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The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) celebrated its 30th
anniversary in November 1994 and on the 5th of November His
Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej conferred the honour of placing
the society under His Royal Patronage.
This is a matter of great pride and the greatest honour that
Thai Radio Amateurs could ever dream for. Being under His Royal
Patronage makes it easier for RAST in all sorts of ways.
Meanwhile, in 1996, the Kingdom of Thailand celebrated the
Golden Jubilee of His Majesty the King with celebrations to
honour the King's anniversary to mark His 50 years on the Throne.
All Thais throughout the country joined in celebrating this
event, which was done with many activities and in many different
ways. Activities were undertaken to improve the quality of life,
to develop professions, to improve the environment and to
preserve natural resources, to name just a few aspects.
RAST joined in these activities with members participating in a
reforestation project in conjunction with the Ministry of
Agriculture. The society also sought and obtained a special
callsign HS50A from the Post and Telegraph Department for both
internal, VHF-oriented activities, as well as for international
HF operations and DXpeditions throughout the year of 1996 in
order to spread the word of His Majesty's 50 years on the throne
far and wide, with over 10,000 HS50A QSL cards being sent to
amateur radio operators throughout the world to confirm QSOs with
the station HS50A.

Regulation Changes

The Radio Communications Act of 1955 and amateur radio
regulations of 1987 have undergone the following changes or
modifications:
1. To increase the penalties for offenders, with the highest
penalty being a five-year term of imprisonment and a fine of up
to 100,000 baht.
2. To give to the Post and Telegraph officials responsible for
amateur radio the power to make an arrest of a suspected offender
without notifying the police in advance.
3. A new class of amateur radio operator has been created in
accordance with a request from RAST in order that it be easier
for Novice Class operators to upgrade to Intermediate Class
making now a total of four classes of amateur radio operators, as
follows:
3.1 Novice Class (VHF only, No Morse required, 10 Watts
maximum output on frequencies between 144-146 MHz)
3.2 Intermediate - Second Class (5 wpm CW - Rx only, 10
Watts maximum output on frequencies between 144-146 MHz, and 100
Watts on the 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz amateur bands.
3.3 Intermediate - First Class (8 wpm CW - Tx & Rx, 10
Watts maximum output on frequencies between 144-146 MHz, and 200
Watts on the 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz amateur bands.)
3.4 Advanced Class (15 wpm CW - Tx & Rx, 10 Watts maximum
output on frequencies between 144-146 MHz, and 500 Watts on the
7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz amateur bands.)

Frequency of Examinations

RAST worked to promote the frequency of the examinations for
amateur radio conducted by the Post and Telegraph Department well
as ensuring that they are conducted throughout the country
Since 1994, the Post and Telegraph Department has conducted
Novice Class examinations every other week -- or every week in
some months -- in a different province throughout Thailand
The Intermediate Class examinations, both First and Second
Class, have been held in each major region of the country -- the
North, the South, Northeast and Bangkok -- twice a year.

Digital Modes

After RAST has been introducing and promoting Packet Radio to the
Post and Telegraph Department for many years, the society finally
succeeded in obtaining permission to test packet radio on two
metres on a temporary basis in 1996. The trial period was 3
months, then again a further 3 months, and then for a period of 6
months.
RAST requested permission to extend the project for another year
in 1997 and to expand it from two metres to HF as well.
After seeing the benefits of packet radio, when this project
ends in 1997, RAST shall seek permission from the Post and
Telegraph Department to use other digital modes, including
Baudot/RTTY, Amtor, Pactor, ASCII together with packet radio.

Satellite

In 1997 the MahaNakorn Institute of Technology Thailand together
with the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom are
participating in a joint project to launch the satellite called
TMSAT, a small low earth orbit satellite. Now it appears that
the Post and Telegraph Department will permit radio amateurs to
use certain portions of the 430-440 MHz band and RAST expects
that permission will be granted once the satellite is launched
this year.

RAST's Stance on Issues of Concern

The RAST position on Clause S.25 strongly supports the need for
amateur radio operators operating below 30MHz to have knowledge
and capability in the Morse code as has been the case in the past
and, in addition, RAST also believes that the 7MHz band in Region
3 should be expanded to 300 KHz, either from 7.0-7.3 MHz or from
6.8-7.1MHz, with the frequency allocation being the same in all
three IARU regions of the world.
As for the threat to the 144-148MHz band from low earth orbit
commercial satellite operators, RAST strongly defends its use for
amateur radio purposes and in all these three issues, RAST
officers have been explaining and lobbying with senior Post and
Telegraph Department officials the reasons these positions.

