How to join Leeds RAYNET

Who can join?

Anyone can be considered for membership, though most members have a strong interest in amateur radio. Most members have an Amateur Radio Licence (not the same as a CB Licence).

Can only licenced amateurs join?

No, people without a Licence are welcome and can play an active part. Most such members aim to pass the Radio Amateur Examination and get their Amateur Radio Licence.

What does Leeds RAYNET do?

• There is a weekly radio call-in (see below), where members discuss past events and plan future ones.
• The Group provides radio communications for five to ten events per year. These are such things as fun-runs, marathons, the Three Peaks Fell Race and occasional Exercises.
• The Group is ready to provide communications in the event of emergencies such as storms or floods. Fortunately, these are rare in the Leeds area.

Many of these events are operated jointly with nearby RAYNET groups.

What is expected of members?

Members are expected to try and provide their own equipment. (The group does own a limited amount.) They are expected to attend the Monday evening call-ins reasonably regularly and to attend some events each year. In practice, most active members enjoy the weekly chats and the operations.

What can you expect to get out of it?

You can expect to get a lot of operating, passing messages for others. (If you have never really enjoyed chatting on a net, you may well find you enjoy operating a lot more when there is a purpose to it.) You may find that your operating practices improve as you find their shortcomings under heavy traffic conditions. You will probably find that you decide to build a lot of minor pieces of equipment - power leads, battery boxes, adaptors of various kinds ... (If you have never got round to building things, you may find that this gives you the incentive to get started.) You will also get an excuse to use your radio equipment in the attractive environment of the Yorkshire Dales!

How can you join?

If you are a licenced Amateur, the easiest way is to join in one of the call-ins. These are held on 144.625MHz (FM) on Monday evenings. They start at 20:00 (civil time, i.e. 20:00BST in Summer). They normally last about 15 to 30 minutes. They are in the Leeds area and some members are on high sites, so you should be audible some distance away.

If you cannot join the call-in, phone Graham Belt G0SCV (Leeds RAYNET Controller) on 0113 236 9903, or write to him at 5 Allerton Hill, Leeds LS7 3QB. You can also send email to controller@leedsraynet.org

G4RDL