Report from Thailand
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse Elected as RAST Honorary Advisory Chairman, RAST Organized E2QRP for 2024 IARU QRP Day, etc.
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse Elected as RAST Honorary Advisory Chairman
Figure 1. RAST and VRA Board of Committees taking a picture with Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, King RAMA X’s son
Figure 2. Appointment Letter for Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse as RAST’s Honorary Advisory Chairman
On 27th May 2024, the board committee of Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (RAST) together with Volunteer Radio Association (VRA) received the courtesy of Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, King Maha Vajiralongkorn's second-eldest son, to meet on the occasion of his birthday and the acceptance of Mr Vacharaesorn as Honorary Advisory Chairman of both societies. RAST and VRA presented Mr Vacharaesorn with examination guide for amateur radio licenses, and invited him to sit the Thai Foundation License examination that is to be held later this year. Thank you Ray (E23PKO) for the pictures.
RAST Organized E2QRP for 2024 IARU QRP Day
Figure 3. QSL card for E2QRP
The International Amateur Radio Union is split into 3 regions. Our IARU Region 3 member societies include ARANC (New Caledonia), ARCOT (Tonga), Macau (ARM), ARRL (USA), ARSI (India), BARL (Bangladesh), BDARA (Brunei), CORA (French Polynesia), CRAC (China), CTARL (Taiwan), FARA (Fiji), HARTS (Hong Kong), JARL (Japan), KARL (Korea), MARTS (Malaysia), NZART (New Zealand), ORARI (Indonesia), PARA (Philippines), PARS (Pakistan), PIARA (Pitcairn Island), RAST (Thailand), RSGB (UK), RSSL (Sri Lanka), SARC (Samoa), SARTS (Singapore), SIRS (Solomon Islands), VARC (Vietnam), and WIA (Australia).
Figure 4. E2QRP operation set-up using ICOM IC-705 at Beach Camp in Chonburi, Thailand
This month, the IARU Region 3 has invited all its member societies to participate in the QRP Day which falls on 17th June. The objectives of supporting, fostering, and promoting QRP operations were agreed upon by all member societies dating back to the 10th IARU Region 3 Conference that was held in September 1997 in Beijing as raised by NZART. The sharing of knowledge about QRP operations can be achieved through various means including:
- QRP Field Day
- QRP Contest
- Distribution of QRP transmitter kits and learning resources
- Workshops
- Activation from host stations who are participating in the QRP events
RAST President Dr Jack Hantongkom (HS1FVL) who is also the IARU Region 3 Director organized a special event callsign E2QRP on 14th-16th June 2024, in a Field Day operation at Beach Camp, T. Bang Phra, A. Sriracha, Chonburi Province.
Figure 5. The atmosphere at the IARU QRP Day 2024 at Beach Camp in Chonburi, Thailand
The atmosphere at the Beach Camp was full of fun and laughter. RAST Committees and its members joined the event to set up the antennas and took turns to activate E2QRP in a <5 Watts set up. The aim was to use the frequency to its highest value, while transmitting at a reduced power. This is the perfect setup to hone one’s operation skills, by making the most of one’s station. So of course, RAST Field Day was all down to making the most number of contacts, to the furthest distance possible. In total, over 1,000 QSOs were in the log from all modes during the 3-day event. For those who have successful made contacts, please contact E2QRP QSL Manager HS1JZT for your QSL card. Thank you Dr. Jack (HS1FVL) for the pictures.
E20AX – SIAM DX Group Club station
E20AX Siam DX Group Club Station in Bangkok was honored to welcome 2 worldclass DXers and Contesters in May and June 2024.
Figure 6. Robert Kasca S53R/9N7AA visiting E20AX Club Station in Bangkok on 12 May 2024
The first person was Robert Kasca S53R who is the Director and Representative of the UN World Food Program. Every HAM operator who has been active knows that Robert is currently operating under the callsign 9N7AA from Nepal where he is stationed. He was previously in Afghanistan with the callsign T6AA/T6A, and has operated from many countries around the world. For more information about Robert, please see https://www.qrz.com/db/S53R
Figure 7. Vladimir Bykov UA4WHX visiting E20AX Club Station in Bangkok on 14 June 2024
The second person was Vladimir Bykov UA4WHX, a DXer who enjoys travelling the world and operating the radio wherever he goes. Vlad came to Bangkok with his wife Irina Bykovais WA4WHX, and their two sons, 7yo Victor and 5yo Boris. He shares the same love for QSL cards as Champ E21EIC, and inspiringly, made sure that all the QSL cards he printed tells a story. To check out Vlad’s QSL cards and be in awe of his innumerable activations, please see https://www.dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/personalities/index.php?CID=6065&lang=EN
E20AX is truly honored to welcome both Robert and Vlad to the humble shack.
