August 2017 RAST meeting
Recipients of certificates for passing the NBTC's Intermediate Class examination conducted on May 21, 2017 line up to sign receipt of the documents prepared by Champ, E21EIC (at right) during the August RAST meeting.
Over 70 attend August meeting
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL presents a certificate for passing the Intermediate Class amateur radio examination to HS7CDH from Samut Songkhram during the meeting.
Certificates are presented to those who passed
the May Intermediate Class examination
The August RAST meeting featured presentations of certificates to those who had passed the latest Intermediate Class amateur radio examination in May and was well attended with over 70 members and guests joining the gathering on the second floor of the Sena Place Hotel on Phaholyothin Soi 11.
There were also several international visitors including Kuny, 7L1FU and W1FPU, along with his family, including his son Yoshiko, KH0UA who had obtained his licence when he was eight years old and who upgraded to an Extra Class US licence a year later. Yoshiko has been active in contests and there are videos of his activities on YouTube, such as the one for the CQWW WPX SSB in 2010 at this link.
Kuny, standing at left, introduces his family, with his wife standing at right, during the meeting.
Today, he is 17 years old and speaks fluent English. Visitors from overseas included two hams from Korea, including Seogmeen Goh, HL4CAN, John, W4HNB along with Barry, HS0ZMH and M0UOK, who is resident in Chaiyaphum.
Bhoom, E24XUR, gives a "V for victory" sign at the table with Kuny (left) and Yoshiko (right).
Keeping Yoshiko company was Bhoom, E24XUR who is nine-years-old himself and who recently sat and passed the VEC FCC exam arranged by Champ, E21EIC and his team of VEC examiners on behalf of RAST. In all a total of 70 licensed Thai hams sat and took the VEC exam on July 29, while Bhoom passed and obtained a General Class US licence which he announced -- in English -- to those present at the August meeting.
Several Thai hams who had passed the NBTC's most-recent Intermediate Class exam in May were present and during the meeting they signed a document of receipt and then received their certificate issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and which was presented to them individually by RAST President Jakkree (Jack) Hantongkom, HS1FVL.
Prior to the presentations, Jack announced that RAST will have a booth to provide information about radio communications at a fair organised by the Kasetsart University Laboratory School Centre for Educational Research and Development on August 22-23 in Bang Khen while the Nonthaburi Amateur Radio Society, whose club station has the callsign HS1AN, has invited RAST to help by providing a speaker for the novice class examination on August 19, and RAST has agreed to do this.
Bhoom announces he obtained a US general class licence at the recent VEC exam while Kamol, E20EHQ (left) and Loong Nuat, E23PKO (right) look on.
The August meeting was lively with Kamol, E20EHQ and "Loong Nuat" Pimchanok, E23PKO taking the microphones and interviewing guests when they stressed how all amateur radio operators were equal and how we should help one another.
There were also several international visitors including Kuny, 7L1FU and W1FPU, along with his family, including his son Yoshiko, KH0UA who had obtained his licence when he was eight years old and who upgraded to an Extra Class US licence a year later. Yoshiko has been active in contests and there are videos of his activities on YouTube, such as the one for the CQWW WPX SSB in 2010 at this link.
Kuny, standing at left, introduces his family, with his wife standing at right, during the meeting.
Bhoom, E24XUR, gives a "V for victory" sign at the table with Kuny (left) and Yoshiko (right).
Several Thai hams who had passed the NBTC's most-recent Intermediate Class exam in May were present and during the meeting they signed a document of receipt and then received their certificate issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and which was presented to them individually by RAST President Jakkree (Jack) Hantongkom, HS1FVL.
Prior to the presentations, Jack announced that RAST will have a booth to provide information about radio communications at a fair organised by the Kasetsart University Laboratory School Centre for Educational Research and Development on August 22-23 in Bang Khen while the Nonthaburi Amateur Radio Society, whose club station has the callsign HS1AN, has invited RAST to help by providing a speaker for the novice class examination on August 19, and RAST has agreed to do this.
Bhoom announces he obtained a US general class licence at the recent VEC exam while Kamol, E20EHQ (left) and Loong Nuat, E23PKO (right) look on.
As usual, the buffet lunch was delicious and this time the meeting was held upstairs, on the second floor, in the May Garden Restaurant at Sena Place Hotel.
RAST booth at Friedrichshafen Ham Fair is popular with visitors
Thanks to the efforts of a team of seven RAST members from Germany, RAST had an excellent booth at the Friedrichshafen Ham Fair, the biggest amateur radio exhibition in Europe which took place over the period from July 14-16, 2017.
More than 17,000 visitors attended the exhibiton and, according to Koess, HS0ZLA, many them took the opportunity to visit the RAST booth which, he observes "might have been the most beautiful booth of all ham associations."
Koess added that, however, several visitors had complained that Thailand was unable to offer guest licences to radio amateurs who want to visit Thailand and operate from the country while on holiday.
And thanks to Ralf, DF6RK for the picture above, while you can also see this Facebook link or another Facebook link for more pictures and information about the booth
More than 17,000 visitors attended the exhibiton and, according to Koess, HS0ZLA, many them took the opportunity to visit the RAST booth which, he observes "might have been the most beautiful booth of all ham associations."
Koess added that, however, several visitors had complained that Thailand was unable to offer guest licences to radio amateurs who want to visit Thailand and operate from the country while on holiday.
And thanks to Ralf, DF6RK for the picture above, while you can also see this Facebook link or another Facebook link for more pictures and information about the booth
RAST also had a team at Jakarta Ham Fair
In addition to participating in the Friedrichshafen Ham Fair in Germany on the weekend of July 15-16, 2017 RAST has also sent a team to the Jakarta Amateur Radio Fair (JARF 2017) in Indonesia on the same weekend and among the RAST representives participating are E21FYK, HS0SZU, HS5IGY (YB0/KJ6UZK) and HS7BHK (YB0/N7BHK) led by RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC (YB0/KY1A).
RAST invests a big effort as E2HQ Headquarters station
The QSL card speaks for itself, with different teams operating on different bands across the country for RAST, from Chiang Rai to Songkhla and with other stations in Chiang Mai, Surin, Samut Sakhon, Phitsanulok and Bangkok. The contest took place during the second weekend of July, from July 8-9, 2017.
HS0ZEE receives first ARRL DXCC Honor Roll
plaque for an HS0Zxx station in Thailand
Dave HS1LCI (right) presents Don, HS0ZEE with the ARRL DXCC Honor Roll plaque at Don's QTH in Chiang Mai. Dave, who is the chairperson of club station E28AD and the former president of the HS5AC club station, also presented the RSGB ITU trophy CLASS 1 to Sheridon at his home QTH on July 7, 2017. Don's first QSO was with KC1XX on 20m SSB on February 1, 2003 and he now has 90,000 QSO�s in the log. Congratulations to Don.
6 metres was not authorised during
the CQWW VHF contest this year
Operations in the 6-metre band (50-54 MHz) were not authorised during the CQWW VHF Contest on the weekend of July 15-16, 2017.
As usual, RAST had submitted a request in advance for its members to operate in this band during the 2017 CQWW VHF Contest to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). However, owing to the fact that the NBC Board was dissolved under Article 44 of the Interim Constitution the NBTC had been unable to authorise any operations or to respond to the request.
