In a previous post I said that I’d explain what RAYNET is all about. Whilst I was becoming licensed as a Radio Amateur and then when I joined the Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club I became aware of a group who talked about events outside of the club. I heard the name RAYNET mentioned. Of course I asked; “what is RAYNET?” It was then that I found about the organisation.
Beginning in the 1953 during the north floods, the authorities were having difficulties communicating. The local Radio amateurs offered to help even though their activities were against the law. RAEN was born.
Today, RAYNET as is continues to operate and offer its capabilities to the emergency services and local authorities. We become involved in local events. In many cases these serve as a good exercise in procedures, team work and verifying that equipment is working.
I very much enjoy the events, I get to meet members of the public, I use my radio in a way that is helping a local community, I get to go to parts of the countryside that I often think I’d like to go there, but never actually do. I’ll write a bit about a couple of the individual events later.
