Annual report on activities for the year 2017

 

                             Details

 

         7 January, 2017             RAST, represented by the Thai VE Team, organized the US FCC Amateur Radio Examination 1/2560 in Chiang Rai Province.

 

         12 January, 2017           RAST, represented by HS1FVL and HS1JZT, attended the first meeting conducted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to discuss viewpoints in preparing the draft of the National Communications Master Plan for the five-year period (from 2017 - 2022) at the Miracle Grand Hotel in Bangkok.

 

         15 January, 2017           RAST organized a New Year party and workshop at the Mother's Touch Restaurant (Rahn Meu Mae) in Laksi, Bangkok.

 

         21-22 January, 2017      RAST staged an exhibition at the Bangkok Mini Maker Fair for the second year at The Street Ratchada with a team led by HS1FVL, HS5NMF, HS0KRM, HS1IFU, E20EHQ and E20ZFD.

 

         26 January, 2017           RAST, represented by HS1FVL and HS1JZT, attended the second meeting conducted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to discuss viewpoints of subgroups in preparing the draft of the National Communications Master Plan for the five-year period (from 2017 - 2022) at the Miracle Grand Hotel in Bangkok.       

 

         28 January, 2017           The Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) began to cancel callsigns and recalled callsigns for licences that had expired more than two years ago and thus RAST took action by preparing endorsement certificates to help members whose licences were soon to expire.

 

 

         5 February, 2017           RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of February, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok

 

         5 February, 2017           RAST distributed application forms for candidates to sit the Intermediate Class examination 1/2560 (that were on sale at the meeting).

 

         5 February, 2017           RAST President HS1FVL joined a team from educational institutes chaired by Assoc Prof. Dr. Sutee Aksornkit to study the impact of the utilization of the 50 MHz band.

 

         10 February, 2017         RAST, represented by HS1FVL and HS1JZT, attended a meeting conducted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to discuss viewpoints of the majority in preparing the draft of the National Communications Master Plan for the five-year period (from 2017 - 2022) at the Miracle Grand Hotel in Bangkok.       

 

         18-19 February, 2017    RAST organized the ARDF Championships for the HRH Princess Sirindhorn Trophy in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri Province.

 

         5 March, 2017               RAST conducted its Annual General Meeting for the year 2016 at the Sena Place Hotel in Phya Thai, Bangkok when the QSL Bureau Manager reported that RAST had received 27,458 QSL cards for the year and had sent out 21,200 QSL cards. In addition RAST had facilitated an upgrade from Intermediate Class licences to Advanced Class licences for foreign members who were qualified for this.

 

         11 March, 2017             RAST, with the assistance of the Thai VE Team, organized the US FCC Amateur Radio Examination 2/2560 in Bangkok.

 

         11-12 March, 2017       RAST, with the assistance of E20HHK, conducted a DX expedition from Koh Lipe, IOTA island (AS-126), using the callsign E20HHK/P with the team of operators comprising E20HHK, HS3NBR, HS9HK, HS8JVC and HS9STL.

 

         17 March, 2017             RAST received permission from the NBTC Secretariat for the JAISAT-1 satellite project to conduct tests and to operate a VHF/UHF Linear Transponder.

 

         25-25 March, 2017       The RAST club station HS0AC participated in the CQ WPX SSB Contest for 2017.

 

         30 March, 2017             RAST sent a report of its activities during the year 2016 to the Secretariat of the NBTC in accordance with the NBTC's announcement made in 2014 with regard to the governance of amateur radio. The document reference number was 0011/2560.

 

         2 April, 2017                 RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of April, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok.

 

         7 April, 2017                 RAST sent invigilators to oversee the Novice Class amateur radio examination together with representatives of the Amateur Radio Club of Pathum Thani (HS1AP) at the testing centre at Rajamangala University of Technology at Thanyaburi in Pathum Thani.

 

         18 April, 2017               RAST signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rajapruk University in Nonthaburi to establish the club station HS0AC in a new location.

 

         19 April, 2017                RAST executives attended a meeting with the NBTC.

 

         21 April, 2017               The JAISAT-1 Project Team began testing a new Linear Transponder with balloons in various modes on VHF and UHF frequencies.

