Until then, perhaps he'll simply work to perfect his antenna skills -- or design something altogether unique, as unique and clever as Anuhas himself. For Amateur Radio Newsline I'm John Williams VK4JJW. ** HAM EXPO 2020 CANCELLED IN FRANCE JIM/ANCHOR: We have news of one more amateur radio casualty of the pandemic, this time in France. Ed Durrant, DD5LP, has more on this. ED: The organisers of HamExpo 2020 in France have called off the major amateur radio event in LeMans. The French national amateur radio society said the COVID-19 pandemic has made it unwise to proceed on schedule with the October 10th event. Instead, planning has already begun for next year's event at the Le Mans Exhibition Center, which will take place on the 25th of September, 2021. The president of the Association of French Transmitters Network, Jean-Louis Truquet, F5DJL, said in the translation of a public posting: "We hope that you will understand this difficult decision, which is in keeping with our desire to protect the health of our community and yours." For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ed Durrant, DD5LP. ** U.S. SOTA ENTHUSIASTS PROCEED WITH NEW ENGLAND CAMPOUT JIM/ANCHOR: Plans are going forward for one amateur radio activity that's happening on a New England summit. Hams are already making arrangements for their SOTA campout, and activation in New Hampshire's White Mountains. It's happening between July 17th and July 21st, and it's a four-night campout that has been held for the past two years, drawing operators from Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and even South Carolina. The site is the Sugarloaf 2 campground. According to Bob AC1Z, this is an informal gathering with room for RVs, as well as tents. If you're interested in joining them, send an email to Bob at bobac1z dot nh at gmail.com - and don't forget to make your reservations for a campsite. For information about fees or to make reservations, visit the White Mountain National Forest U.S. Forest Service reservations website at recreation.gov (SOTA REFLECTOR) --- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (454:1/33) .