1. RAYNET Amateur Radio Emergency Communications in the United Kingdom
Good Morning/Afternoon, Ladies, Gentlemen and Dignitaries
And to our Finnish hosts “kiitos” (pronounced “keetos”) for arranging this pioneering conference.
I’d like to introduce ourselves –
On my left/right is
David Smith, G8IDL, Emergency Planning Team, The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
And myself
Paul Gaskell, G4MWO – RSGB Radio Communications Voluntary Services National Coordinator
We will be giving an overview of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications in the UK and very specifically RAYNET – The UK’s Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Organisation, which has been in existence for 52 years – in fact we celebrated this with a special nationwide Convention in 2003.
Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, RCVS National Coordinator Radio Society of Great Britain
David Smith, G8IDL, Emergency Planning Team, The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network

2. The RA(Y)dio Amateurs’ Emergency NETwork
RAYNET
RAYNET is the UK’s National Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Organisation
Its name is made up from
The RA(Y)dio Amateurs’ Emergency NETwork
What does the word RAYNET mean?
RAYNET originally started as in 1953 as RAEN, the initials of the title ‘Radio Amateurs Emergency Network’
However, the GPO – which was the name of the UK’s PTT Authority at the time, forbade the use of the letters RAEN on the air, because it was a Russian ship’s callsign !!
Another solution had to be found – hence RAYNET.

3. these are called ‘THE USER SERVICES’
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications in the UK and the Licence Regulations
Amateur Radio in the UK is now regulated by
OFCOM The Office of Communications
(this includes the previous RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY)
The UK Licence permits us to pass third-party traffic for the following organisations –
these are called ‘THE USER SERVICES’
Amateur Radio in the UK is now regulated by Ofcom – the Office of Communications
Ofcom brings together the regulatory bodies for the Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Radiocommunications sectors
This includes the functions of our previous Amateur Radio regulator, the Radiocommunications Agency or ‘RA’ which many of you will be familiar with.
UK Amateur Radio Stations are normally not permitted to pass third-party messages, but an exception is made for Emergencies, Exercises and Community Events for a number of specifically defined organisations detailed in our licence.
These are called ‘The User Services’

4. UTILITY SERVICES (Gas, Water, Electricity etc)
USER SERVICES The UK Licence permits us to pass third-party traffic for the following - these are called ‘The User Services’
Any United Kingdom POLICE force, FIRE, AMBULANCE service or HEALTH Authority
CHIEF EMERGENCY PLANNING OFFICERS (Local & Regional Levels)
HM COASTGUARD, ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY, ST JOHN AMBULANCE, ST ANDREW’S AMBULANCE (Voluntary Ambulance Services)
WOMEN’S ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE, the SALVATION ARMY
UTILITY SERVICES (Gas, Water, Electricity etc)
Here we have a list of these ‘User Services’
They breakdown into several sections –
The Statutory Emergency Services
Hospitals and other Health Institutions
Government Departments
Voluntary Aid Bodies (St Andrew’s Ambulance covers Scotland!)
Emergency Management & Planning
Utilities
Our licence also permits a representative of a User Service to use the station in the presence and under the direct supervision of the licensee during a User Service operation or exercise

5. The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
RAYNET
The Radio Society of Great Britain – the RSGB - was the catalyst for the formation of RAYNET in 1953 but as it developed over the years, it outgrew the support the Society was able to offer it and in 1992, a specialist organisation, RAYNET – The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network was formed. This has since become a registered UK charity.
My colleague, David Smith, G8IDL will now describe RAYNET to you
The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network

6. David Smith G8IDL, CEng FIEE Emergency Planning Team
The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
David Smith G8IDL, CEng FIEE
Emergency Planning Team
David Smith, a member of The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network’s Emergency Planning Team.

7. On January 31st 1953, high spring tides, held upstream by high winds, were reinforced when the next flood tide came in, driven down the North Sea by north easterly gales. Sea coastal defences were swept away, and overhead telephone cables were brought down by wind or fallen trees. The police sought help from the few radio amateurs and the Home Office permitted the use of amateur radio to direct and co-ordinate the land and waterborne rescue teams and ascertain the scale of the relief measures required.
The following year, RA-EN was formed. The Home Office reluctantly conceded the “desirability” of an organisation which, in times of emergency, could affect the passing of messages facilitating the rescue operations of the professional services.
RAYNET was formed following the East Coast Floods in 1953, when radio amateurs first provided emergency communications.

8. RAYNET ORGANISATION
The United Kingdom is split into a number of areas – called ZONES – and each has its own Zonal Co-ordinator.
For the purposes of RAYNET organisation, the UK is split into geographical areas, based on the civil defence zones. Each area has its own zonal co-ordinator, who co-ordinates the activities of the counties (or areas in the case of Scotland) so as to provide a communications service throughout the area.
They are responsible for establishing and maintaining relations with the User Services and other relevant organisations.
They also co-ordinate the activities of the zone with other zonal co-ordinators so as to provide a national communications service.

9. RAYNET Organisation
Members of RAYNET are all members of their local geographical group. There may be several groups in a county or area, and these are co-ordinated by a county or area controller. There are some 1500 RAYNET members throughout the country, organised into 200 groups, in 40 counties.
This diagram illustrates the support mechanism for the membership.
These counties combine to form zones, and the zonal co-ordinators all report to the Committee of Management.

10. RAYNET Organisation
The Committee of Management formulates the various policies for the membership.
The Committee of Management consists of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as the zonal co-ordinators, who are also trustees of the charity.
In addition, there are a number of volunteer teams who undertake tasks delegated by the CoM. Each team has a team leader and one or more Zonal Co-ordinator is also involved. The team leaders report direct to the Chairman, and recommendations they make are discussed at CoM level.
Emergency Planning Team: Their responsibilities include
Liaison with User Services
The issue of Standard Operating Procedures
International liaison
Talk-through permits
Special licensing
Support for emergencies
Contacts with other organisations
The updating and revision of the RAYNET Manual
The Finance Team is responsible for:
Collection and distribution of finance
Financial services
Charity matters (the Network is a registered charity in the UK)
Insurance (combined liability insurance is provided for every member)
RAYNET in the UK does not receive any funding from government.
The Information Systems Team deal with all IT matters, including the provision of a website at and registration services for members.
The Media team deal with publicity materials, press releases, recruitment of new members as well as the publication of a quarterly newsletter entitled RAY~Link.
RAYNET Supplies is responsible for the sale of RAYNET items which are not available from other sources.
The Technical team has responsibility for the collation of information for a technical library and specific technical projects as requested by members.
The Training team devised and published a training scheme in 1994, and has run a series of weekend training courses at the Emergency Planning College, Easingwold, as well as numerous courses at group and county level. They are currently developing web-based training material.

11. What have we done? Lockerbie
RAYNET has provided additional communications at major incidents, including:
Lockerbie
December 1988 – Lockerbie
200 operators travelled to Lockerbie at the request of the local groups. During the busy periods, up to 130 were on duty, assisting search teams locate bodies and wreckage.
Links were set up between the Incident and the Operations room at Lockerbie Academy by the following day.
Over 7000 operational hours were logged by RAYNET in the ten-day operation which eventually closed on 31st December.
© GM4SRL

12. We have assisted with Flooding incidents
Major telecommunications disruption
Portland Bomb and Evacuation
On the 22nd of March 1995 a 1,100lb (500kg) bomb was discovered on the Isle of Portland whilst excavations took place on the former Portland United football ground. The discovery of such a large bomb required one of the largest evacuations to take place in Britain since the Second World War, with everyone within 1000m of the site being evacuated. This totalled nearly 4,000 people, mostly from the Easton area of Portland. By the 2nd of April the bomb had been diffused, with no loss of life or property, and residents were allowed to return to their homes.
Flooding incidents
There have been a number of major flooding incidents in the UK saw major flooding in Towyn, in North Wales, which required mass evacuation of residents.
Pollution incidents
The one shown here was the Sea Empress disaster, an oil tanker which ran aground off Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. RAYNET teams were deployed to provide communication facilities for the teams involved in the clear-up operations.
Manchester tunnel fire
Though this was a fairly localised incident, involving a telephone cable fire in a tunnel under the centre of Manchester, it affected a much wider area for several days. This had an affect on critical national infrastructure. Groups were placed on standby in case of a requirement for additional/replacement communications.
Pollution disasters

