Memoranda
Exercise Walk on – Big C Walk of thoughts, 2009 debrief
One of the joys of RAYNET exercises is looking forward to the weather as it is this factor which will most likely affect us all in any emergency. Sunday’s weather let us down . . . unlike the last Big C event we were at when we had barrels of rain and miles of wind, this event was just hot, humid, then hot and sunny as the day progressed.
Upon arriving on site control was soon established beside the Big C tent and operating frequency was soon being monitored for members arriving. It was at this stage that we ran into our first problem – there were 2 other events on the same frequency – one we believe was at Old Buckenham airfield, but other than finding out he was a G1 call sign, no further information was forthcoming from the operator even though he wasn’t happy talking to M0RGY/P and was bristling to find out who was using the call sign! As his signal was so weak and the other event he was talking to was even weaker, it was decided to move to 144.650MHz for the duration of the event. Sorry if you were listening out for us on 144.625MHz, (the Yarmouth frequency) but we weren’t there!!
At the briefing we were given one of those lovely packed lunches and the members set off in a long crocodile of cars for the different check points. Apparently the highlight of this was the arrival, almost every time the croc stopped to drop marshals off, of the local constabulary! 10.00 soon arrived and the first bunch of walkers soon set off. This was soon followed by the mad controller who set off on foot, to visit all the RAYNET members and was soon wondering if the 6 mile walk in the heat and humidity was such a good idea! 2 hours and 40 minutes later he was sure it wasn’t so good! While AWOL from control, G7FSI took over control and it very rapidly sounded like he had been doing it all his life – not just for the first time!
The event manning was new for everyone except the controller and 2E0ILH, but all members were demonstrating excellent radio etiquette right from the word go, had made themselves known to their marshals (made easier by the briefing and then going out together) and set up their stations so that they had no trouble with 2 way traffic with control, though points 7 and 9 remain mostly unheard by the remainder of check points (same problem as last year – a hill (CP7) and many trees (CP9) seem to be the problem – perhaps a higher aerial might help in each case.
It was soon 13.35 and around 320 walkers had set off and it was time for the mad controller (definitely very mad by this stage) to set off to do the sweep . . . “oh and can you collect all the posts and signs on your way . . . “ gradually the CPs were closed down and the posts and signs collected and dropped off with the marshals on the way around and arriving back at control around 15.50 it was pleasing to see that control had been reduced to a handheld as the controller was the last on air within handheld distance – many thanks to those who took the mast and aerial down. Soon after 16.00 the last of us were set to leave and click, click, nothing! Ignition on all day + diesel = flat battery . . . Just as the heat was . . . Nissan rescue (or was it Toyota?? – well it was Japanese!) and we got started! and off home!!!!!
Many thanks those of you who turned out in such appalling weather – I expect to
see BBQs if it’s the same next year! And although it was a quiet day – one wasp sting
at the start point and an exhausted controller calling for help with a tall stack
of way-
We should remember the comment from one of the marshals – “ I feel so much safer with RAYNET being here, we know that we have communications if we need them”, and I suppose that’s what makes it such a good day for us, as well as meeting up, playing radio etc.
For the tech minded, control was using a FT8900, transmitting a nominal 50W through a diamond dual band collinear at approx 25ft.
Those present on exercise this year were, 2E0JMS, James; 2E0ILH, Ian; M0BLH, Scott; M1ADX, Jonathan; M6IVL, Peter; G7FSI, Barry (Deputy Controller for the day, but ran control for virtually the whole day!) and G7VAH, Steve, controller.
Well done lads, your good work makes the day go a whole lot easier.
Steve,
g7vah, Controller, Coastal Group, Norfolk County RAYNET