New Digital Radio System for East Yorkshire

Media Release - New Digital Radio System for East Yorkshire

A group of amateur radio enthusiasts have installed a digital radio system in East Yorkshire to provide a communications network for volunteer groups in times of emergency.

Following their experiences in the flooding of 2007, the East Yorkshire Repeater Group realised that their repeater systems that allow fellow amateur radio operators to communicate over a county-wide area could be extremely valuable to others in times of need. And, when approached by the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 4x4 Response Group, agreed to provide radio communications training resulting in several new radio operators who have since used their radio skills in transporting critical staff and patients for the Hull and East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust during the recent bad weather.

The East Yorkshire Repeater Group have since been successful in applying for a lottery grant from the Awards for All Big Lottery Fund for £9,446 to fund a digital repeater system, equipment and training for emergency communications. Project Manager Andy Russell, a Chartered Engineer working for BAE Systems said “As part of our pledge, we have provided demonstrations and training to local youth groups, encouraging them to take an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and as result of this have been approached by several Town and Parish Councils in relation to their emergency plans”

The hub of the repeater system is located on a remote farm in the Yorkshire Wolds (from where it can see the whole of Holderness, the City of Hull and the Humber Estuary) and is capable of carrying digital voice, together with GPS tracking and low speed data to anywhere in the world using the Internet. The group is presently working on getting a broadband connection to the site enabling them to link up with similar systems across Yorkshire.

Several members of the East Yorkshire Repeater Group also belong to East Yorkshire Raynet (Radio Amateurs Emergency Network) who will be providing the backup communications network for the forthcoming Jane Tomlinson’s Hull 10K Run and Dove House sponsored walk charity events, which are used as training exercises for future emergencies.

The Groups are planning to run a combined self training exercise utilising the digital repeater system and radio equipment with members of the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire 4x4 Response and to provide further training for other volunteer groups. The outcome of project being trained people with the resources to help themselves in times of emergency.

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