Communications
The Team's communications have developed beyond recognition.
In 1963, the Team had no radios and communication was via a runner, who could quickly move
across the fell.
Then in the 1970s we were given the Westminster sets. These radios
were a originally a car set that was fixed onto a rucksac frame
with 12V battery slung underneath. They were very heavy to carry about the hill and even
more so when you added your personal kit.
Today, the Team have state of the art radios. Our radio sets have up to 200 channels.
We even have satellite phones!
Our radios are supported by Northumbria Police, whose communications
technical staff solve any problems we are likely to meet. They know the remote
areas we work in and try to overcome any problems we encounter.
Mountain Reasue and Search and Rescue teams in the U.K. used to have radios on what we
called low band. These radios use low frequencies which are very good in the
hills, as these waves can bend and hug the terrain. Recently, the Team have been issued with
High Band radios. These radios are up to date sets which work even better. Furthermore,
they allow us to operate in conjunction with the police radio systems when we are
engaged in large search incidents.
The Team's specialised control trailer has its own communications equipment which can be used
to communicate with RAF helicopters, the Coast Guard and ambulance services.
As we often work in remote areas, we frequently use a large telescopic radio mast
like the Clarke pump up mast. These masts are up to 10 metres in height, enabling us to
communicate with our search groups who happen to be in very remote locations. These masts
can also be fixed to our rescue landrovers so they can be
used as mobile stations. Some of our members have adapted their own vehicles to take
such masts to remote hill tops. The pictures illustrated our communications network.