Report from Thailand backnumber
- JARL Ham Fair 2024
- N5J Jarvis Island DXpedition 2024
- HS72KING
- Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse Elected as RAST Honorary Advisory Chairman, RAST Organized E2QRP for 2024 IARU QRP Day, etc.
- Recap from 5 years ago, Vivacharawongse Visited HSØAB, US FCC Amateur Radio License Examination
- RAST Celebrated its 60th Anniversary and Held 2023 AGM in Saraburi Province
- Krabi ARDF 2024 for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Royal Cup
- E20AX/P IOTA DXpedition to Lipe Island (AS-126)
- December YOTA Month in Thailand
- CQ World Wide DX Contest from Thailand
- IARU R3 YOTA Camp Pattaya, Thailand
- Dxpeditions, US FCC Examination, CQ World Wide DX Contest 2023, etc.
- JA Hams visited E20AX Club Station
- JARL HAM FAIR 2023
- World Radiosport Team Championship WRTC 2022 (2023) Bologna, Italy, 4-11 July 2023
- Friedrichshafen Ham Radio Fair 2023
- Parks on the Air in Thailand
- RAST on The Beach 4
- Fred Laun K3ZO Silent Key (Part II) A great loss for amateur radio
- Fred Laun K3ZO Silent Key (Part I) A great loss for amateur radio
- HF Amateur Radio Seminars Hosted by RAST and NBTC BW/E25KAE, The First Thai HAM Operator in Taiwan
- CQ World-Wide DX Contest SSB & CW 2022 from Ban Ta Bong (The Center of the World)
- POTA Activations in Thailand by JJ1DQR,
Advanced Class Examination for Thai Amateur Radio Licenses - HS3NBR/p Maeo Island IOTA AS-145,
16th – 19th September 2022 - JARL HAM FAIR 2022
- Inmemoriam to the former RAST President Mayuree Chotikul, HS1YL,
US FCC Amateur Radio License Examination in Thailand, etc. - 45th International Amateur Radio Exhibition in Germany“HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN 2022”
- E20AX/P Mini-IOTA DXpedition to Samet Island (AS-107)
- Easing of Travel Restrictions for Visitors Entering Thailand,
Tribute to Franz Langner, DJ9ZB and Roger Western, G3SXW - RAST held its General Annual Meeting, May you rest in peace JH1AJT and W7LR
- RAST Annual General Meeting, March 20, 2022
- The First Intermediate License Examination Since COVID-19 Outbreak
- E20AX/p IOTA DXpedition to Chang Island (AS-125)
- CQ World Wide DX Contest CW 2021 from Thailand
- CQ World Wide DX Contest SSB 2021 from Thailand
- The 18th IARU Region 3 Virtual Conference was a success
- Celebrating 400th anniversary of trade relationship between Denmark & Thailand, etc.
- E2HQ RAST Headquarter 2021, etc.
- RAST will host the IARU Region 3 Conference 2021 online in September, etc.
- RAST Talks, RAST CW Challenge Results
- RAST held AGM meeting and hosted New Year Party, NARIT Astro Fest 2021
- RAST CW Challenge
- KMUTNB and RAST welcome Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation & other news.
- FCC Amateur Radio License Exam, RAST Donated a Tower to Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary,Installation of 2EL Quad at E24OYI
- RAST & G. SIMON BALLOON FESTIVAL 2020 "E2ICOM"
- RAST HF-101, November RAST meeting
- NBTC and RAST presented the callsign HS10A to His Majesty the King
- RAST hosts August meeting at an open-air restaurant
US FCC Amateur Radio License Examination at KMITL, Bangkok, Thailand - E2HQ RAST-Headquarter, Spirit of the 2020 IARU HF World Championship
Installation of E24EZ, The first DMR Repeater in Thailand - Global COVID-19 “STAYHOME” Radio Communication Event was a great success
- E2STAYHOME, RAST COVID-19 Special Event
E21EIC inducted into CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame
COVID-19 RADIO COMMUNICATION EVENT - The E21EIC Station Antenna System Improved for Competition
- RAST Annual General Meeting
April RAST meeting cancelled, YOTA event is postponed - RAST installs IGATEs to expand the APRS network in Thailand
- First US FCC Amateur Radio License Examination in 2020
- Thailand Amateur Radio Day 2019