Emergency Communications
On-call support when infrastructure fails. Maintain voice and data links between command posts and field teams.*
Trusted Emergency Support
RAYNET Scotland: Reliable Communications When Every Second Counts
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET is a RAYNET Scotland group and local member of RAYNET UK, the national voluntary communications service established in 1953. As a voluntary, self-funded organization, we welcome everyone to join our mission. We mobilise our members—including licensed amateur radio operators and non-licensed volunteers—to maintain resilient links for local authorities, emergency services, and voluntary agencies whenever traditional channels fail or overload. Our group provides Ayrshire RAYNET coverage following the closure of the former Ayrshire group.*
- Coverage
- Greater Glasgow & Ayrshire
- Availability
- 24/7
- Team
- Volunteers
- Focus
- Emergency & Events
Control Call Sign · GCC-RYNET
Live Net Active
Incident Desk
Emergency Operations Centre
Coordinating operator check-ins and signal relays.
Net Control
GM4RAY · 145.325 MHz
Support Mode
Voice · Data Relay
Deployment Status
Ready to Mobilise
Communications Support You Can Rely On
Our operators provide resilient communications for emergency responders, public safety teams, and event organisers across Glasgow and the Clyde region.*
Major Achievement
Resilience Network Infrastructure
Resilience communications are key for any agency, and we are proud to report that Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET has achieved a fully resilient network across West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire. This represents a significant achievement by the group, ensuring critical communications infrastructure remains operational when traditional systems fail.
Current Coverage
- West Dunbartonshire - Fully Resilient
- Renfrewshire - Fully Resilient
2026 Projects
Looking ahead to 2026, we are planning to expand our resilience network with additional resilience repeaters being added to enhance coverage and redundancy across our operational area.
Public Event Coverage
Communications planning and marshalled nets for marathons, festivals, and community events to keep organisers connected.*
Training & Preparedness
Routine exercises ensure members stay practiced and ready to integrate with partner agencies at short notice.*
Signal Coverage Surveys
Assess terrain, propagation, and coverage gaps ahead of major deployments so emergency plans stay resilient.
Interoperability Liaison
Coordinate frequencies, protocols, and message handling with blue-light services and voluntary partners. Working with technology partners like BroadNet Systems to enhance communications capabilities.
Logistics & Documentation
Maintain deployment logs, resource manifests, and post-incident reports for accountability and learning.
Resilience Network Infrastructure
Building and maintaining resilient communications networks with repeaters and infrastructure across West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, and beyond. Ensuring critical communications remain operational when traditional systems fail.
*Capabilities sourced from the Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET service overview.
News & Updates
Latest news and coverage of RAYNET activities across Glasgow, Clyde, and Ayrshire regions.
BBC Coverage
19 December 2025
RAYNET Ayrshire's Role in Lockerbie Disaster Response
BBC Reporting Scotland featured coverage of the former RAYNET Ayrshire group's critical communications support during the Lockerbie Disaster. The segment, appearing approximately 12 minutes into the evening news broadcast, highlighted the group's emergency response capabilities and coordination efforts during one of Scotland's most significant emergency incidents.
While the Ayrshire RAYNET group is no longer active, members of Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET continue to provide coverage across the Ayrshire region, maintaining the same commitment to emergency communications that was demonstrated during the Lockerbie response.
Watch on BBC iPlayer
Segment starts at ~12:00
Exercise Complete
Broadnet Exercise
Our recent readiness exercise, Broadnet, brought together operators across the Clyde for a coordinated 2m/70cm deployment scenario.*
Date
31 March 2025
Net activation 20:00 local time.
Focus
Broadnet Exercise
Simulated infrastructure failure and multi-agency liaison.
Operational Objectives
- Test rapid deployment of portable masts and field antennas.
- Exercise message handling protocols with local authorities.
- Validate digital logging workflows for after-action reporting.
Exercise Summary
The Broadnet exercise successfully demonstrated our group's capability to rapidly deploy communications infrastructure and coordinate multi-agency response scenarios. Video documentation of the exercise is now available.*
Who We Are
Dedicated to Reliable Community Communications
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET connects trained radio volunteers with the agencies that keep our communities safe. From severe weather to large public gatherings, we provide trusted communications that stand up when conventional systems falter.*
About RAYNET UK
The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network (RAYNET) is the UK's national voluntary communications service, established in 1953 following the devastating East Coast floods. For over 70 years, RAYNET has provided flexible communication support during major civil emergencies and community events across the United Kingdom.
RAYNET operates as a network of volunteers—including licensed amateur radio operators and non-licensed supporters—who donate their skills, equipment, and time to maintain resilient communications when traditional infrastructure fails or becomes overloaded. As a voluntary, self-funded organization, RAYNET works in partnership with local authorities, emergency services, and voluntary agencies to ensure critical communications remain operational during crises.
National Structure
RAYNET UK is organized into a hierarchical structure that ensures coordinated and efficient emergency response:
Local Groups
Autonomous units like Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET conduct periodic exercises to train members in operating procedures, message passing, and teamwork. Each group operates within its geographical or administrative boundary.
County Coordinators
Facilitate coordination between local groups, organize regional training exercises, and liaise with user services at the county level to ensure seamless integration with emergency response plans.
Zonal Coordinators
Oversee multiple counties, ensuring inter-county coordination and managing relations with user services that operate over wider areas, maintaining national standards and interoperability.
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET's Role
As a local RAYNET group, Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET operates within this national framework, providing emergency communications support across Greater Glasgow, the Clyde region, and Ayrshire. Our group:
- Maintains regular training exercises to ensure operational readiness and adherence to RAYNET UK standards
- Coordinates with County and Zonal coordinators for multi-group deployments and large-scale incidents
- Liaises directly with local authorities, emergency services, and voluntary agencies in our coverage area
- Participates in national RAYNET exercises and maintains interoperability with other groups across Scotland and the UK
- Follows RAYNET UK operating procedures and message handling protocols to ensure consistent service delivery
- Provides coverage for Ayrshire following the closure of the former RAYNET Ayrshire group, ensuring continuity of service
Our commitment to RAYNET UK's mission means we're part of a nationwide network of over 100 local groups, all working towards the same goal: providing reliable emergency communications when every second counts. As a voluntary, self-funded organization, we welcome fundraisers and any assistance to help us maintain our operations and expand our resilience network infrastructure.
Ready to Step In
Trained operators and field teams stand by to deploy portable stations, relay critical updates, and extend coverage in challenging terrain.
Community Focused
We partner with councils, emergency services, and voluntary groups to support public safety and community resilience at scale.
Continuous Improvement
Regular training keeps skills sharp so our nets stay disciplined, coordinated, and effective during real-world incidents.
“Reliable Communications Support”
“Whenever we need assured communications for events or emergency planning, Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET deliver disciplined operators who integrate seamlessly with our teams.”
— Local Resilience Partner
Operators
Experienced
Availability
24/7
Focus
Public Safety
Media Gallery
Events & Activities
Explore our gallery of exercises, deployments, and community events across Glasgow, Clyde, and Ayrshire.
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Service Coverage
Our Coverage Area
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET provides emergency communications support across Greater Glasgow, the Clyde region, and Ayrshire. Our operators maintain coverage throughout these areas, ensuring resilient communications when traditional systems fail.
Coverage Areas
Glasgow & Clyde (Primary)
Ayrshire (Extended)
Glasgow & Clyde Locations
Ayrshire Locations
Glasgow & Clyde
Primary operational area covering Greater Glasgow, Renfrewshire, and the Clyde estuary. 24/7 availability with rapid deployment capability.
Ayrshire
Extended coverage area including Ayr, Kilmarnock, and surrounding regions. Maintained by Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET members following the closure of the former Ayrshire group.
Response Times
Urban areas: <30 minutes. Rural areas: <60 minutes. Emergency activations: Immediate mobilisation of on-call operators.
Industry Partners
Working with Technology Leaders
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET collaborates with leading technology providers to enhance our emergency communications capabilities and deliver comprehensive solutions for our partners.
BroadNet Communications Systems
BroadNet Communications Systems Ltd provides the leading network radio and command control system designed for organizations with 10+ users. Their proprietary push-to-talk technology adapts to evolving operational needs, delivering a complete communications and incident management solution.
Our partnership with BroadNet enhances Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET's emergency communications capabilities, providing advanced network radio solutions that ensure reliable connectivity during deployments, even in challenging signal conditions. This technology supports our mission to maintain resilient communications when traditional systems fail.
Interested in partnering with Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET? Contact us to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Join the Network
Get Involved
Everyone Welcome to Make a Difference
Glasgow & Clyde RAYNET is a voluntary, self-funded organization open to everyone. While licensed amateur radio operators are valuable members, we welcome anyone interested in supporting emergency communications and community resilience.
We welcome:
- Licensed amateur radio operators - Put your radio skills to work for your community
- Non-licensed volunteers - Support roles in logistics, administration, and operations
- Fundraisers and supporters - Help us maintain our self-funded operations
- Anyone interested - Training and mentorship available for all members
- Access structured exercises and resource libraries to build deployment confidence.
- Collaborate with experienced operators who understand emergency command structures.
- Support public safety teams when resilience and communication truly matter.
💡 Self-Funded & Voluntary
As a voluntary, self-funded organization, we welcome fundraisers and any assistance where possible. Your support helps us maintain our resilience network infrastructure and training programs.
Next Steps
Everyone is welcome! Complete an expression of interest and we will follow up with onboarding resources, exercise dates, and information about how you can contribute—whether as a licensed operator, volunteer, fundraiser, or supporter.
1
Submit contact details
2
Meet local coordinator
3
Attend training exercise
4
Deploy when called
Need Communications Support?
Request assistance for emergency planning, live incidents, or public events. Our coordination team will respond promptly with availability and planning guidance.*
Ops
Operations Desk
+44 141 000 0000
ops@gcray.net
HQ
Glasgow Coordination Hub
Available 24/7 during activations
Primary amateur bands: 2m · 70cm
Note
Email Updates
Email service currently under maintenance. Please call for urgent requests.