Radio Amateur Society of Thailand
National amateur radio society under royal patronage, representing Thailand in the IARU.
The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under The Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King (RAST) is a national nonprofit serving amateur radio enthusiasts in Thailand. Operating under royal patronage, it is recognized as a charitable organization by the Thai Ministry of Finance. RAST was founded on August 22, 1963, when a group of amateur radio operators gathered at a Bangkok restaurant. One of its first tasks was resolving official concerns about Thai amateurs communicating with operators abroad. The society represents Thai amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners before domestic and international telecom regulators, and it serves as Thailand’s national member society in the International Amateur Radio Union.
In Thailand, amateur radio operation requires either an exam in Thai for Thai nationals or a reciprocal license granted to holders of a valid license from certain other countries—such as the United States—through treaties between Thailand and those nations. The latest list of eligible countries is available in the licensing section of the RAST website. Licenses are valid for five years and are renewable. International call sign prefixes for Thai amateurs are HS and E2, followed by numbers and letters to identify individual licensees or clubs—for example, HS0AC or E20AAA. While there are about 300,000 licensed operators in Thailand, only a few dozen are active on HF frequencies; most operate on the 2-meter band.
RAST typically holds monthly member meetings on the first Sunday of each month at the Sena Place Hotel in Bangkok, though during the pandemic meetings became less frequent and moved to different locations. Guests are welcome. Officers and board members serve two-year terms and are elected regularly. Membership costs 300 baht initially, with a 200 baht annual renewal fee. Lifetime membership is 2,100 baht, and a gold lifetime membership costs 5,000 baht. Membership is open to anyone.
Quick Facts
- Abbreviation
- RAST
- Formation
- August 22, 1963
- Purpose
- Advocacy, Education
- Location
- Bangkok, Thailand / 14.07817 · 100.61254 · yes
- Region Served
- Thailand
- Language
- Thai
- Leader Title
- President
- Leader Name
- Jakkree Hangtongkom HS1FVL
- Affiliations
- International Amateur Radio Union
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The organization was founded on August 22, 1963, by a group of amateur radio operators who met at a restaurant in Bangkok. Among the first orders of business was to address official objections to the communications of radio amateurs in Thailand with amateur radio operators in other countries. RAST holds monthly member meetings on the first Sunday of each month at the Sena Place Hotel in Bangkok, though during the pandemic meetings became less frequent and at different locations. Officers and board members are elected regularly and hold two-year terms.
Reader's Guide
RAST serves as the primary representative body for Thai amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners, engaging with both Thai and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. Its status as a charitable entity under a Thai Ministry of Finance declaration and its royal patronage underscore its recognized role in Thailand. The society manages licensing for amateur radio operations in Thailand, which are permitted via an examination in the Thai language for Thai nationals or through reciprocal agreements with a few other countries, including the United States. Licenses carry a five-year renewable term and use the international prefixes HS and E2. Although there are about 300,000 licensed operators in Thailand, only a few tens are active on HF frequencies; most use the 2 meter band. Membership is open to anyone, with fees structured for annual, lifetime, and gold lifetime options. RAST's affiliation with the International Amateur Radio Union as the national member society for Thailand connects local operators to the global amateur radio community.
Did You Know?
- RAST was founded on August 22, 1963, by amateur radio operators meeting at a restaurant in Bangkok.
- The organization operates under the royal patronage of the King of Thailand and is a charitable entity per a Thai Ministry of Finance declaration.
- Thailand has about 300,000 licensed amateur radio operators, but only a few tens are active on HF frequencies.
- Licenses in Thailand use the international prefixes HS and E2, and are valid for five years.
More in Amateur Radio Organizations, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced