From ARVic, original post here.
The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) has begun as net control for the SEANET on air gathering of radio amateurs in Southeast Asia every Monday and Friday at 1200 UTC on 14.320 MHz.
RAST Vice President, Tony Waltham HS0ZDX the net control operator begins by calling for check-ins from countries in Southeast Asia, followed by elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific, then in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North, Central and South America.
RAST will host the 2016 SEANET Convention in Pattaya, a popular beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand, from November 18-21. To register to attend the 44th SEANET Convention see the information at the website http://www.seanet2016.com/
SEANET which began in late 1963 is a guide to propagation and a meeting point before QSYing away from the net frequency for a QSO. The first SEANET Convention was held in Penang in 1971.
Its origins are that radio amateurs in the region met on air November 29, 1963 to promote international understanding and fellowship, and to relay emergency, medical, urgent or priority traffic. SEANET is a guide to propagation and a meeting point before stations QSY from the net frequency for a QSO.
*** EDIT *** – Further info from RAST VP Tony Waltham, HS0ZDM:
The Southeast Asia Net (SEANET) will be reactivated next week by the members of RAST, Thailand’s national amateur radio society.
Beginning on Monday, April 11 a Thai net control station will invite stations to check into SEANET from across the Southeast Asian region on 14.320 MHz from 12.00z (7pm in Bangkok and Jakarta) onwards.
Subsequently, the net will be conducted twice a week, every Monday and Friday, when a Thai net control station will invite stations around the region to check in on a country-by-country basis.
Later this year the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King (RAST) will host the 2016 SEANET Convention in Pattaya, a popular beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand, from November 18-21 and RAST President Jakkree Hantongkom (Jack), HS1FVL along with directors of the society believe that it is important to ensure that the net on 20 metres continues to be conducted regularly.
Amateur radio stations anywhere in the world are welcome to check into SEANET, whose main role is to be on standby to handle any medical or emergency traffic. In the past SEANET has helped sailors and crew members on yachts in distress while also serving as a guide to propagation conditions and being a meeting point for hams in the region where they can meet friends before QSYing away from the net frequency for a QSO.
SEANET began operating on 14.320 MHz in late 1963 and the first SEANET Convention was held in Penang in 1971. Since then the convention has been an annual event while the net had been manned by volunteer net control stations from around the region. However, the net activity had declined and it no longer meets regularly and this initiative by RAST hopes to redress this by conducting the net at least twice a week.
It is still possible to register to attend the 44th SEANET Convention in Pattaya and full information can be found at the SEANET 2016 website: www.seanet2016.com.
Any amateur radio station can check into the net and the net control operator begins by calling for check-ins from countries in Southeast Asia, followed by elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific, then in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North, Central and South America.
For more information about RAST and amateur radio in Thailand, please check out the English-language website while there is also a website in Thai.