Nimit, HS1IFU outlines some of the benefits of Rajapruk university campus for the HS0AC club station during the July RAST meeting in the May Garden Restaurant at Sena Place Hotel.
Several RAST members who were present at the May meeting at Sena Place hotel were able to pick up their Advanced Class operator licences and 1-kilowatt station licences from RAST Secretary Champ Muangamphan, E21EIC who has been conducting these upgrades on members' behalf.
Following the Advanced Class amateur radio examination last year, the Thai regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), agreed to equate US Advanced and Extra Class as well as CEPT A-Class licence holders from countries enjoying reciprocal agreements with Thailand to the Thai Advanced Class licence.
Applications for this upgrade are being carried out on behalf of its members by RAST with the assistance of Champ and the RAST Registrar, J.C. Goi, E20NKB.
If you qualify for this upgrade, details about the documents that are required, etc. can be found below.
Champ also announced during the meeting on May 7 that the second batch of applications for licences had been approved by the NBTC on the Friday prior to the meeting.
During the formal part of the meeting Champ stood in for RAST President Jakkree, HS1FVL when he also reminded members of the upcoming Intermediate Class examination to be conducted by the NBTC and supervised by RAST at Bangkok University's Rangsit campus on May 21.
In all some 200 candidates have signed up for the exam, of which 30 or so are RAST members.
The turnout at the meeting was fairly low with around 30 members present, including some old faces and new ones. Returnees included Bob, HS0ZCG and Robert, HS0ZEX from Phuket, while members also welcomed HS0ZGC, Richard from Udon Thani (and Florida) along with father and son, Jatuporn, E24XUS and Bhoom, E24XUR who is nine years old and speaks perfect English.
Jatuporn (father), E24XUS and Bhoom (son), E24XUR introduce themselves while Champ looks on in the picture above.
Champ also took the opportunity to announce the upcoming E31A DXpedition to Eritrea which he will be participating in with three other operators and the station from this rare African country will be active from May 19 - May 29 and spearheaded by Zorro, JH1AJT.
Some of the CQDL magazines donated to RAST by Karl, HS0ZDG and K4YT.
Hozumi Ueda, JA0FKM of the Japanese Amateur Radio Satellite Association (JAMSAT) introduces himself at the RAST AGM meeting on March 5 while RAST President Jakkree, HS1FVL looks on.
Pomchanok Palakawongse na Ayudhaya (Loong Nuat), E23PKO and RAST President Jakkree take turns to make announcements during the AGM
The distribution of forms at the February meeting to apply to sit the next Intermediate Class exam ensured a big turnout
As usual, RAST had submitted a request in advance for its members to operate in this band during the 2017 CQWW VHF Contest to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). However, owing to the fact that the NBC Board was dissolved under Article 44 of the Interim Constitution the NBTC had been unable to authorise any operations or to respond to the request.
July RAST meeting
Work on new HS0AC station location to be completed by the end of August
Work on the new RAST club station at Rajapruk University in Nonthaburi is expected to be completed by the end of August including installation of a Cushcraft A4S antenna and a Hex beam multi-band antenna from Italy and RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL thanked HS1BLJ for his support helping with this.
Later, Nimit, HS1IFU elaborated on some of he details about the new club station location, while there will also be two Icom 7300 transceivers providing multi-operator capabilities at the Rajapruk campus.
During the meeting, members were also reminded of the upcoming IARU HF Championships next weekend when many stations using the callsign E2HQ will be on the air in a co-ordinated RAST effort.
At right: Jack presents a certificate to Champ, being the IARU HF Championships country award winner for operating from Laos as XW1IC in 2016.
This will also be the last time that the RAST club station station at the Asian Institute of Technology campus in Rangsit is activated following subsidence and irreparable damage to the building.
At left: Charly, HS0ZCW holds up the certificate for the IARU HF Chamionships being the country winner, mixed mode, high power for 2016 awarded by Jack during the meeting.
Members attending the July 2 RAST meeting held at the May Garden restaurant on the second floor of the Sena Place Hotel on Phaholyothin Soi 11 were also provided with an update about the successful vibration and thermal testing of the linear transponder for the to-be-launched JAISAT satellite.
Apiwat (Pao, HS4SCI and JE6RJA) and Anan (HS1GAB) (seen in the photo at left) explained to those present how the tests had been performed in Japan during June using equipment provided by the Kyushu Institute of Technology to provide 24 hours of vibration testing and thermal testing of the linear transponder from -25 to 55 degrees Celsius.
The transponder was intact following these tests, and also enduring an inadvertent increase in the temperature to 135 C, and it is ready to be incorporated in the Cubesat which should be launched in a few months time as Thailand's first amateur radio satellite.
At right: Jack awards the CQWW VHF Contest trophy to E21JMF and HS0USH, the operators of E23JMF/R, the Thailand Rover Winner for 2016
The July meeting was attended by around 40 members and guests who enjoyed the buffet lunch provided by the hotel, including returnees Paul Duncanson, HS0ZAC who was attending the meeting after an absence of a few years, along with Mark, HS0ZMZ, KW1O and ZS6USA.
RAST President Jack also notified those present that a total of 46 candidates had passed the latest Intermediate Class amateur radio examination conducted in May.
Meanwhile, RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC announced the winners of certificates and trophies in the 2016 IARU HF Championships and in the CQWW VHF Contest that year, while Jack presented many of these to members during the meeting.
Helping with English-language summaries, RAST Vice-President Tony, HS0ZDX also thanked Karl Renz, K4YT and HS0ZDG for bringing many CQ-DL and QST Magazines to Thailand and donating them to RAST -- the magazines were on display during the meeting for members to browse through and will be available at the HS0AC club station.
Tony also announced that a 2-element 30-metre monoband antenna was up for sale by HS1NGR for 7,500 baht and that anyone who might be interested should contact sm3dyu(AT)gmail.com for more information.
RAST President Jack presents the certificate for the winners of the E2HQ headquarters station entry for last year to some of the operators of the HS0AC club station during the meeting.
The next RAST meeting will be on Sunday August 6 at Sena Place Hotel and all members along with any amateur radio operators visiting Thailand are invited to attend.
Later, Nimit, HS1IFU elaborated on some of he details about the new club station location, while there will also be two Icom 7300 transceivers providing multi-operator capabilities at the Rajapruk campus.
During the meeting, members were also reminded of the upcoming IARU HF Championships next weekend when many stations using the callsign E2HQ will be on the air in a co-ordinated RAST effort.
At right: Jack presents a certificate to Champ, being the IARU HF Championships country award winner for operating from Laos as XW1IC in 2016.
This will also be the last time that the RAST club station station at the Asian Institute of Technology campus in Rangsit is activated following subsidence and irreparable damage to the building.
At left: Charly, HS0ZCW holds up the certificate for the IARU HF Chamionships being the country winner, mixed mode, high power for 2016 awarded by Jack during the meeting.
Members attending the July 2 RAST meeting held at the May Garden restaurant on the second floor of the Sena Place Hotel on Phaholyothin Soi 11 were also provided with an update about the successful vibration and thermal testing of the linear transponder for the to-be-launched JAISAT satellite.
Apiwat (Pao, HS4SCI and JE6RJA) and Anan (HS1GAB) (seen in the photo at left) explained to those present how the tests had been performed in Japan during June using equipment provided by the Kyushu Institute of Technology to provide 24 hours of vibration testing and thermal testing of the linear transponder from -25 to 55 degrees Celsius.The transponder was intact following these tests, and also enduring an inadvertent increase in the temperature to 135 C, and it is ready to be incorporated in the Cubesat which should be launched in a few months time as Thailand's first amateur radio satellite.
At right: Jack awards the CQWW VHF Contest trophy to E21JMF and HS0USH, the operators of E23JMF/R, the Thailand Rover Winner for 2016
The July meeting was attended by around 40 members and guests who enjoyed the buffet lunch provided by the hotel, including returnees Paul Duncanson, HS0ZAC who was attending the meeting after an absence of a few years, along with Mark, HS0ZMZ, KW1O and ZS6USA.
RAST President Jack also notified those present that a total of 46 candidates had passed the latest Intermediate Class amateur radio examination conducted in May.
Meanwhile, RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC announced the winners of certificates and trophies in the 2016 IARU HF Championships and in the CQWW VHF Contest that year, while Jack presented many of these to members during the meeting.
Helping with English-language summaries, RAST Vice-President Tony, HS0ZDX also thanked Karl Renz, K4YT and HS0ZDG for bringing many CQ-DL and QST Magazines to Thailand and donating them to RAST -- the magazines were on display during the meeting for members to browse through and will be available at the HS0AC club station.
Tony also announced that a 2-element 30-metre monoband antenna was up for sale by HS1NGR for 7,500 baht and that anyone who might be interested should contact sm3dyu(AT)gmail.com for more information.
The next RAST meeting will be on Sunday August 6 at Sena Place Hotel and all members along with any amateur radio operators visiting Thailand are invited to attend.
Good attendance at June meeting
The turnout was strong at the June meeting of RAST with over 60 members and guests present for the buffet lunch at Sena Place Hotel.
Following the lunch, RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL briefed everyone present on developments and future plans of RAST, with the highlight being a special offer to purchase an Icom 7300 HF transceiver at a price of 37,450 baht, exclusively for members present at the meeting. The offer came from Khun Nopanant, HS1JSB of G. Simon Radio, the Icom dealer.
Many visitors, new faces and returnees introduced themselves at the meeting, including HS8JAC, Supparerk from Hat Yai, E20WUT, Akrapat, HS2DV, Pansiri and HS2AYJ, Jantana, both from Rayong, HS0ZEX, Robert from Phuket, E24XUR, Bhoom, who is a nine-year-old fluent in English (pictured at left), along with HS1CAA, HS1LDI, HS1OVF and HS0VGE.
The future of the HS0AC RAST club station, formerly at the Asian Institute of Technology, was the first topic, and the society has decided to accept an offer from Rajapruk University to relocate to its campus in Nonthaburi on Nakhon In Road. A room to operate from will be provided, along with other resources including a tower formerly used by an AM broadcast station and access to a meeting room where training sessions can be held.
This website will provide updates regarding progress in setting up the club station at this new location. The reason for moving out of the location on the AIT campus was damage to the building's foundations that had begun to subside, forcing RAST to close the station for safety reasons.
Jack also said that RAST intends to celebrate its 55th anniversary next year although the date and the location have yet to be finalised. Details, once they are known, will also be provided here.
In another development, Thailand and Malaysia are now negotiating a bilateral amateur radio agreement whereby nationals of each country will be able to operate temporarily in the neighbouring countries. The agreement will be between RAST and the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (MARTS) and the regulators of both countries, the NBTC and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Under the tentative agreement, Thai amateur operators will be able to operate in Malaysia as 9M2/homecall and Malaysian amateurs will put the prefix "HS0/" in front of their home call and applications will be handled and processed by either MARTS or RAST.
Jack said that in future similar such agreements are envisaged for other countries such as Indonesia and Japan for which there is no reciprocal operating agreement.
The RAST President then invited RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC to announce plans for both the Jakarta Amateur Radio Fair (JARF) (July 15-16, 2017) and for the Tokyo Ham Fair (September 2-3, 2017) which RAST will be participating in with a booth.
Champ will be leading teams to attend both regional amateur radio events and he encouraged other RAST members to also attend.
RAST has also received permission from the NBTC to use the special callsign E2HQ for use in the IARU HF Championship on the weekend of July 8-9, 2017 along with permisson to operate in the 6-metre band for three days (July 15-17) during the CQWW VHF contest, Champ announced.
Champ also said that he would be representing Thailand and RAST in the WRTC Championships in Germany next year while at the meeting he also provided contest plaques and trophies for members.
Nikorn Deesai, HS5NMF (pictured above with Champ) received a plaque for coming first in ASEAN in the CQ Worldwide DX Contest in the single op/all band category, while HS0AC was awarded a plaque for the All Asia DX Contest in 2016.
Champ had just returned from participating in a major DXpedition to Eritrea as part of a team led by Zorro, JH1AJT and using the callsign E31A. The DXpedition had been a major success and had worked a total of 64 Thai stations on various HF bands.
Champ had brought back some souvenirs from Eritrea with him and awarded them at the meeting to those stations with the most QSOs with E31A, with Sam, HS0ZDY having come top with 15 QSOs confirmed in different bands and modes. RAST President Jakkree, HS1FVL came fourth with 13 slots out of a total of 18.
Finally there was a demonstration of the linear transponder that has been designed and constructed for Thailand's pioneer amateur radio satellite, JAISAT-1. The transponder will be sent to Japan to undergo vibration testing in a few days' time.
Following the lunch, RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL briefed everyone present on developments and future plans of RAST, with the highlight being a special offer to purchase an Icom 7300 HF transceiver at a price of 37,450 baht, exclusively for members present at the meeting. The offer came from Khun Nopanant, HS1JSB of G. Simon Radio, the Icom dealer.
Many visitors, new faces and returnees introduced themselves at the meeting, including HS8JAC, Supparerk from Hat Yai, E20WUT, Akrapat, HS2DV, Pansiri and HS2AYJ, Jantana, both from Rayong, HS0ZEX, Robert from Phuket, E24XUR, Bhoom, who is a nine-year-old fluent in English (pictured at left), along with HS1CAA, HS1LDI, HS1OVF and HS0VGE.The future of the HS0AC RAST club station, formerly at the Asian Institute of Technology, was the first topic, and the society has decided to accept an offer from Rajapruk University to relocate to its campus in Nonthaburi on Nakhon In Road. A room to operate from will be provided, along with other resources including a tower formerly used by an AM broadcast station and access to a meeting room where training sessions can be held.
This website will provide updates regarding progress in setting up the club station at this new location. The reason for moving out of the location on the AIT campus was damage to the building's foundations that had begun to subside, forcing RAST to close the station for safety reasons.
Jack also said that RAST intends to celebrate its 55th anniversary next year although the date and the location have yet to be finalised. Details, once they are known, will also be provided here.
In another development, Thailand and Malaysia are now negotiating a bilateral amateur radio agreement whereby nationals of each country will be able to operate temporarily in the neighbouring countries. The agreement will be between RAST and the Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (MARTS) and the regulators of both countries, the NBTC and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Under the tentative agreement, Thai amateur operators will be able to operate in Malaysia as 9M2/homecall and Malaysian amateurs will put the prefix "HS0/" in front of their home call and applications will be handled and processed by either MARTS or RAST.
