RAYNET-UK is the UK’s national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs.
RAYNET was formed in 1953 following the severe East coast flooding, to provide a way of organising the valuable resource that Amateur Radio is able to provide to the community. Since then, it has grown into a very active organisation with around 2000 members, providing communication assistance on many hundreds of events each year.
Amateur Radio operators have access to a wide range of radio bands, operating modes and equipment which allows RAYNET to offer a unique range of emergency communication services to our user services. Coupled with our members endless resourcefulness, RAYNET is regarded as a professional support organisation by both the statutory and volunteer emergency service organisations.
We can offer Point to Point Voice Communications. This is our core ‘bread and butter’ work, all RAYNET-UK Groups across the UK routinely provide simple voice networks nearly every weekend of the year in one location or another as part of their on going training. Generally this will be from the event control location, (such as the start or finishing point) out to one or more remote checkpoints along a set route. Because of the frequencies and modes that we can operate with we can often get voice communication signals into places mobile phones and fixed business radio systems just don’t work. We will provide a volunteer, (a radio operator) and equipment at both ends of each required link, who will in turn act as a communications path for the event staff to pass Health, Welfare and Safety Messages.
Within the North Wales Amateur Radio group we are proud to have a number of our members who are also RAYNET members and controllers in zone 18.
For information on joining RAYNET in North Wales please click HERE
For information about RAYNET please click HERE
RAYNET-UK
- Can communicate over difficult terrain
- Can work without a mains electricity supply
- Is not affected by telephone exchanges or mobile phone cells becoming over-used
- Can communicate reliably and over far further distances than CB or licence-free radios
- Can prioritise messages if radio traffic becomes excessive, our operators are experienced at this
- All Radio Amateurs pass a technical examination and can make running repairs of equipment in the field
RAYNET-UK groups receive many requests for assistance each year particularly between April and October. Contact your local RAYNET-UK group as early as possible requesting assistance, giving the date, location and duration. Arrange an early meeting with the Group Controller to discuss your requirements. You will need to provide a letter from a Home Office recognised User Service requesting RAYNET-UK assistance at the event.
RAYNET-UK does NOT provide checkpoint staff or marshals and RAYNET-UK members do NOT carry out tasks such as first aid, directing or stopping traffic. Our insurance does NOT allow for these types activities.
