Burton Upon Trent & East Staffordshire
RAYNET Group

RAYNET, The Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network is the UK’s national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs.

How can RAYNET Help

RAYNET, under the terms of the amateur radio licence, are permitted to pass messages on behalf of

• Any UK Police force, Fire & Rescue service or Ambulance trust.
• HM Coastguard
• Local Authority Emergency Planning Officers
• Any health authority
• Any government department
• British Red Cross
• St John Ambulance
• St Andrew’s Ambulance Association
• WRVS
• Salvation Army
• Any utility service

Events such as charity walks, fun runs, marathons, and open-air concerts can benefit from radio communications.

RAYNET communications can be useful for several reasons:

• The central control can inform the other volunteers about the event progress- last runner, returned, etc.
• The out-stations can inform control about progress, checkpoint closed, walker retired, etc.
• People can be informed about exceptional events, competitor overdue, injury etc.
• Administrative information can be passed, such as lists of walkers who have not passed through a check point and may be lost
• Administrative information can be passed, such as the first runners/walk/riders through a checkpoint

RAYNET can also help you reduce your events carbon footprint by reducing the amount of fuel used by support vehicles

RAYNET normally attaches one or more radio operators to each point where the user wants communications. The users (such as marshals) are not expected to talk on the radio. (under the terms of the Amateur Radio License do not allow it.) RAYNET also has the ability to communicate over greater distance then PMR446 radios, CB and radio equipment that can be hired. RAYNET can also send data to and from checkpoints to finish lines.

What does Burton upon Trent & East Staffordshire RAYNET Group do?

Burton upon Trent & East Staffordshire RAYNET Group provides radio communications for events. These are such things as fun-runs, marathons, car rallies, cycle racing, long distance walks. Many of these events are operated jointly with nearby RAYNET groups. Burton upon Trent & East Staffordshire RAYNET Group is ready to provide communications for the user service in the event of emergencies such as storms or floods. Fortunately, these are rare in the Burton upon Trent area.

Please contact the Controller through our contacts page or you can visit us on a club night at

Burton upon Trent & East Staffordshire RAYNET Group
C/O Burton upon Trent Amateur Radio Club
Stapenhill Institute Club
23 Main Street
Stapenhill
Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
DE15 9AP