Memoranda

Debrief – Exercise Fritton Lake, June 27th, 2010.

 

Unlike Holkam Hall, the Big C event at Fritton Lake seems to be remembered for its good weather – it just seems to get hotter each year!!

 

The morning started warm and by the time 09.00 had arrived it was hot. Base equipment this year was truly portable and suitable for an emergency set up. We used a FT-897 (50W output) connected to a 110AH battery t(he voltage never dropped below 12.4 volts for the entire day). The batteries in the radio were also fully charged, just in case. Aerial was our now tried and tested ribbon slim jim on top of the 10m fibre glass mast. Five minutes to put up / take down with little wind resistance (not that there was any wind for the exercise!!)

 

Reception was very good this year – control suffered interference on frequency – from East Sussex RAYNET – indeed one of their mobile stations was worked just after 09.00!!

 

The walk was a different route this year and although well sign posted, seemed to cause problems to some walkers who didn’t see arrows and ended up walking in circles. The fat controller and the walk organiser spent a long hot period walking the part of the route giving problems and in the end only had to re-site 1 sign and add 1 sign to the walk to solve the problem. Unfortunately this meant that the fat controller was unable to walk the walk!!

 

The only other problems were an over heated dog which needed to be rescued and a mix up at the end when sweepers set off before the last walkers had passed. Not too much of a problem, but they were removing the signs as they went!!

 

All stations were stood down by 15.35 and the last walker arrived as the Big C tent was being dismantled – good timing!! Personnel were excellent, as usual, though we were short handed at control because of G7FSI’s accident.

 

If people want to come to an exercise and are scared of being on a CP by themselves / can only commit for a short time, they are welcome to come along to control and help (let the fat controller know in advance, though those turning up on the day, won’t be turned away!!).

 

At control, they can watch and listen, have a go under supervision or act as a relief for one of the RAYNET members on a CP. It’s all good experience and preparation in case we need to call you out in the middle of the night in a real emergency!

 

Thanks go to, Graham, M1CQS, at control

Shirley, 2E1HAO, CP1

Pete, 2E0IVL, CP2 (needed on out and in routes)

Julian, 2E0DJR, CP3 (drinks + needed on in and out routes)

Eddy, M3TFZ, CP4

Paul, 2E0JZU, CP5

Diane, G0SMS, CP6

 

All posts were accessible by car this year, though it would have been better to have had another CP between CP3 and CP4 even though this would only have been accessible on foot – it would have helped the walkers.

 

Steve, G7VAH,

 

Coastal Group Controller, Norfolk County RAYNET.

 

 

Exercise Fritton Lake