Amateur radio operator licences as of May 1, 1997

Novice Class RAE certified 195,234 persons
Novice Class 140,606 licences
Intermediate second class 532 licences
Intermediate First class 102 licences
( non-Thais, both reciprocal and non-reciprocal)
Advanced Class operators 1 licence
total 141,241 licences

Amateur radio station licences as of May 1, 1997

Novice class stations (VHF only) 50,807 licences
Intermediate class stations (VHF, HF) 107 licences
Advanced Class stations -
total 50,914 licences

According to figures as of May 16, 1994 the total number of
amateur radio operator licences 92,000, while today that number
stands at 141,241, which is an increase of 49,241 licences or an
increase of 53 percent.
Source: Amateur Licensing Department, Post and Telegraph
Department

Band Plan
2 Metre Band
144.000 - 144.050 EME / FM Voice secondary
144.075 - 144.875 FM Voice
144.900 Emergency call
144.925 - 144.975 FM Voice
145.000 Call Channel & Distress call
145.025 - 145.100 Repeater RX only
145.125 - 145.450 FM VoiceOperation only
146.475 - 145.600 Weak signal / FM Voice secondary
145.625 - 145.700 Repeater TX only
145.725 CW only
145.750 - 145.800 CW / FM Voice secondary
145.825 - 146.925 Special Event activity / FM Voice
secondary
145.950 - 146.000 Satellite / FM Voice secondary
NOTE : Band and spacing 25 KHz except Satellite Operations.

HF Bands
7.0 - 7.1, 14.0 - 14.35, 21.0-21.45, 28.0-29.7 MHz.
Source: Post and Telegraph Department Nov. 16, 1992 announcement

Note: As the authorities have not announced an official bandplan
for HF, RAST recommends and endorses the bandplan as proposed by
the IARU Region 3.

Membership

Because of the regulation issued by The National Frequency
Allocation and Management Committee that every province must have
a club station run by a registered local organization, radio
amateurs should thus be the member of RAST or of a local
organization.
The membership of RAST was 492 at the end of 1996. This was
made up of 388 local members and 104 members living overseas. Of
these, 414 are life members and 78 members pay yearly membership
dues.

The membership fee of RAST is the same as for other local
societies and clubs in each province of Thailand, which is
insufficient to run a national organization and hence RAST needs
to seek other financial support. Almost all activities are
supported by individuals and the officers of the society.
Life membership fee US$ 84 (2,000 baht)
Yearly membership fee US$ 8 (200 baht)
Application fee US$ 4 (100 baht)

Notes: Since the beginning, RAST has been paying its IARU dues
based on a figure much higher than the number of its transmitting
members.

Growth of Amateur Radio

Amateur radio activities in Thailand began formally under the
National Frequency Allocation and Management Committee on January
1, 1988. Over a period of 9 years they have increased quite
dramatically for novice class operators. However the numbers of
intermediate class operators who may use HF frequencies have
increased rather slowly.
The reasons for this stem from certain vague regulations of the
National Frequency Allocation and Management Committee which are
not always clear when it comes to applying them to administering
HF amateur radio.
For example, the mode of transmission is not specified when
taking into account the rapid advances in communications
technology, while another problem is obtaining HF equipment,
which is not easily imported into the country and is expensive,
while the specifications for much equipment that is available
does not meet the country's licensing regulations.

Activities of RAST - Past, Present and Future

1. Joined with the Post and Telegraph Department in drawing up
band plans for amateur radio.

2. Joined with the Post and Telegraph Department in modifying the
syllabus for the amateur radio examination and in the way that
the tests are conducted.
3. Joined fully with the other amateur radio associations within
Thailand and with other national societies.

4. Encouraged and trained members to sit and pass an exam to
upgrade their licences, with a big increase in the number of
intermediate class licensees.

5. Gave Morse training to members on two metres to prepare them
for the test to help them to upgrade their licences.

6. Encouraged and trained members to enable them to have
technical capabilities in communications and in contest as well
as other kinds of operating, both in CW and for SSB modes.

7. Gave training to members in contest operating from the
society's club station.

8. Gave training and an opportunity for experience by
participating in DXpeditions from various islands in the Gulf of
Thailand and the Andaman Sea under the IOTA Awards Program

9. Engaged in lobbying the Post and Telegraph Department to
permit digital modes in 1998.

10. Engaged in lobbying the Post and Telegraph Department to open
frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz to enable satellite
communication in 1998 in order to be able to receive signals from
TMSAT of the MahaNakorn Institute of Technology.

11. Conducted training in the principles of ARDF, holding a
referee training course for Thai and Malaysian radio amateurs in
conjunction with Mr Chen Ping, BA1HAM, Chairman of the IARU
Region 3 ARDF Committee. We had 170 enthusiasts participate,
including 18 radio amateurs and 11 Technical collage students
from Malaysia.

12. Promoted and organized ARDF contests together with the
individual and amateur radio associations throughout the country.

13. Conducted Digital Mode Users Seminars.

14. Conducted a Repeater Seminar to encourage the permission to
set up the repeater system which RAST about which has coordinated
and worked closely with high-ranking officers in the Post and
Telegraph Department.

Summary

Amateur Radio in Thailand has grown fast in quantity. But, when
it comes to the purpose of enhancing the knowledge and skills in
technology, it is still very slow. RAST has been working very
hard to promote the real objective of Amateur Radio and still
needs a lot of support from IARU Region 3 in the form of training
and activities.
RAST has a very good relationship with the Administration and
most local organisations. In spite of its financial
limitations, RAST is still moving ahead full steam in promoting
Amateur Radio in Thailand.

Tony Waltham
HS0/G4UAV