Jack said that in future similar such agreements are envisaged for other countries such as Indonesia and Japan for which there is no reciprocal operating agreement.
The RAST President then invited RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC to announce plans for both the Jakarta Amateur Radio Fair (JARF) (July 15-16, 2017) and for the Tokyo Ham Fair (September 2-3, 2017) which RAST will be participating in with a booth.Champ will be leading teams to attend both regional amateur radio events and he encouraged other RAST members to also attend.
RAST has also received permission from the NBTC to use the special callsign E2HQ for use in the IARU HF Championship on the weekend of July 8-9, 2017 along with permisson to operate in the 6-metre band for three days (July 15-17) during the CQWW VHF contest, Champ announced.
Champ also said that he would be representing Thailand and RAST in the WRTC Championships in Germany next year while at the meeting he also provided contest plaques and trophies for members.
Nikorn Deesai, HS5NMF (pictured above with Champ) received a plaque for coming first in ASEAN in the CQ Worldwide DX Contest in the single op/all band category, while HS0AC was awarded a plaque for the All Asia DX Contest in 2016.
Champ had just returned from participating in a major DXpedition to Eritrea as part of a team led by Zorro, JH1AJT and using the callsign E31A. The DXpedition had been a major success and had worked a total of 64 Thai stations on various HF bands.Champ had brought back some souvenirs from Eritrea with him and awarded them at the meeting to those stations with the most QSOs with E31A, with Sam, HS0ZDY having come top with 15 QSOs confirmed in different bands and modes. RAST President Jakkree, HS1FVL came fourth with 13 slots out of a total of 18.
Finally there was a demonstration of the linear transponder that has been designed and constructed for Thailand's pioneer amateur radio satellite, JAISAT-1. The transponder will be sent to Japan to undergo vibration testing in a few days' time.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, HS1A (SK) inducted into CQ Magazine's Hall of Fame
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, HS1A (SK), formerly the patron of RAST, had been inducted into CQ Magazine's Hall of Fame in an announcement made on May 19 2017.
Full details can be found here
His Majesty heads a list of 17 people who have "made significant contributions to amateur radio and/or to their professional career fields or some other aspect of life in this world."
Full details can be found here
His Majesty heads a list of 17 people who have "made significant contributions to amateur radio and/or to their professional career fields or some other aspect of life in this world."
Photos by Wanlop Tadsri, HS6MYW
May RAST meeting
First batch of Advanced Class reciprocal licences delivered at May meeting
Following the Advanced Class amateur radio examination last year, the Thai regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), agreed to equate US Advanced and Extra Class as well as CEPT A-Class licence holders from countries enjoying reciprocal agreements with Thailand to the Thai Advanced Class licence.
Applications for this upgrade are being carried out on behalf of its members by RAST with the assistance of Champ and the RAST Registrar, J.C. Goi, E20NKB.
If you qualify for this upgrade, details about the documents that are required, etc. can be found below.
Champ also announced during the meeting on May 7 that the second batch of applications for licences had been approved by the NBTC on the Friday prior to the meeting.
During the formal part of the meeting Champ stood in for RAST President Jakkree, HS1FVL when he also reminded members of the upcoming Intermediate Class examination to be conducted by the NBTC and supervised by RAST at Bangkok University's Rangsit campus on May 21.
In all some 200 candidates have signed up for the exam, of which 30 or so are RAST members.
The turnout at the meeting was fairly low with around 30 members present, including some old faces and new ones. Returnees included Bob, HS0ZCG and Robert, HS0ZEX from Phuket, while members also welcomed HS0ZGC, Richard from Udon Thani (and Florida) along with father and son, Jatuporn, E24XUS and Bhoom, E24XUR who is nine years old and speaks perfect English.Jatuporn (father), E24XUS and Bhoom (son), E24XUR introduce themselves while Champ looks on in the picture above.
Champ also took the opportunity to announce the upcoming E31A DXpedition to Eritrea which he will be participating in with three other operators and the station from this rare African country will be active from May 19 - May 29 and spearheaded by Zorro, JH1AJT.Important notice for Advanced Class licence holders
The first group of nine reciprocal licence holders' who sought RAST's assistance to upgrade to an Advanced Class operating licence has been approved by the Secretariat of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications (NBTC). This includes, among other privileges, the ability to operate a station with an output power of up to one kilowatt.
However, in order to take advantage of this 1 kilowatt limit on output power for Advanced Class licence holders, they must also have a 1-Kw station licence.
RAST Secretary Chalermphol Muangamphun, E21EIC and RAST Registrar Neeranuch Muangamphun, E20NKB will assist members in upgrading their station licences with the NBTC which requires additional documents.
For details as to what is required and the expenses, etc. please see this web page.
However, in order to take advantage of this 1 kilowatt limit on output power for Advanced Class licence holders, they must also have a 1-Kw station licence.
RAST Secretary Chalermphol Muangamphun, E21EIC and RAST Registrar Neeranuch Muangamphun, E20NKB will assist members in upgrading their station licences with the NBTC which requires additional documents.
For details as to what is required and the expenses, etc. please see this web page.
April RAST meeting
Upgrade reminder for expat members
The April RAST meeting at Sena Place hotel was attended by around 40 members with David, HS0ZMT introducing himself after lunch and prior to a reminder about the opportunity to upgrade to an Advanced Class Thai operator's licence for expatriate members.
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL reminded everyone that the regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has agreed to upgrade Intermediate Class HS0Zxx licences to Advanced Class that had been assigned to expatriate members who are nationals of 10 countries with bilateral reciprocal agreements with Thailand.
RAST Secretary Chalermphol (Champ), E21EIC, will be submitting applications to upgrade these licences on behalf of members and the NBTC has indicated it wishes to do handle this process in a batch. Many members have already responded to emails or to information on this website explaining this by sending the required documents to RAST and Jack said that applications already submitted would be forwarded to the NBTC later this week.
However, if anyone else who qualifies, but who has not yet submitted their documents, wishes to take advantage of this opportunity they should do so immediately by sending the required documents by post to P.O. Box 2008, Bangkok, 10501. (The full details are outlined below.)
Among the privileges for Advanced Class licence holders will be the ability to operate equipment with an output power of up to 1 kilowatt, although station licences will need to be upgraded to enable this with an additional fee of 3,200 baht plus stamp duty.
Further details about this upgrade for station licences will be announced on this website and by email to members in the near future.
During the meeting, there was also a donation of nine CQDL magazines of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) by Karl Renz, K4YT and HS0ZDG, to RAST.
German-speaking members browsed the magazines during the meeting and they will be available for members to read at the HS0AC club station.
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL reminded everyone that the regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has agreed to upgrade Intermediate Class HS0Zxx licences to Advanced Class that had been assigned to expatriate members who are nationals of 10 countries with bilateral reciprocal agreements with Thailand.
RAST Secretary Chalermphol (Champ), E21EIC, will be submitting applications to upgrade these licences on behalf of members and the NBTC has indicated it wishes to do handle this process in a batch. Many members have already responded to emails or to information on this website explaining this by sending the required documents to RAST and Jack said that applications already submitted would be forwarded to the NBTC later this week.
However, if anyone else who qualifies, but who has not yet submitted their documents, wishes to take advantage of this opportunity they should do so immediately by sending the required documents by post to P.O. Box 2008, Bangkok, 10501. (The full details are outlined below.)
