What does RAYNET do?
RAYNET's primary role is to assist with communications during emergencies. There have been many "real" examples help provided by RAYNET over the years.
The most major example was the Lockerbie disaster. Debris was spread over hundreds of square miles, much of it over moorland with poor communications. RAYNET assisted the search of this area by providing communications from the search teams to control. Over one hundred radio operators, from all over the country, helped during a ten day period.
Even in 2007 RAYNET was called out to assist with the flooding in Gloucestershire and in Essex to monitor tidal levels at a time of expected flooding.
RAYNET supports community events as training exercises. RAYNET brings a flexibility to these events with the capability to place radio operators in remote locations only accessible on foot or by four wheel drive. The use of transmitters that are more powerful than those available on commercial systems coupled with masts and high performance aerials allow communications over significant distances and in difficult terrain. RAYNET is oftem asked to provide communications in areas with no mobile phone service.