A charitable entity (No. 555) pursuant to a Ministry of Finance announcement

July 2010

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Next meeting: Sunday, August 1, 2010, from 11 a.m. onwards at Sena Place Hotel

HS0AC is sole station authorised for 6-metres in CQWW VHF contest

Perhaps the biggest development to be announced by RAST President Chaiyong Wongwuticomjon, HS1QVD, during the July meeting at Sena Place Hotel was the temporary six-metre authorisation issued by the NTC for RAST's club station HS0AC to operate during the CQWW VHF contest on the weekend of July 17-18, 2010.
Information received earlier (and posted on this website) had indicated that other Thai stations might operate, but the letter issued by the National Telecommunications Commission grants permission for the HS0AC club station only, and the letter also specifies the use of licensed equipment for this purpose.
Nevertheless, operators are keen to be the first to transmit a legal six-metre signal from Thailand in almost 20 years, the last time this has been authorised was during a SEANET convention hosted by RAST in Chiang Mai back in 1992.
Chaiyong began the meeting by thanking RAST Vice President Winit Kongprasert, HS1CKC, for hosting the June meeting in his absence. He had been on a trip to the United States, when he had met RAST adviser Fred Laun, K3ZO/HS0ZAR, and ARRL President David Sumner, K1ZZ and his XYL Linda, when they had had lunch together.

Intermediate class exam update

In an update on the forthcoming intermediate class amateur radio examination, Chaiyong announced that while RAST had been lobbying for the Morse code component to be waived, the NTC had indicated that to introduce such a change would likely result in a long delay.
Consequently, RAST had decided not to hold out for a code-free examination and training session in order to speed things up and so that the test might be conducted at the earliest opportunity.

At left, RAST President Chaiyong and, next to him, is Vice-President Winit, HS1CKC, while second from right is ThaiBev's Off-Road Club President Sawat Sopa and at far right, is the secretary of the Off Road Club, Khun Nopporn seen during the meeting on June 17, 2010.

Meeting with ThaiBev's Off-Road Club

Last month, senior RAST representatives met with ThaiBev's Off-Road Club executives to discuss the possibility of co-operation in the hosting RAST's planned car rally. Members at the July meeting heard that the meeting had gone well and both parties had introduced themselves and explained their organisations' respective activities and goals, with the ThaiBev Off-Road Club mainly focussed on charity work oriented towards villagers living in remote areas of Thailand.
RAST and ThaiBev agreed to explore ways to combine their resources and will continue to exchange views around helping remote communities and in raising funds. Vice President Winit, HS1CKC, will pursue these possibilities on bahelf of RAST and will also co-ordinate ongoing efforts to organise RAST's car rally later this year.
The meeting further bolstered a long-term relationship between ThaiBev and RAST, as the company has been a long-term supporter of RAST special event activities, including the sponsorship of draught Chang Beer during the international SEANET conventions hosted by RAST in Bangkok in 2004 and again in Lampang in 2007 In another fund-raising activity, RAST intends to design and print up a shirt with a suitable logo and slogan for members and Wacharapol, HS4DDQ, has been assigned to follow-up on this, members were told.

RAST to nominate hams to assist government Disaster Management Centre

Thailand's National Disaster Management Centre under the Interior Ministry is seeking amateur radio representatives to join a working group and during its committee meeting earlier at the beginning of the month, RAST officers came up with several names that they would nominate, including Phatanadit, HS1WFK, Joe, HS2JFW, and Thida, HS1ASC.

Advisers to be appointed

RAST also intends to formally appoint several members to join a team of consultants. This group will be chaired by former RAST president Mayuree Chotikul, HS1YL and those to be appointed will include Thaweewit, HS1KBG, Joe, HS1JFW, Opas, HS1SPX, Jojo, E22JNE, Thida, HS1ASC and Chada, E21QJU.

Meeting planned with NTC commissioners

During the second week of July, RAST President Chaiyong intends to lead a small group of senior RAST representatives to meet and congratulate Prasit Prapinmongkolkjarn on his appointment as NTC Chairman and also to meet NTC Commissioner Dr Natee Sukonrat.

HS0AC club station report

In his monthly report about the HS0AC club station, Finn, OZ1HET, noted that the All Asia DX Contest CW, HS0AC had been active with a final score of 715 QSOs and 150,000 points, and noted that he had worked five Thai stations during the contest, E20HHK, E21YDP, E29AN, HS0EHF and HS4BPQ. He also thanked Champ for a 300 baht donation for when he operated the WPX CW contest from the station.