Among the privileges for Advanced Class licence holders will be the ability to operate equipment with an output power of up to 1 kilowatt, although station licences will need to be upgraded to enable this with an additional fee of 3,200 baht plus stamp duty.
Further details about this upgrade for station licences will be announced on this website and by email to members in the near future.
During the meeting, there was also a donation of nine CQDL magazines of the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) by Karl Renz, K4YT and HS0ZDG, to RAST.
German-speaking members browsed the magazines during the meeting and they will be available for members to read at the HS0AC club station.
RAST AGM meeting in March
Reciprocal licence holders are informed how they can upgrade to Advanced Class
The 2017 RAST AGM meeting on Sunday, March 5 was attended by some 50 members, with some joining a meeting for the first time after they had received an invitation sent by email.
At the meeting it was announced that the Secretariat of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved an upgrade for most holders of HS0Zxx reciprocal licences to a Thai Advanced Class licence. For more details about how to take advantage of this, please see below.
The AGM meeting went along smoothly after a quorum was achieved and in accordance with the programme that had been sent out to all members by registered postal mail.
RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL summarised RAST's activities throughout 2016 (an English version can be found here ) while QSL Manager Champ, E21EIC reported on the number of QSL cards received and sent out last year.
In the period March 1, 2016 - February 28, 2017 there had been 27,525 incoming QSL cards weighing a total of 84.4 Kg and 21,200 outgoing cards dispatched (63.6 Kg). This was a slight reduction compared with the previous year, but was still more than in almost every year before that -- as can be seen in the copy of the document provided by Champ and displayed above.
RAST can help expatriate members take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade their Thai reciprocal licence to an Advanced Class licence.
Those who qualify should hold a full home licence that provides HF privileges (US General, Technician and Novice licence holders are excluded) and they should already possess a reciprocal Intermediate Class licence in the series HS0Zxx.
These RAST members are required to provide the following information and to send this by registered postal mail to RAST at P.O. Box 2008, Bangkok 10501, Thailand:
- A copy of their passport;
- A copy of their HS0Zxx amateur radio licence;
- A copy of their home amateur radio licence (the amateur radio licence issued in their home country, one of the 10 that has a bilateral reciprocal agreement with Thailand. This is the licence that was originally used to apply for their Intermediate Class amateur radio licence);
- A copy of their RAST membership card;
- Two 2-inch colour photographs;
- The address in Thailand that they first used when registering their licence;
They should also download the following forms then sign them and include them with these documents.
(Click the link to view and then right click and select "save as" to download)
1. NBTC Proxy form
2. NBTC licence application form
The payment of a 500 baht fee is required to process the application and this includes return postage in Thailand.
This payment should be made by transferring the sum of 500 baht to Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) Savings Account 081-2-57667-9 (account name: Chalermpol Muangamphun) and this covers the licence application fee, stamp duty and the postage fee to send the licence to the applicant. Any balance will be accredited to RAST.
Please include the ATM receipt or bank slip (or copy of this) verifying the payment with your documents.
Among other privileges, upgrading to an Advanced Class licence allows a maximum output power of 1 Kilowatt.
(Any questions regarding this should be sent to:
[email protected].)
At the meeting it was announced that the Secretariat of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved an upgrade for most holders of HS0Zxx reciprocal licences to a Thai Advanced Class licence. For more details about how to take advantage of this, please see below.The AGM meeting went along smoothly after a quorum was achieved and in accordance with the programme that had been sent out to all members by registered postal mail.
RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom, HS1FVL summarised RAST's activities throughout 2016 (an English version can be found here ) while QSL Manager Champ, E21EIC reported on the number of QSL cards received and sent out last year.
In the period March 1, 2016 - February 28, 2017 there had been 27,525 incoming QSL cards weighing a total of 84.4 Kg and 21,200 outgoing cards dispatched (63.6 Kg). This was a slight reduction compared with the previous year, but was still more than in almost every year before that -- as can be seen in the copy of the document provided by Champ and displayed above.
Reciprocal licence holders (HS0Zxx) can upgrade to an Advanced Class licence as follows
Those who qualify should hold a full home licence that provides HF privileges (US General, Technician and Novice licence holders are excluded) and they should already possess a reciprocal Intermediate Class licence in the series HS0Zxx.
These RAST members are required to provide the following information and to send this by registered postal mail to RAST at P.O. Box 2008, Bangkok 10501, Thailand:
- A copy of their passport;
- A copy of their HS0Zxx amateur radio licence;
- A copy of their home amateur radio licence (the amateur radio licence issued in their home country, one of the 10 that has a bilateral reciprocal agreement with Thailand. This is the licence that was originally used to apply for their Intermediate Class amateur radio licence);
- A copy of their RAST membership card;
- Two 2-inch colour photographs;
- The address in Thailand that they first used when registering their licence;
They should also download the following forms then sign them and include them with these documents.
(Click the link to view and then right click and select "save as" to download)
1. NBTC Proxy form
2. NBTC licence application form
The payment of a 500 baht fee is required to process the application and this includes return postage in Thailand.
This payment should be made by transferring the sum of 500 baht to Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) Savings Account 081-2-57667-9 (account name: Chalermpol Muangamphun) and this covers the licence application fee, stamp duty and the postage fee to send the licence to the applicant. Any balance will be accredited to RAST.
Please include the ATM receipt or bank slip (or copy of this) verifying the payment with your documents.
Among other privileges, upgrading to an Advanced Class licence allows a maximum output power of 1 Kilowatt.
(Any questions regarding this should be sent to:
[email protected].)
February RAST meeting
Candidates line up to apply for next Intermediate Class exam
The February RAST meeting at Sena Place Hotel provided an opportunity for would-be candidates seeking to take the upcoming Intermediate Class amateur radio examination scheduled for May 21, 2017 to obtain an application form and consequently there were scores of visitors queueing up for the forms.
Many of these would-be candidates filled out the form to apply to sit the exam at the meeting but, while a few of the visitors stayed on for the meeting, most of them departed after submitting their completed application form to RAST officials.
For a while, it was "standing room only" while the forms were distributed and filled out.
For the latest information (in Thai) about the applications and how many vacant seats for the exam are left, please check the Thai-language RAST website here.
Meanwhile, members who were coming for the social aspects of the meeting and for the buffet lunch were also arriving at the Sena Place Hotel restaurant.
As usual, QSL cards were also available for members from bureau chief Champ, E21EIC while application forms for membership of RAST were available and were being accepted by J.C. Goi, E20NKB, the RAST registrar.
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL began the formal part of the meeting by referring to the upcoming Intermediate Class exam that will be administered by RAST in conjunction with NBTC officials on May 21.
He also reminded everyone that the annual Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Championships would be held in Nong Prue, Chon Buri -- just outside Pattaya -- in two weeks' time. This will be on the weekend of February 18-19 when the Princess Sirindhorn Trophy will be awarded to the winning team. Applications have come in from amateur radio associations around the country and attendance should be high. More details can be found here.
President Jakkree also announced that he was part of a team of officials who were conducting a survey to examine levels of interference on the 50-54 MHz (six metre) band. This was part of an investigation to help resolve the issue between the NBTC and the Royal Thai Army following the regulator's assignment of the band to amateur radio on a secondary basis.
In addition, Jack said that RAST was also assisting the NBTC in helping it to work out the equivalent Thai HF licence class -- intermediate or advanced -- for holders of reciprocal licences based on their home licences.
Once this has work been finalized, many foreigners with Thai calls in the HS0Zxx series will be able to upgrade to a Thai Advanced Class licence, he observed.
This work should be concluded by the middle of the year and an announcement should come before the end of the year, he added.
There was also news about an upcoming micro-DXpedition to Bhutan and using the callsign A5A by "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT, along with Champ, E21EIC and J.C. Goi, E20NKB. The DXpedition will be active from February 10 to February 17, 2017.
Form-filling time -- shortly after 11 a.m. at Sena Place Hotel on February 5, 2017.
Many of these would-be candidates filled out the form to apply to sit the exam at the meeting but, while a few of the visitors stayed on for the meeting, most of them departed after submitting their completed application form to RAST officials.
For a while, it was "standing room only" while the forms were distributed and filled out.For the latest information (in Thai) about the applications and how many vacant seats for the exam are left, please check the Thai-language RAST website here.
Meanwhile, members who were coming for the social aspects of the meeting and for the buffet lunch were also arriving at the Sena Place Hotel restaurant.
As usual, QSL cards were also available for members from bureau chief Champ, E21EIC while application forms for membership of RAST were available and were being accepted by J.C. Goi, E20NKB, the RAST registrar.
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL began the formal part of the meeting by referring to the upcoming Intermediate Class exam that will be administered by RAST in conjunction with NBTC officials on May 21.
He also reminded everyone that the annual Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) Championships would be held in Nong Prue, Chon Buri -- just outside Pattaya -- in two weeks' time. This will be on the weekend of February 18-19 when the Princess Sirindhorn Trophy will be awarded to the winning team. Applications have come in from amateur radio associations around the country and attendance should be high. More details can be found here.
President Jakkree also announced that he was part of a team of officials who were conducting a survey to examine levels of interference on the 50-54 MHz (six metre) band. This was part of an investigation to help resolve the issue between the NBTC and the Royal Thai Army following the regulator's assignment of the band to amateur radio on a secondary basis.
In addition, Jack said that RAST was also assisting the NBTC in helping it to work out the equivalent Thai HF licence class -- intermediate or advanced -- for holders of reciprocal licences based on their home licences.
Once this has work been finalized, many foreigners with Thai calls in the HS0Zxx series will be able to upgrade to a Thai Advanced Class licence, he observed.
This work should be concluded by the middle of the year and an announcement should come before the end of the year, he added.
There was also news about an upcoming micro-DXpedition to Bhutan and using the callsign A5A by "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT, along with Champ, E21EIC and J.C. Goi, E20NKB. The DXpedition will be active from February 10 to February 17, 2017.
Announcement in mid-January 2017
Thailand's regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has announced that any amateur radio licence that has expired for a period of more than two years must be renewed before January 28, 2017. Otherwise the callsign will be revoked and may subsequently be reissued.
Members of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King (RAST) can check the validity of their licences along with the expiry date at the NBTC website.
Amateur radio licences may be renewed in person at the NBTC Secretariat on Phaholyothin Soi 8 (Soi Sailom) in Bangkok or with the assistance of the RAST registrar JC Goi, E20NKB.
If any member needs assistance in renewing an expired licence they should please contact RAST by email at [email protected]
It's shortly after 11 a.m. on December 4, 2016 and RAST committee members are meeting at the far end of the table while guests at the December RAST meeting are seated in the foreground.
A group photograph of delegates taken at Nong Nooch Garden on Sunday, November 20
Prior to the November RAST meeting on the morning of Sunday, November 6 RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom (Jack), HS1FVL had paid homage in a bereavement ceremony to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, HS1A-SK, the patron of RAST who passed away on October 13, 2016.
The monthly meeting was held at Sena Place Hotel following the postponement of the ARDF Championships to late January in a mark of respect to His Majesty while the upcoming SEANET Convention on the weekend of November 18-21 had dominated a committee meeting of RAST officers that was held before the main meeting began.
Visitors included Kuny Nakada, 7L1FPU (AH0BT, who is the father of Yoshiki, KH0UA).
The formal part of the meeting began with everyone standing to respect the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Later there was a presentation of an Icom IC-9100 transceiver that RAST had purchased from G. Simon Radio for the ground station for the ongoing JAISAT satellite project which will use the callsign HS0AJ The ground station is to be located at the Rangsit campus of Bangkok University.
Among the announcements during the meeting was that the special callsign HS70A is now being used on two metres to commemorate the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej by enabling radio amateurs to express their condolences over the air between November 1 and December 31, 2016 on the amateur radio bands from every province in Thailand.
There is an online logbook of these QSOs and a summary of all contacts will be sent to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) which will forward the log to the Royal Palace. More details can be found at the following link: http://www.rast.or.th/announcements/hs70a
The online log can be viewed at this link: http://www.rast.or.th/hs70a
During the meeting plans for a micro DX-pedition to Myanmar from November 15-22 were announced when the callsign may be XZ1A with the operators being JH1AJT, Zorro, DJ9AB, Andre, W5MJ, Madison, E20NKB, JC and E21EIC, Champ.
Nopanant, HS0JSB, (right) of G. Simon Radio makes the presentation of an Icom IC-9100 transceiver to RAST President Jakkree (Jack. The radio will serve as the ground station for the JAISAT satellite.
Announcements at the October RAST meeting at Sena Place Hotel, attended by some 50 members and guests, began with everyone standing for a minute of silence in respect for Sawat, HS1HQT (pictured at right) a former RAST member but now a silent key who had passed away from heart failure following the September meeting. May he rest in peace.
The upcoming ARDF Championships on November 5-6 and the SEANET Convention in Pattaya from November 18-20 will be keeping RAST busy next month and these topics dominated the announcements.
Having been the society that won the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn ARDF Trophy last year, RAST has the honour of hosting the direction-finding championships this year and these will take place at Nong Prue in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri on the first weekend of next month. Nong Prue is on the outskirts of Pattaya and the municipality is located about six kilometres inland. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps satellite view and this link shows the map view.
There will be various activities and details of the event can be found here. On that Sunday there will be no regular RAST meeting at Sena Place Hotel but all members are welcome to attend the ARDF Championships at Nong Prue Municipality when food will also be available.
The RAST committee meets at Sena Place Hotel prior to the main meeting on Sunday, October 2, 2016.
As for the 44th SEANET Convention at Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya, the convention will begin on the evening of Friday, November 18 with a welcome dinner and there will be a gala dinner on Saturday. Details of the programme can be found here. There will be a special event station using the callsign HS44SEA which has been authorised by the NBTC Secretariat and there will also be tours to Suan Nongnooch and other attractions.
As for transport to the SEANET Convention from Bangkok, RAST will be providing minibuses which will depart regularly from both Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports on Friday for the Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya and members are welcome to avail themselves of this means of transport. Alternatively, of course, they may drive down to Pattaya or take a bus or tour bus from Ekamai or Morchit bus stations. The journey to Pattaya by car usually takes less than two hours via the Motorway (Route 7) or the Burapawithi elevated toll road (Route 34) followed by Route 7.
Members of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King (RAST) can check the validity of their licences along with the expiry date at the NBTC website.