13. We also provide safety communications for large-scale community events, such as:
London Marathon
Mildenhall Air Fete
Great North Run / Great South Run
Many charity cycle rides
Long-distance walks and orienteering
Endurance horse rides
Flora London Marathon 2005
Most of RAYNET’s day-to-day activities involve providing safety communications for events, both large and small. These include the London Marathon, charity cycle rides, endurance horse rides, large pop concerts and the like.
Mildenhall Air Fete is a prime example of co-ordination between RAYNET, the military and User Services such as St John Ambulance and the Red Cross.
Womens 10km run , Glasgow
© GM4SRL
Mildenhall Air Fete

14. How we train
RAYNET personnel provide additional safety communications for local fun runs, marathons, car rallies and a wide variety of events, whereby message passing, engineering skills and operational procedures can be tried and tested.
Aerial rigging for RAYNET Control
RAYNET Training weekend, EP College, Easingwold
Message handling on an event

15. What do we offer?
In times of major civil emergency, existing communications can become rapidly overloaded.
RAYNET can offer:
Additional flexible communications links to complement established systems
Members who come from a variety of backgrounds and can bring a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise
Established local contacts
A national 24hr emergency contact telephone number

16. To deliver the country’s needs now and in the future
RAYNET in the future
Increased liaison between RAYNET and the Radio Society of Great Britain
Increased discussion with Central Government
To deliver the country’s needs now and in the future
In 2004, The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Radio Society of Great Britain.
Recently, RAYNET has been engaged in discussions with Central Government about a role for the organisation in contingency planning.

17. The Radio Society of Great Britain
RAYNET
Thank you, David
What is the role of the national society – the RSGB ?
The RSGB works very closely with RAYNET – The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
David has highlighted the recent Memorandum of Understanding (or MoU) between the two organisations which further enhances this arrangement
In this, the expertise of both organisations is recognised to approach UK Amateur Radio Emergency Communications in an efficient, structured way and prevent duplication of effort.
The Radio Society of Great Britain

18. RAYNET & Amateur Radio Emergency Communications in the UK
LIAISON WITH
THE USER SERVICES
&
UK GOVERNMENT
CIVIL CONTINGENCIES
SECRETARIAT
LIAISON WITH
THE UK’s
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS
REGULATOR
OFCOM
& IARU
This diagram illustrates how this is put into practice and the roles each organisation take to achieve the one goal – as David has just said :
“To deliver the country’s needs, now and in the future”
– as far as Amateur Radio Emergency Communications is concerned
A few years before this, in 2002, the RSGB’s Board introduced a new coordinator post called
‘Radio Communications Voluntary Services National Coordinator’
To which I was appointed.

19. The Radio Communications Voluntary Services (RCVS) Concept
‘Radio Communications Voluntary Services’ is a broad, umbrella-type concept which is intended to embrace both the emergency and community aspects of amateur radio emergency communications.
There are some RAYNET Groups, who for one reason or another elected not to join RAYNET – The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network and have preferred to affiliate to the RSGB and some who have preferred to remain Independent of either.
My role is to coordinate all these to maintain a single, unified UK Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Organisation – RAYNET
As Amateur Radio Emergency Communications takes in many other aspects of the hobby, I also act as an interface with these specialist groups and with other relevant organisations
One of the members of the Board of the RSGB has a ‘portfolio’ for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, whom I work closely with, to ensure that Amateur Radio Emergency Communications is well-represented within the society

20. The RSGB’s Emergency Communications Webpages
RAYNET – The Radio Amateurs Emergency Network
Weblinks
The RSGB’s Emergency Communications Webpages
David and I hope that you have found this brief overview of RAYNET and how Amateur Radio Emergency Communications operates in the UK both interesting and informative
If you would like to find out more, you can always visit our websites
RAYNET – The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network
The RSGB’s Emergency Communications Webpages

21. Questions
We would now like to invite any questions
Thank You