# AMATEUR RADIO

# RAYNET

## Some amateurs find additional interest in providing a public service in the event of disasters large and small, through joining a radio amateur emergency communications organization . The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network (RAYNET) is a national body of Radio Amateurs who are pledged to provide communications in times of emergency and disaster. RAYNET was formed following the East Coast Floods Disaster in 1953, when Radio Amateurs provided emergency communications. Under the terms of the amateur radio licence, amateur’s are not usually permitted to pass messages for third parties, but an agreement was reached which authorised this procedure whilst working for an “User Service”. The list of “User Services” has been increased and now includes the British Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance, the St. Andrew Ambulance Association, Chief Emergency Planning Officer, or any UK police force, fire or ambulance service, HM Coastguard, health authority, Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, Salvation Army, government department or utility services. RAYNET members come from all occupations and usually have an agreement with their employer that they may be released for duty if required in much the same way as volunteer fire fighters and lifeboat crew members. Currently there are about 1300 members of the Network throughout the country, and these are organised in groups of, on average, twenty five members. These groups have either politically or geographically defined areas, under the leadership of a Controller. In Counties or Regions where there is more that one Group, there is normally a County or Regional Controller who co-ordinates the efforts of the various groups in his or her area. Zonal co-ordinators look after an area based on the former national civil defence zones. All RAYNET members carry laminated photographic identity cards that are issued centrally by the Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network. As training is an important aspect of RAYNET membership, the previous system of local training at group level has been enhanced by the appointment of a national Training Director who leads a team charged with devising support materials and courses to supplement a training scheme, enabling training to be completed at a local level to an agreed national standard. It is, of course, important to have “hands on” experience and throughout the year RAYNET volunteer’s give freely of their time and use their own equipment to provide communications at local fun runs, marathons, car rallies, maritime races and similar events when message passing and engineering skills can be tried and tested. Voice transmissions are the norm, but typed messages in the form of “teletype” or “packet” transmissions, are increasingly being used, the latter allowing 100% error free messages to be passed over both long and short distances. RAYNET has provided communications at disasters such as Zeebrugge and Lockerbie, as well as at many local emergencies when storms, flooding, telephone equipment failures, search and rescue missions and oil spills have necessitated additional emergency communications. Overseas work is also undertaken, with RAYNET providing disaster relief communications, usually for the Red Cross. News of families in overseas areas hit by hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters can be passed on quickly to relatives in this country. Additional controlled staffing can easily be provided by RAYNET groups calling in members from adjacent groups and regions. At Lockerbie, there was a minimum of eighty members on duty during each of the first ten days, with one hundred and thirty on the busier ones. RAYNET Group volunteers came from as far away as Pitlochry and Leicester with individual members coming from either further afield. In some areas, local authorities maintain permanent stations for RAYNET use in their emergency headquarters, while others provide antennas allowing RAYNET to bring in and quickly connect their own equipment. All registered members of The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network are covered by a standard Employers Liability Policy, and against third party claims by a Public Liability Policy. A voluntary Personal Accident Insurance Scheme for members is operated by The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network. As with all emergency situations, it is better to work with known faces, and meetings between the user services and RAYNET controllers are therefore helpful. RAYNET members are invited to attend disaster exercises whether as players or as observers, so that all will know what is expected of them should the need for additional communications arise at short notice. ### ***************************************** With thanks to Clive McCloud G4EFB for providing the above information. Clive McCloud G4EFB Deputy Group Controller Southeast Hampshire RAYNET Group **************************************** ## For a detailed description of Raynet Activities and Graphic Pictures showing the Head Quarters of the South Hants Raynet Group .Click the link below.

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