Amateur radio licences may be renewed in person at the NBTC Secretariat on Phaholyothin Soi 8 (Soi Sailom) in Bangkok or with the assistance of the RAST registrar JC Goi, E20NKB.
If any member needs assistance in renewing an expired licence they should please contact RAST by email at [email protected]
December 2016 meeting
RAST to host New Year party on January 15 at Rot Meu Mae restaurant
RAST President Jakkree (Jack), HS1FVL began announcements at the December meeting at Sena Place Hotel by thanking the team of RAST staff members who had helped the society host the 44th SEANET Convention two weeks earlier in Pattaya which was a big success.
The event was well-attended with around 150 delegates from some 18 countries while Indonesia will host the 2018 event in Jogjakarta after a unanimous vote in favour of this proposal. Next year, the 45th SEANET Convention will be held in Cambodia at Siem Reap.
For full coverage and photographs of the Pattaya SEANET Convention please follow this link which has coverage of the welcome dinner and which contains links to six other web pages covering the entire event.
After applause from the audience in appreciation for the success of the event and for the efforts put into this by the RAST organizing team, Jack invited newcomers or returnees to the RAST meeting to introduce themselves.
There were many faces, both old and new, at the December meeting, including Don Craft, HS0ZBG, Rudy, HB9MHB, John, W2YR, Mike, HS0ZIU, Fred, K3ZO, Phoom, NO6A, Chris, G3VBL, along with Ritthichai, HS7JEN and Chalermpol, HS7EI and another HS7 from Nakhon Pathom.
Next month RAST will host its New Year party and this will be at the same location as last year, which is Rot Meu Mae restaurant in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, beginning at 3 p.m. on January 15, 2017. Please click here to view the location on Google Maps.
Directions: Head north from Bangkok along Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway and after the Ngarmwongwarn Road intersection take the frontage road. Turn left into the road signposted "North Park" (2.25 km beyond Ngarmwongwarn intersection). Follow this road for one and a half kilometers to a roundabout. Exit left and after 100 metres the Rot Meu Mae restaurant will be on your right.
The party will last until around 8 p.m. and guests will be invited to pay 320 baht (the same as for buffet lunch at Sena Place) for the banquet dinner.
Those attending the December meeting were also informed that the RAST club station at the Asian Institute of Technology is suffering badly from subsidence with major cracks in the building, which had been repaired and reopened in 2014 following the severe flooding in 2011.
The station is now off the air again and RAST is looking for a new location for its club station and, if possible, it would also like to establish a headquarters office as well. We hope to publish some photographs here shortly that show the extent of the damage to the station.
Jack explained that RAST had set funds aside for this, but the society was also seeking help and soliciting suggestions as to the availability of an inexpensive plot of land of approximately one rai in area in the vicinity of Bangkok where it could build these facilities, along with erecting towers and a "shack" to operate from.
This month, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has cancelled "Amateur Radio Day" following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej but Jack said that the NBTC may reschedule such an event some time next year when RAST would participate.
On December 6, several RAST representatives will be participating in an NBTC seminar to which amateur radio societies throughout the country have been invited when Jack, HS1FVL and Joe, HS2JFW will make a presentation about repeaters.
Jack also announced that later this month RAST would be proposing to the NBTC that reciprocal licence holders in Thailand whose amateur radio licences are equivalent to the Thai Advanced Class licence be eligible for a Thai Advanced Class licence, rather than an Intermediate Class licence. Hopefully there will be an update about this soon.
There is also a new date for the ARDF Championships to be hosted by RAST that were postponed from the beginning of November and now they will take place in Nong Prue, Chon Buri -- near Pattaya -- on the weekend of February 18-19, 2017. Earlier they had been rescheduled to January 28-29 but this coincides with Chinese New Year, hence the new dates in mid-February.
Finally, RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC will lead the VEC team to host the next FCC amateur radio examination for a US amateur radio licence to be held on January 7, 2017 in Chiang Rai Province from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more details click here.
The event was well-attended with around 150 delegates from some 18 countries while Indonesia will host the 2018 event in Jogjakarta after a unanimous vote in favour of this proposal. Next year, the 45th SEANET Convention will be held in Cambodia at Siem Reap.
For full coverage and photographs of the Pattaya SEANET Convention please follow this link which has coverage of the welcome dinner and which contains links to six other web pages covering the entire event.
After applause from the audience in appreciation for the success of the event and for the efforts put into this by the RAST organizing team, Jack invited newcomers or returnees to the RAST meeting to introduce themselves.
There were many faces, both old and new, at the December meeting, including Don Craft, HS0ZBG, Rudy, HB9MHB, John, W2YR, Mike, HS0ZIU, Fred, K3ZO, Phoom, NO6A, Chris, G3VBL, along with Ritthichai, HS7JEN and Chalermpol, HS7EI and another HS7 from Nakhon Pathom.
Next month RAST will host its New Year party and this will be at the same location as last year, which is Rot Meu Mae restaurant in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, beginning at 3 p.m. on January 15, 2017. Please click here to view the location on Google Maps.
Directions: Head north from Bangkok along Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway and after the Ngarmwongwarn Road intersection take the frontage road. Turn left into the road signposted "North Park" (2.25 km beyond Ngarmwongwarn intersection). Follow this road for one and a half kilometers to a roundabout. Exit left and after 100 metres the Rot Meu Mae restaurant will be on your right.
The party will last until around 8 p.m. and guests will be invited to pay 320 baht (the same as for buffet lunch at Sena Place) for the banquet dinner.
Those attending the December meeting were also informed that the RAST club station at the Asian Institute of Technology is suffering badly from subsidence with major cracks in the building, which had been repaired and reopened in 2014 following the severe flooding in 2011.
The station is now off the air again and RAST is looking for a new location for its club station and, if possible, it would also like to establish a headquarters office as well. We hope to publish some photographs here shortly that show the extent of the damage to the station.
Jack explained that RAST had set funds aside for this, but the society was also seeking help and soliciting suggestions as to the availability of an inexpensive plot of land of approximately one rai in area in the vicinity of Bangkok where it could build these facilities, along with erecting towers and a "shack" to operate from.
This month, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has cancelled "Amateur Radio Day" following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej but Jack said that the NBTC may reschedule such an event some time next year when RAST would participate.
On December 6, several RAST representatives will be participating in an NBTC seminar to which amateur radio societies throughout the country have been invited when Jack, HS1FVL and Joe, HS2JFW will make a presentation about repeaters.
Jack also announced that later this month RAST would be proposing to the NBTC that reciprocal licence holders in Thailand whose amateur radio licences are equivalent to the Thai Advanced Class licence be eligible for a Thai Advanced Class licence, rather than an Intermediate Class licence. Hopefully there will be an update about this soon.
There is also a new date for the ARDF Championships to be hosted by RAST that were postponed from the beginning of November and now they will take place in Nong Prue, Chon Buri -- near Pattaya -- on the weekend of February 18-19, 2017. Earlier they had been rescheduled to January 28-29 but this coincides with Chinese New Year, hence the new dates in mid-February.
Finally, RAST Secretary Champ, E21EIC will lead the VEC team to host the next FCC amateur radio examination for a US amateur radio licence to be held on January 7, 2017 in Chiang Rai Province from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more details click here.