 

         22 April, 2017               RAST organized a seminar to prepare candidates for an upcoming Intermediate Class amateur radio examination without any expenditures and the speakers included HS1FVL, E20HHK, E20GJW and E20PFE with the location being at E23NEZ.

 

         26 April, 2017                RAST executives attended a meeting with the NBTC.

 

         28 April, 2017               The NBTC Secretariat approved that amateur radio operators who hold a Thai licence based on a bilateral reciprocal agreement will be able to qualify for a Thai Advanced Class licence and to upgrade by submitting the required documents with certification by RAST.

 

         29-30 April, 2017          RAST organized a seminar and conducted demonstrations of amateur radio communications in the 1st "RAST on The Beach" activity in the province of Rayong.

 

         3 May, 2017                  RAST, with the club station HS0AC/2, and Rajapruk University, joined in testing communications via CubeSat.

 

         4-7 May, 2017              RAST represented by HS1FVL, HS5NMF, HS1IFU, E24MMV and the JAISAT-1 Team jointly participated in an "Intellectual Property Innovation" exhibition at BITEC Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bang Na, Bangkok.

 

         6 May, 2017                  The JAISAT-1 Project Team began testing the Linear Transponder that was installed with balloons on the VHF/UHF bands at a height of 20-30 kilometres above the earth in Suphanburi Province.

 

         7 May, 2017                  RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of May, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok.

 

         8 May, 2017                  RAST representatives HS1FVL and HS2JFW were appointed by the NBTC Secretary to a working group to review the curriculum for amateur radio examinations and to improve the examinations for amateur radio.

 

         13 May, 2017                RAST representatives HS1FVL, HS5NMF and HS1IFU made a presentation about amateur radio at Wat Nong Chok School in Nong Chok, Bangkok.

 

         16 May, 2017                RAST sent a letter to the NBTC Secretariat seeking permission to use the 50 MHz band during the CQ WW VHF Contest for 2017. The request had the reference number: 0023/2560

 

 

         21 May, 2017                RAST, together with the NBTC Secretariat, conducted an Intermediate Class Amateur Radio examination, 1/2560, at Bangkok University's Rangsit Campus.

 

         22 May, 2017                RAST, represented by HS1FVL, together with representatives of the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (MARTS), met with the Director of Radio Communications of the NBTC Secretariat in order to discuss bilateral co-operation regarding amateur radio.

 

         28-30 May, 2017          RAST monitored and coordinated activities on frequencies of 7.060 MHz and 14.225 MHz following earthquakes in Sri Lanka.

 

         30 May, 2017                RAST was authorized by the NBTC to use the callsign E2HQ during the IARU HF Contest for 2017

 

         4 June, 2017                  RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of June, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok.                      

 

         4 June, 2017                  RAST joined with G. Simon Radio to offer a special promotion to its licensed members, providing the opportunity to buy an Icom IC-7300 radio for 35,000 baht (instead of 49,000 baht).

 

         5 June, 2017                  RAST, represented by HS1FVL, joined a meeting of the Subcommittee for the Development of Amateur Radio and Frequencies for the Public 1/2560 at the Secretariat of the NBTC.

 

         10 June, 2017                With the help of E23NEZ and HS1IFU, RAST organized activities to educate members about Arduino (an open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects) with the participation of 35 members.

 

         19 June, 2017                RAST announced the results of Intermediate Class amateur radio examination 1/2560.

 

         26 June, 2017                RAST representatives participated in a meeting with the NBTC.

 

         2 July, 2017                   RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of July, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok when there was an award ceremony with certificates presented to the Thai winners of the CQWW VHF Contest for 2016 and for the IARU HF Championships for 2016.

 

         2 July, 2017                   RAST was assisted by HS1IFU and the President of Rajapruk University in Nonthaburi who authorized RAST to establish its club station HS0AC at a new location there and equipment was transferred from the Rangsit campus of the Asian Institute of Technology in Rangsit with the help of HS5NMF, the HS0AC station manager.

 

         2 July, 2017                   HS1GAB and HS4SCI briefed Kyushu University in Japan about the successful testing of the JAISAT-1 Linear Transponder.

 

         5 July, 2017                   RAST received permission from the NBTC Secretariat to operate from its club station HS0AC at the new location at Rajapruk University with an output power of up to 1000 watts.