Report by HS0ZDX, Tony


And, in earlier developments:

RAST President meets ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ

While in the United States of America during the month of May, RAST President Chaiyong Wongwuticomjon had the opportunity to meet ARRL Chief Executive Officer and former IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ when they had lunch together along with RAST advisor Fred Laun, K3ZO/HS0ZAR, and Dave's XYL Linda, KA1ZD.

The group is pictured here after Chaiyong presented a pennant to Dave on behalf of RAST. During the meeting, Chaiyong was able to brief the ARRL CEO about developments around amateur radio in Thailand, including progress in the forthcoming intermediate class amateur radio examination that RAST has been seeking authority from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to organise.

May meeting: RAST representative to join SI9AM celebrations

Sam, HS0ZDY, accepts the plaque from RAST President Chaiyong, HS1QVD. Sam will present the trophy to the SI9AM Council in Utanude on July 24. Photo: HS0ZDX

Sam, HS0ZDY to attend memorial station's 10th anniversary in Sweden

The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Amateur Radio Station in Ragunda, central Sweden which operates with the callsign SI9AM will celebrate its 10th anniversary on July 24, 2010 and representing RAST during the celebrations will be Svante (Sam), HS0ZDY/SM3DYU.
During the May meeting at the Sena Place Hotel, RAST President Chaiyong, HS1QVD conveyed his congratulations in advance of the occasion to Sam and presented him with a special commemorative plaque that RAST has designed.
In late July Sam will present this plaque to the SI9AM Council, led by President Lars Aronsson, SM3CVM during the anniversary celebrations. He will take the plaque to the station which is next to where a Thai pavilion marks a visit to Utanede there by Thailand's King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) over 100 years ago.
For a full story about King Chulalongkorn's visit to Utanede in 1897 and how the Thai Pavilion was built almost 100 years later, please check out the SI9AM website. The following link is the story of the Thai Pavilion in Utanede, while there are many pictures of the pavilion.
According to the official web site, when the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Amateur Radio Society was set up in Ragunda, Sweden in the summer of 2000, the aim was to offer radio amateurs visiting the Thai Pavilion the possibility to make contact with radio amateurs around the world using the special callsign SI9AM.
The first contact that this station made was with the RAST club station, HS0AC, while a good relationship has ensued between RAST and SI9AM, with contacts having been made between HS0AC and SI9AM during special events on occasions of visits by senior Thai officials to the station.

Intermediate class exam update

At the May meeting, RAST President Chaiyong, HS1QVD also recapped the decisions and developments made during a committee meeting earlier in the day, including an update on the impending intermediate class licence and the possibility of new club stations at Asia University and the Science Park.
For the upcoming exam, which is now in the hands of the National Telecommunications Commission, RAST understands that the Morse code requirement will not be waived, although it might be a written test (in dots and dashes form) rather than a demonstration of the ability to copy and send code.

Club stations, activity and contests

Regarding the possibility of new club stations, Thomas, HS0ZDF said he had not had the opportunity to speak with officials at the Science Park, and he also said that the new office building of the National Housing Authority might also make a good location for antennas, adding he would follow up on this. As for Asia University, the Voluntary Radio Association has invited RAST to jointly participate in a club station, and to help by providing the HF component. Discussions were continuing, with Kanchit, HS1JC, representing RAST, members were told.
Finn, OZ1HET then provided a report on activities at the HS0AC club station on the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology, noting that during the weekend of April 3-4, HS0AC had been active in the Polish DX Contest but propagation had been very bad, with only 54 QSOs and 3,078 points scored.
On the Weekend of April 10-11, the Japanese International CW DX contest was running, with HS0AC making 301 QSO's, gaining 34,454 points on four bands. Finn also reported that John Gagen, HS0ZDJ/W2YR had donated a nearly-new microwave oven, for which RAST is most grateful.
Swen, HS0ZFZ then stepped up to the microphone to provide a report about the Songkran DXpedition to Koh Chang from April 10-15. He said operations had been disrupted by a solar storm, yet despite this, and with two stations set up, the operators made a total of 5,300 QSOs, which had exceeded their goal of a minimum of 1,000 QSOs a day.
Derek, HS0ZJH, then stepped forward to praise Swen for his help in having provided a cash loan, unasked for, to Derek after he had lost his credit card during the DXpedition, and that he very much appreciated this help from a fellow ha. He also asked that these remarks be put on the record of the meeting.
Looking ahead to upcoming contests, Champ, E21EIC reminded everyone that CQ World-Wide CW WPX contest will take place on the weekend of May 29-30 and that there would be a group effort from HS0AC, with any volunteers being welcome to join the team, while Narissara (John), HS1CHB told members that RAST would be seeking special permission from the NTC to operate six metres (50MHz) during the CQWW VHF contest in July.