44th annual SEANET Convention a big success
The 44th SEANET Convention in Pattaya hosted by the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the Patronage of His Majesty the King (RAST) was a big success, being attended by some 140 delegates from 18 countries. This website has extensive and detailed coverage on a total of seven web pages which cover the entire event that took place from November 18-21 at the Discovery Beach Hotel.
Formally opening the event at the Gala Dinner on Saturday was NBTC Commissioner Gen Sukit Kamasunthorn while earlier that day delegates voted to have the 2018 SEANET Convention staged in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Next year, the event will take place in Siem Reap, Cambodia and, for the first time, this will be organized from outside the host country with a team led by Raja, VU2KKZ.
Raja was attending the SEANET Convention in Pattaya and provided those present with a briefing and an outline of the program for the 2017 Convention and there was strong support and an eagerness to attend, as displayed during the Pattaya Convention.
You can start by viewing photographs and a report of the 2016 SEANET welcome dinner or jump to any of the web pages with coverage of the SEANET Convention by following these links:
Registration at the Discovery Beach Hotel and Welcome Dinner
Seminars on Saturday morning -- and a vote for Jogjakarta in 2018
The Saturday afternoon outing to the Pattaya Floating Market
The Gala Dinner at the Discovery Beach Hotel
Elephants followed by lunch at Suan Nong Nooch
The Silverlake Vineyard for wine in a fine environment
Pattaya Park Tower for a Farewell dinner with a view
Each web page maximizes the coverage in photos by combining a total of over 200 photographs in YouTube videos that are displayed at the top of each page.
SEANET summary and all web pages by Tony, HS0ZDX
Formally opening the event at the Gala Dinner on Saturday was NBTC Commissioner Gen Sukit Kamasunthorn while earlier that day delegates voted to have the 2018 SEANET Convention staged in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Next year, the event will take place in Siem Reap, Cambodia and, for the first time, this will be organized from outside the host country with a team led by Raja, VU2KKZ.
Raja was attending the SEANET Convention in Pattaya and provided those present with a briefing and an outline of the program for the 2017 Convention and there was strong support and an eagerness to attend, as displayed during the Pattaya Convention.
You can start by viewing photographs and a report of the 2016 SEANET welcome dinner or jump to any of the web pages with coverage of the SEANET Convention by following these links:
Registration at the Discovery Beach Hotel and Welcome Dinner
Seminars on Saturday morning -- and a vote for Jogjakarta in 2018
The Saturday afternoon outing to the Pattaya Floating Market
The Gala Dinner at the Discovery Beach Hotel
Elephants followed by lunch at Suan Nong Nooch
The Silverlake Vineyard for wine in a fine environment
Pattaya Park Tower for a Farewell dinner with a view
Each web page maximizes the coverage in photos by combining a total of over 200 photographs in YouTube videos that are displayed at the top of each page.
SEANET summary and all web pages by Tony, HS0ZDX
A solemn November meeting
Prior to the November RAST meeting on the morning of Sunday, November 6 RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom (Jack), HS1FVL had paid homage in a bereavement ceremony to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, HS1A-SK, the patron of RAST who passed away on October 13, 2016.The monthly meeting was held at Sena Place Hotel following the postponement of the ARDF Championships to late January in a mark of respect to His Majesty while the upcoming SEANET Convention on the weekend of November 18-21 had dominated a committee meeting of RAST officers that was held before the main meeting began.
Visitors included Kuny Nakada, 7L1FPU (AH0BT, who is the father of Yoshiki, KH0UA).
The formal part of the meeting began with everyone standing to respect the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Later there was a presentation of an Icom IC-9100 transceiver that RAST had purchased from G. Simon Radio for the ground station for the ongoing JAISAT satellite project which will use the callsign HS0AJ The ground station is to be located at the Rangsit campus of Bangkok University.
Among the announcements during the meeting was that the special callsign HS70A is now being used on two metres to commemorate the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej by enabling radio amateurs to express their condolences over the air between November 1 and December 31, 2016 on the amateur radio bands from every province in Thailand.
There is an online logbook of these QSOs and a summary of all contacts will be sent to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) which will forward the log to the Royal Palace. More details can be found at the following link: http://www.rast.or.th/announcements/hs70a
The online log can be viewed at this link: http://www.rast.or.th/hs70a
During the meeting plans for a micro DX-pedition to Myanmar from November 15-22 were announced when the callsign may be XZ1A with the operators being JH1AJT, Zorro, DJ9AB, Andre, W5MJ, Madison, E20NKB, JC and E21EIC, Champ.
Nopanant, HS0JSB, (right) of G. Simon Radio makes the presentation of an Icom IC-9100 transceiver to RAST President Jakkree (Jack. The radio will serve as the ground station for the JAISAT satellite.
ARDF Championships postponed
The ARDF Championships which had been planned for November 5-6 at Nong Prue near Pattaya have been postponed to the weekend of February 18-19, 2017 to respect the passing of His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej on October 13.
RAST regrets any inconvenience this may cause and will announce further details later.
Instead, on Sunday November 6, 2016 RAST will host its November monthly meeting at Sena Place Hotel from 11 a.m. onwards and all RAST members and any amateur radio operators visiting Thailand at the time are invited to attend.
RAST regrets any inconvenience this may cause and will announce further details later.
RAST to host Sunday meeting at Sena Place Hotel instead
ARDF and Seanet Convention dominate October meeting
Announcements at the October RAST meeting at Sena Place Hotel, attended by some 50 members and guests, began with everyone standing for a minute of silence in respect for Sawat, HS1HQT (pictured at right) a former RAST member but now a silent key who had passed away from heart failure following the September meeting. May he rest in peace.The upcoming ARDF Championships on November 5-6 and the SEANET Convention in Pattaya from November 18-20 will be keeping RAST busy next month and these topics dominated the announcements.
Having been the society that won the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn ARDF Trophy last year, RAST has the honour of hosting the direction-finding championships this year and these will take place at Nong Prue in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri on the first weekend of next month. Nong Prue is on the outskirts of Pattaya and the municipality is located about six kilometres inland. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps satellite view and this link shows the map view.
There will be various activities and details of the event can be found here. On that Sunday there will be no regular RAST meeting at Sena Place Hotel but all members are welcome to attend the ARDF Championships at Nong Prue Municipality when food will also be available.
As for the 44th SEANET Convention at Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya, the convention will begin on the evening of Friday, November 18 with a welcome dinner and there will be a gala dinner on Saturday. Details of the programme can be found here. There will be a special event station using the callsign HS44SEA which has been authorised by the NBTC Secretariat and there will also be tours to Suan Nongnooch and other attractions.
As for transport to the SEANET Convention from Bangkok, RAST will be providing minibuses which will depart regularly from both Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports on Friday for the Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya and members are welcome to avail themselves of this means of transport. Alternatively, of course, they may drive down to Pattaya or take a bus or tour bus from Ekamai or Morchit bus stations. The journey to Pattaya by car usually takes less than two hours via the Motorway (Route 7) or the Burapawithi elevated toll road (Route 34) followed by Route 7.
For some the tables at Sena Place Hotel are for enjoying the
buffet lunch while for others it makes a good workplace!
For earlier reports of activities earlier in 2016 please click here
buffet lunch while for others it makes a good workplace!
For earlier reports of activities earlier in 2016 please click here