New Irish Raynet group
A new Raynet organisation has been set-up in Ireland .
The Raynet Ireland group is unique in that, together with its sister
group Raynet N. Ireland, it covers both Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland, providing cross-border amateur radio emergency
communications for the first time.
The new group is the brainchild of chairman Joe McGuiness, GI7KMJ,
and treasurer John Robinson, GI4OSG. The pair spent two years lobbying
for a cross-border emergency communications network with Irish communications
watchdog Comreg, the Irish Radio Transmitter Society and AREN (the
Irish emergency network).
The group has now been issued with a series of callsigns to allocate
to radio operators attending events where Raynet is required south
of the border. This ensures uninterrupted operations for members
if they need to cross between the two countries, for example during
training events such as Co-operation Ireland's Bordertrek cycle
race.
Raynet Ireland will be an independent organisation but it will
pool resources and manpower with its sister organisation Raynet
N. Ireland.
The group has recently invested a £5,000 National Lottery
grant on new equipment, training and recruitment. It is also about
to embark on an extensive training programme under which all members
will be given the skills to handle communications in emergencies.
Further information on Raynet Ireland can be found on the group's
website – www.raynetireland.mixed.org
Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the
RSGB
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