Report by Tony, HS0ZDX

April meeting: Intermediate class update

In announcements made at the April RAST meeting held at Sena Place members heard that the proposed Intermediate Class amateur radio examination would likely be considered by the National Telecommunications Commission in the fourth quarter of this year. RAST had learned from a source at the NTC that the newly-selected NTC Chairman was waiting for royal permission before starting work.
The source added that 3G mobile networks were likely to be the first priority of the NTC, while the intermediate class amateur radio examination paper would follow the existing format, with a Morse code examination included. The examination would be 400 baht, it was added.
RAST continues to follow up on this and will keep members and others posted regarding the ongoing developments.

HS0AC activities

There have been several activities conducted at the HS0AC club station at the Asian Institute of Technology, according to station manager Finn, OZ1HET. RAST thanked John, W2YR/HS0ZDJ for his donation of 500 baht following his activity in the ARRL DX CW contest at the station in February, while on March 27 K5GN, David, and his XYL paid a visit.
That weekend a team comprising E21EIC - Champ, HS0ZFZ - Swen, HS0ZHG - Nathan, HS1CKC - Winit and W2YR?HS0ZDJ - John used the callsign E20AS making a total of 1,910 QSOs for a point score of 3,500,490 in the CQ WPX SSB contest.
On March 30, a member of Japan's House of Councillors, Koushin Fujitani - JA4BVC vsited the club station and, on behalf of RAST, Finn took the opportunity to explain how its Japanese members were unable to obtain a Thai callsign because there was no reciprocal operating agreement between the two countries. "Mr Fujitani understood the problem and promised to try to do something about it," added Finn, who had also noted that radio amateurs from Denmark were in the same situation.

In other matters

In other matters, members at the April meeting heard that Kanchit, HS1JC had proposed that RAST should join the Voluntary Radio Association in drafting new amateur radio regulations to submit to the NTC and that he had been given the go-ahead to co-ordinate on this.
Regarding support for the proposed car rally, ThaiBev has indicated support and RAST is awaiting an opportunity to meet with the company's OffRoad Group to discuss possible co-operation in staging this event, which is planned to end up at the Srinakarind dam in Kanchanaburi province.
Members heard that G Simon company had proposed donating a D.Star repeater to RAST and further discussions are expected to take place about this
The RAST committee also agreed to a proposal by President Chaiyong, HS1QVD, that the old amateur radio handbook needed reprinting, along with an addendum about the intermediate class examination and Winit, HS1CKC and Kanchit, HS1JC had been assigned to coordinate on this.
RAST also agreed to sponsor a table at an eyeball meeting of the Suphanburi Amateur Radio Club, HS7AS scheduled for Saturday, April 24 at Bang Pla Ma Padungwit School and several members were expected to attend this event.

March meeting: Chaiyong re-elected as RAST President

Nine committee members voted in, four more appointed

RAST President Chaiyong Wongwuticomjon, HS1QVD, was re-elected unopposed for another two-year term during the March annual general meeting (AGM) on Sunday March 7, while nine officers of RAST were elected by popular vote and Chaiyong appointed a further four members to serve on the RAST committee.

The election proceedings were overseen by Gen Prasit, HS1DN, as chairman, with Thida, HS1ASC, assisting. Many of those elected as officers were familiar faces who have served on RAST committees in the past with the ballots being as follows:

Election results

Name	Callsign	Vote	Rank
Winit	HS1CKC	33	1
Tempark	E20FWF	33	1
Wacharapol	HS4DDQ	33	1
Chalermphon	E21EIC	32	4
Finn	OZ1HET	32	4
Kunchit	HS1JC	31	6
Pittaya	HS1FRU	31	6
Narissara	HS1CHB	23	8
Swen	HS0ZFZ	17	9

When the head count was taken at 12.30, some 31 members were present -- not enough to constitute a quorum -- so, in accordance with RAST regulaton No. 26, those present waited one hour and an attendance recount then registered 36 members as being present. It was thus deemed that those present shall constitute a quorum.

