// About Us

Emergency Communications
for St Helens

Raynet St Helens is a dedicated team of licensed amateur radio operators providing voluntary, resilient communications support to emergency services, local authorities, and community events across St Helens.

Founded
1953
Over 70 years supporting the community
Group Ref
10/ME
St Helens · St Helens
Members
15+
Licensed & trained operators
Availability
24/7
Activatable on request
📻
What is RAYNET?
Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network – UK national organisation

RAYNET-UK is the national voluntary communications service provided by licensed radio amateurs, formed in 1953 after severe East Coast flooding to organise amateur radio resources for emergencies.

Registered with Ofcom and working closely with police, ambulance, fire & rescue, local authorities, and voluntary agencies, RAYNET supplies resilient communications when normal systems fail or become overwhelmed.

Raynet St Helens (Group 10/ME) is one of many RAYNET groups across the UK, providing resilient volunteer radio communications for St Helens and surrounding areas.

⚡
Our Capabilities
What we deliver on activation
VHF / UHF Voice Communications
Portable and mobile FM radios on 2m and 70cm amateur bands, with repeater access across St Helens for reliable local coverage.
HF Long-Range Links
High-frequency radio for extended regional coverage when local infrastructure is compromised.
Digital & Data Modes
APRS tracking, Winlink email-over-radio, and message handling independent of internet or mobile networks.
Event Support
Dedicated nets for marathons, sportives, charity events, and public gatherings to keep teams connected.
Self-Sufficient Deployment
Operators use personal battery-powered equipment, ready to establish communications quickly at any incident.
🔗
Useful Links
🌐
RAYNET-UK
National organisation
↗
📖
RSGB
Amateur radio licensing body
↗
📋
Request Support
For events or emergencies
→
🎓
Training & Nets
Exercises and schedule
→
🔄
How an Activation Works
From initial request to stand-down
01
Request Received
Emergency service, authority, or event organiser contacts the Group Controller via phone, email, or liaison.
02
Alert Issued
Controller evaluates need, confirms resources, alerts operators, and updates site status.
03
Operators Deploy
Volunteers mobilise with equipment to designated points; net established and checked.
04
Net Operational
Net controller handles traffic, messages, and reports between field teams and command.
05
Stand Down
Released by requester; operators log activities, debrief, and submit report to RAYNET-UK.