 

         8-9 July, 2017                RAST participated in the IARU HF Championship contest for 2017 using the callsign E2HQ

 

         9 July, 2017                   RAST sent its congratulations to the Indonesian Amateur Radio Association (ORARI) on the occasion of its 49th anniversary.

 

         14 July, 2017                 RAST representatives attended a meeting with the NBTC.

 

         14-16 July, 2017            RAST members HS0ZET, HS6SSE, HS0ZKF and HS0ZLA together represented the society at the RAST booth at the Friedrichshafen Ham Fair in Germany.

 

         15-16 July, 2017            RAST supported activities during the CQWW VHF Contest for 2017 (However, permission had not been granted to operate in the 50MHz band)

 

         15-16 July, 2017            RAST sent representatives to the Jakarta Amateur Radio Fair in Jakarta, Indonesia comprising E21EIC, E20NKB, HS5IGY, HS7BHK, HS0SZU and E21FYK.

 

         17-21 July, 2017            RAST sent representatives comprising HS1FVL, HS5NMF and E24MMV to lead a course in voluntary protection and disaster prevention and mitigation in Pathum Thani.

 

         27 July, 2017                 RAST sent representatives to attend the public hearing on the draft of four NBTC bills at the Century Park Hotel in Bangkok .

 

         29 July, 2017                 RAST, with the assistance of the Thai VE Team, organized the US FCC Amateur Radio Examination 3/2560 in Nonthaburi at Rajapruk University.

 

         4 August, 2017              RAST, represented by HS1FVL, E20EHQ, E20ZFD and E24MMV, participated in a ceremony to pay homage to His Majesty King Rama V at the Secretariat of the NBTC to mark National Communications Day for 2017

 

         6 August, 2017              RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of August, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok where certificates for those who passed the Intermediate Class examination 1/2560 were awarded by the President of the society.

 

         11 August, 2017             RAST attended a meeting with the NBTC Secretariat.

 

         11 August, 2017            RAST, represented by HS1FVL, joined a meeting with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation task force on the Revised Master Plan for a Tsunami 1/2560

 

         11 August, 2017            RAST conducted a net to receive blessings for Her Majesty the Queen on her birthday on August 12, which is Mothers' Day, on the frequency of 144.9375 MHz.

 

         15-17 August, 2017       RAST, represented by HS1FVL and members, attended the NBTC's Symposium to mark its Sixth Anniversary at the Secretariat of the NBTC in Bangkok.

 

         20 August, 2017            RAST conducted training courses to provide knowledge about basic HF operating procedures for newly-licensed intermediate and advanced class amateur radio operators with the help of HS1FVL, HS5NMF, E20HHK, HS7WMU, E21EIC and others at Rajapruk University, Nonthaburi.

 

         21 August, 2017            RAST, represented by HS1FVL and HS1IFU participated in a meeting with the Ministry of Science and Technology in Bangkok.

 

         21 August, 2017            RAST sent HS8GLR to represent the society at the cremation ceremony of HS7JJY at Wat Bang Kung in Muang District of Surat Thani.

 

         22-23 August, 2017       To mark National Science Day, RAST organized an exhibition about the knowledge of telecommunications of the former late King Rama 9, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at Kasetsart University Demonstration School in Bang Khen. The society was represented by HS1FVL, HS5NMF, E24MMV and E20EHQ.

 

         26 August, 2017            RAST, represented by HS1FVL, participated in a Home School workshop to promote knowledge among children and youths in conjunction with the Faculty of Liberal Arts of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

 

         1-3 September, 2017     RAST participated in a meeting to strengthen the knowledge and understanding in accordance with the NBTC’s announcement of the amateur radio rules and regulations with RAST representatives HS1FVL and HS2JFW being speakers at the event hosted at the Emerald Hotel. (There was no informal monthly meeting in September).

 

         2-3 September, 2017     RAST, represented by E21EIC, E20NKB, HS7BHK, HS1PGS and HS8JCV jointly managed the RAST booth at the Tokyo Ham Fair 2017 in Tokyo, Japan.

 

         5 September, 2017         RAST representatives joined a meeting at the Secretariat of the NBTC.

 

         12 September, 2017      In accordance with a request from the NBTC, RAST's VE Team provided information before and after the exam to the NBTC Secretariat about how foreign amateur radio examinations (US exams) were conducted in Thailand so that the NBTC is aware of the operations of the society in this respect.

