Day-to-day operations in which RAYNET is involved can range from a local fun-run requiring 3 or 4 operators, up to something on the scale of the National Special Olympics, requiring in excess of 70 operators a day for 8 days. Many of these events pass without incident and are great fun, particularly at the checkpoints, but the potential for problems is ever present and this must never be forgotten. The larger events, such as youth night hikes, put RAYNET is a position of handling vital safety details as to the whereabouts of teams etc. and, on instructions from the organisers, can find itself at the sharp end of searches or helping in the co-ordination of a rescue.

The operations carried out by RAYNET provide an excellent training ground in the hobby generally (which, after all, is the reason we have the licence in the first place!) as we use almost all modes and bands available to us.

• Phone (Backbone of most operations)
• APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System)
• Slow Scan TV ( A Picture says a thousand words lets control see what is happening on the scene)
• VHF (Event management & Most day-to-day operations)
• UHF (Event management & repeater links)

RAYNET is allowed to operate, under OFCOM permit, cross & in-band repeaters (Called “Talk Through” unit) in the 2m & 70cm bands. These help greatly in extending the area we are able to cover and, therefore, allow us to be more flexible in the help provided to the User Services. Because of the wide variety of operations the organisation is involved with, it is vary flexible in it’s approach to an operation, being able to obtain resources from a large pool of experience and equipment to cover almost any operation. Here is a sample of the type of operations RAYNET has been involved with.

• Marathons
• Cycle Races
• Triathlons
• Volunteer Challenge  - (Exercise Plane Crash)
• Overnight Hikes
• Endurance Hikes
• Operation Ro Ro – (Exercise Fire on Car Ferry)
• Piper Alpha
• Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster
• Car Rallies
• Devon Oil Pollution
• Yacht Races
• Tall Ships Race
• Lockerbie
• Bradford Stadium Fire
• Clapham Rail Crash
• Todmorden Tunnel Fire

Last Updated 18/12/2009