>> The Future of Radio Amateur in Thailand <<
by Mr Kanchit Chamornman, HS1JC 
Presented in SEANET Convention 2004 , 21 Nov 2004

>> History of HAM in Thailand
     1963 - RAST was established 
     PTD (Post and Telegraph Department)
     1963 -1981 Didn't have license yet
     1981 - PTD set up Volunteer Radio activities
      - There are a few hundreds of HAMs in Thailand
     1981-1987 Operated under strict rules

>> History of HAM in Thailand
      1988 - Radio Amateur was accepted by law
       - There are a few thousands of HAMs in Thailand
      1988 - 2004
       - Now we have 300,000 people pass the exam
       - 200,000 have the call sign
       - But less than thousand working on HF

>> Why?
      It was very hard to pass the exam for general class
       - since 1988, novice need to pass 60% of question that come from question pool
       - There are no question pools for general class 
       - The code exam for general class was hard to pass

>> Why?
      There is no master plan of amateur radio
       - PTD was set up the rule
       - PTD had limited authority (under the pass law)
         We had limited access to radio frequency
      - Only 2m and some of HF

>> What was happened recently?
      - The constitution law of 1997
      - PTD become NTC
      - National Telecommunication Commission 
       (expected in 2000, but it was just finished now)
      - There are 7 commissioners

>> NTC
      - Have full authority to manage all kind of communications in Thailand
        Radio regulation, Internet, Telephone
      - There will be fund for social support
      - 2 0f 7 were also former head of PTD

>> Last phase of PTD (2000-2004)
      Got more knowledge about HAM and also relaxed the rule such as no age limited
      temporary license for some activities such as EME, WARC band contest, echo link
      New band plan that allow digital mode and repeater, limited access for satellite operation

>> Current Status
      - We already have 7 commissioners of NTC
      - NTC will fully working in the year 2005
      - 4 of 7 are HAMs
      - Their officer (former PTD officer) know about our activity

>> The Future
      - RAST committee was met with NTC last week
      - NTC will follow ITU band plan to allow us to get access the radio spectrum
      - NTC will give the authority to the radio amateur organization for managing
        our activity

>> The Future
      We will conduct and process radio amateur examination.
      There will be joint committee between NTC and us for set up the rule and regulation.
      When social fund are set up, we may ask them to support our development and research

>> The Future
      There are a lot of jobs for us to do such as
       - set up the central HAM organization for Thailand
       - Making master plan for development of HAM
       - Restructure of HAM examination in Thailand
       - Design the band plan
       - Recruit new member, upgrade existing member

>> New Activity
      - By the end of this year, I will receive grant from Ministry of ICT to set up
      amateur radio satellite station and demonstrate live QSO to the student
      - If you are interesting to help us, it's show time

>> Help Need
      If you can give us your band plan of your country, may be we can work together 
      in the future to prevent interference at the border and open the window for Dxing.
      Other information related how to manage the central HAM organization is appreciate!

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