Another five committee members are to be appointed by the President for registration, after the meeting Chaiyong appointed four more members, namely Pornpimpol, HS0VDX, Kamol Nakchum, E21EHQ, and Ukrit Nooma, HS1AXC and Tony Waltham, HS0ZDX.

From left, Champ, Kunchit, Watcharaphon, Chaiyong, Finn, Winit, Narissara, Tempark and Phittaya with Mayuree, HS1YL, seated. Photo by HS1ASC.

The committee line-up was as follows:

The March meeting had begun with a minute's silence after members were advised that Darragh McCluer, WA6IKS/HS0ZAG, had passed away on January 29, 2010, aged 60, after a long bout with colon cancer that extended treatment with chemotherapy had been unable to contain. Darragh had been a familiar face to many RAST members after he retired from the US military to help establish and manage Circuit Consultants (Circon), a Bangkok-based manufacturer of printed circuit boards. He had participated in many RAST activities during the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's before returning to the United States.

The following tribute to Darragh comes from long-time RAST adviser Fred Laun, K3ZO/HS0ZAR, and is very appropriate to include here:

"Darragh was a resident of Thailand for many years and had a key role in the establishment of legal Amateur Radio there, and in the development of RAST club station HS0AC on the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology. After Thailand signed the reciprocal operating agreement with the USA, Darragh was one of two American hams to be publicly honored by the Director General of the Posts and Telegraphs Department, who handed Darragh his HS0ZAG license at a banquet at the Southeast Asia Net Convention.

"Those of us involved through the years in the development of the Amateur Radio Service in Thailand will sorely miss our departed colleague, without whose concerted efforts Thailand might today be much more difficult to work on the HF bands."

Darragh, who had been living near Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America, is survived by his Thai wife. May he rest in peace.

At left, IARU Region 3 Chairman Michael Owen, VK3KI, and Tony, HS0ZDX share a light moment, with Tempark, E20FWF at right, while in the right picture RAST President Chaiyong, HS1QVD, is seated next to Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI. Photos by Champ, E21EIC.

On Wednesday March 10, RAST hosted a welcome dinner for the four IARU R3 delegates, attended by RAST President and seven committee members at the "Curries and More by Baan Khanitha" restaurant on Soi Ruam Rudee. Regional and domestic amateur radio issues were discussed, including membership, the IARU R3 dues and the Wireless Institute of Australia's celebration of 100 years since its establishment this March and the special event station VK100WIA.

(report by Tony, HS0ZDX)

Earlier in the year... the February RAST meeting

RAST also has handbooks providing "General Knowledge for Intermediate Class Amateurs" in Thai (shown at right) and will make these available (printing more copies, if necessary) as well as conducting training sessions, with at least two planned, the first some three to four weeks before the yet-to-be announced date of the examination and the second on the morning of the event.

Officers Kanchit, HS1JC, Winit, HS1CKC and Narissara (John), HS1CHB, have also been assigned to look at the examination questions. It is expected that the exam will comprise 50 multiple choice questions, taken from a "bank" of 200 questions about Thai and international amateur operating laws and conventions, operating procedures and technical matters regarding operating on the HF bands. Regarding the examination itself, RAST officer Uthai, HS1RGF, will liaise with the NTC regarding the location of the Intermediate class examination.

RAST is also seeking for the Morse code requirement to be waived, at least for sending and receiving Morse code since most countries have now eliminated the need for Morse code capabilities, including all of those which have a bilateral reciprocating operating agreement with Thailand.

However, a written test demonstrating knowledge and understanding of Morse code to the extent of being able to write down the equivalent in dots and dashes for Q-codes or plain text is not ruled out.

The Government's Disaster Prevention Department is seeking input from RAST on contingency planning for a disaster, having sent the society a questionnaire, which is now in the hands of Kanchit, HS1JC.

It was also announced that RAST President Chaiyong had responded to an invitation, and had agreed serve as a candidate for an electoral committee that would screen candidates for the position of an NTC commissioner.

Chaiyong also told those present that he and some four to five other RAST members had attended a merit-making for Ray Gerrard, HS0ZDZ, at his Pathum Thani home in Mooban Pradhana (Klong 6) on December 18 and had found Ray to be "better", responding to his visitors and appearing to recognise them, although he had still been unable to have a conversation.

