Monday 8th September saw three members of Raynet-UK give an engaging presentation and demonstration of Kent Raynet‘s use of various new technologies to support the emergency services, presented by Colin Bowman M0NLP. Colin went through the history of amateurs supporting the services with our communications expertise – often vital in the event of traditional communications technology being out-of-action. This ranged from our usual FM/UHF/VHF equipment – but deployed for resilience – the use of encryption as needed on the amateur bands when requested by an emergency controller, satellite-based Internet provision for sites without power or other infrastructure, linking this to the telephone network. Various recent deployments of the group’s equipment and expertise were demonstrated.

Seen below, top-left, Colin’s presentation showing a typical group of emergency co-ordinators, including Raynet. Also with Colin were Taylor Galloway 2E0YPU (Group Controller, South Kent Raynet), who demonstrated the facilities provided by the group’s impressive Emergency Communications Unit, shown below and Colin Spice 2E0CMS (Controller, Medway Raynet) – who is also a qualified drone pilot, and who demonstrated use of drones to provide video in emergency situations. The bright orange drone can be seen above the group’s van on the right.

Thank you to Colin, Taylor and Colin for a highly informative talk and demonstration of Raynet’s capabilities, and what they bring to emergency and training operations, in terms of rapid deployment of resilient communication facilities.