 

         17 September, 2017      RAST, represented by HS1IFU installed a weather reporting station and an APRS IGate (Internet gateway) at the HS0AC club station at Rajapruk University.

 

         18-20 Sept, 2017          RAST, represented by HS1FVL, HS5NMF and E24MMV, participated in the presentation of awards by the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation for 2017 at the Thammasat University campus in Rangsit.

 

         27 September, 2017       RAST representatives joined a meeting with the NBTC Secretariat.

 

         5 October, 2017            RAST represented by HS1FVL on behalf of the sub-committee to develop radio and in the name of the society joined a funeral ceremony for the wife of HS1DE, the acting president of the Voluntary Radio Association (VRA).

         6 October, 2017            RAST congratulated the NBTC on the occasion of its sixth anniversary at the meeting hall of the NBTC Secretariat.

 

         7 October, 2017            RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of October, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok. Throughout the month of September, the society had installed equipment and antennas at the HS0AC club station at its new location at Rajapruk University in Nonthaburi and the society had received donations of an A4S antenna from HS1BLJ, an Icom transceiver from HS1AAZ and an Icom transceiver from G. Simon Radio Co. Ltd. During the meeting, HS7BHK provided a summary of the Tokyo Ham Fair 2017 while HS1JAN and HS1GAB provided an account of the printed circuit board used for the JAISAT-1 Satellite Project.

 

         14 October, 2017          RAST, with the assistance of the Thai VE Team, organized a US FCC Amateur Radio Examination 4/2560 in Maha Sarakham Province.

 

         25-29 October, 2017     RAST set up a co-ordination centre to offer communications support for volunteer operators for the cremation ceremony of HS1A.

 

         28 October, 2017          The JAISAT-1 Project Team established the equipment and antennas for the VHF/UHF Ground Station at Rajapruk University that will use the callsign HS0AJ.

 

         28-30 October, 2017     The RAST club station HS0AC participated in the CQWW SSB Contest for 2017.

 

         4 November, 2017         RAST, represented by HS1FVL, was honoured to participate and present information at the conference of the Federation of Amateur Radio Societies for the Central, Eastern and Western Regions (6/2560) in the province of Rayong.

 

         5 November, 2017         RAST hosted its informal get-together for the month of November, 2017 at Sena Place Hotel in Phaholyothin Soi 11, Bangkok.

 

         11 November, 2017       RAST with the assistance of the Thai VE Team organized the US FCC Amateur Radio Examination 5/2560 in Songkhla Province.

 

         20 November, 2017       RAST, represented by HS1FVL attended a meeting at the NBTC Secretariat regarding the upcoming competition about innovations and inventions by amateur radio operators.

 

         24 November, 2017       RAST, represented by HS1FVL attended an NBTC meeting and was appointed to the panel of judges for the Amateur Radio Day exhibition and conference at the NBTC Secretariat in Bangkok.

 

         27 November, 2017       RAST sent a letter to AMSAT-ID seeking their co-operation to provide access to the IO=86 LAPAN-A2 amateur radio satellite during the Amateur Radio Day exhibition at the NBTC Secretariat in Bangkok.

 

         2-3 December, 2017      RAST participated in the Amateur Radio Day exhibition and conference at the NBTC Secretariat with a booth and the society also sent its accomplishments to compete for awards.

 

         12 December, 2017       RAST has been accredited by the NBTC in accordance with the letter NTC 5013/41391 sent on 12 December, 2017 to the society authorizing RAST to administer and control Intermediate and Advanced Class amateur radio stations, after consideration and approval by the NBTC's board of directors at its meeting No. 15/2560 on 8 September, 2017.

 

         17 December, 2017       RAST, represented by a team led by HS1AXC, organized the ARDF Championships for the RAST Trophy in Prachin Buri Province.

 

         31 December, 2017       RAST Registrar E20NKB summed up the society’s membership for 2017 with two new Gold Card life members, 162 new Silver Card life members (including seven foreign nationals), and 185 new annual members, along with three associations as members.

 

         31 December, 2017       From 1 January, 2017 to 31 December, 2017 RAST conducted a VHF net on 144.9375 from 20.00 - 21.00 every Friday with net control being HS0VGE.

 

         31 December, 2017       Silent Keys in 2017: HS1TEF, HS7JJY and HS0ZIX

 

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