Ray, a former officer of RAST, had been in a coma for three weeks following a heart attack in November 2004, and has slowly been recovering and is now taken care of by his wife, Lawan, E21UHL.

Late last month, Chaiyong, HS1QVD also led several RAST members to join a large celebration at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Hall to mark the 15th anniversary of the Bangna Samphan ham radio group.

RAST has also been notified of the meeting of the APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC 2012 to be held March 8-12 and will contact the NTC regarding the possibility of having a representative participate in this, it was announced during the February meeting.

HS0AC club station manager Finn, OZ1HET, summarising recent activities, mentioned the donation of the Kenwood TS440S tranceiver and other station equipment at the January New Year Party by Lyle Greeno, W0OMK, as well as participation in Hungarian DX contest on January 16-17 2010, when HS0AC had 120 QSOs and achieved 6,180 points under "relatively poor" conditions.

Tony then mentioned that the February issue of CQ Magazine had a good article about VHF contesting in Thailand, written by Champ, and noted how Thailand outshone all other countries in Asia in terms of the level of activity and contest entries. The same issue in the magazine also lists this RAST web site as being among eight "Interesting ham radio web sites" worldwide.

Indeed, on checking the records, Mayuree (pictured at left) had served for seven consecutive terms as RAST President, from March 1992 until March 2006, when she was succeeded by Chaiyong. Khun Mayuree attends most RAST meetings; indeed, she was at the February meeting, and she also serves on the RAST committee in the capacity of RAST Advisory Chairwoman.

President Chaiyong reminded those present that the next RAST meeting on March 7, 2010 would be an Annual General Meeting and also that this was an election year when a new president and officers would be elected, and encouraged all those present to come and vote.

(report by Tony, HS0ZDX)

In earlier reports:

As of noon on Tuesday, February 2, some 62 stations and 235 operators had registered to participate in the Thailand Field Day Contest which begins this year on Saturday February 6 at noon Thailand Standard Time (GMT +7) and continues for 24 hours. Full details can be found at the official field day website, along with the contest rules.

There are eight entry categories: Single Operator, QRP Portable, Single Operator, QRO Portable, Multi Operator, QRO Portable, Single Operator QRP Home Station, Single Operator, QRO Home Station, Multi Operator, QRO Home Station, Club Station, QRO and Rover. This is a VHF contest and modes cover FM, SSB, CW, MCW, Digital and Satellite, while Repeater, Echolink and VoIP QSOs are invalid. QRP means not more than 5 watts output. The contest exchange is the callsign, the signal report (RS(T)), the contest class that you are competing in and the province the station is located in. Each province counts as a multiplier. Contest rules can be found here.

Our thanks go to Champ, E21EIC, for forwarding these details.

RAST President Chaiyong Wongwuticomjon, HS1QVD, accepted the transceiver on behalf of all RAST members and HS0AC station manager Finn, OZ1HET, took custody of the equipment that will be installed at the society's club station at the Asian Institute of Technology where there is regular activity in contests, including multi-single and multi-multi operations.

Prior to the donation, Sam, HS0ZDY, had checked out the rig and he verified that it was in good working order.

Lyle, W4OMK/HS0ZAM, hands his TS440 over to RAST club station manager Finn, OZ1HET in a donation to RAST.
Standing at left is RAST President Chaiyong, HS1QVD and at right is Lyle's XYL Orn, KC0BVH.

A VHF and an HF station was set up in the party area and there was much interest in operating HF, while the station also checked into SEANET (the Southeast Asia Net on 14.320) shortly after 7 p.m. There was much interest in the HF operations, including the working of some DX stations while propagation was good (SFI=84, A=0, K=0.) These photographs below capture some of the excitement and enthusiasm.

CQ.. CQ.. A demonstration of HF operating on 20 metres proved to be a big attraction

A display of delicious food was unveiled before the sun went down, and which lasted the entire evening. Prasit, HS1DN, and Yanee, HS1LCC take stock.

To wash things down there was a wide selection of sodas, while for many the highlight was two kegs of draft Chang Beer, thanks to ThaiBev which has generously supported RAST during special events such as its New Year parties and the Lampang SEANET convention in 2007 and Tony, HS0ZDX, reminded everyone during the announcement period of the brewery's support, thanking them for this.

Both OMs ...

... and YLs

RAST New Year party report and photographs by Tony, HS0ZDX