Running Rings Around Radio Comms Challenge

For the second year running Wall to Wall Comms supplied, installed and managed the two way radio communications system at the Crawley 10k run, held in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice.

The system itself comprised of a temporary base station repeater system to allow full radio coverage for the entire course. This service included site support, distribution and control of all hand portable units (Motorola GP340) plus all accessories and two repeaters which accommodated communications between race organisers, marshals, and St John’s Ambulance medics. This setup gave full seamless coverage across the entire course from an excitable start to the inevitable proud exhaustion at the end, not to mention all points in between!

The smooth running of this event goes to show how essential a robust and reliable communications system is in terms of health and safety and logistical considerations. Sam Cohen, MD of Wall to Wall Communications says, “We are delighted to have established this ongoing relationship with St Catherine’s Hospice. We are proud to have supported such a worthwhile cause and impressive event. In our experience over the past 30 years we have certainly come to learn that effective radio comms can make or break an event!”

The course took a scenic and sunny route through Tilgate Forest before looping back to the K2 track where the Mayor Councillor Lee Burke was on hand to award the winners’ trophies.

Jen Wickham, event organiser for St Catherine’s Hospice says, “We’re delighted with the turn out on the day and hope the event will bring in £20,000. We rely on the generosity of local people to ensure we can provide end of life care across the region, so it was great to see so many teams turn out in a ‘tache and it gave the day a real buzz.
“We’d like to thank our sponsors Gatwick Honda, Wall to Wall Communications for the radio equipment, K2, Lifecare medics, Sport Systems for the results and all our volunteers and marshals.”

A large number of runners were sporting a fine array of facial hair as they took up this year’s theme to raise cash in your ‘tache for the local hospice. This proved to serve as motivation for Wall to Wall staff who are now considering taking part in ‘Movember’, the month formally known as November which raises money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. With the month of Movember, the Wear it Pink Day on Nov 1^st for Breast Cacer Research, and the Crash ‘No Xmas Card Appeal’ we will be taking part in, we are well and truly charitably mobilised this Autumn/winter!

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For further information on St Catherine’s Hospice and related events please visit www.stch.org.uk.

For further information on our Hire capabilities for this type of event please see our hire pages on www.walltowallcomms.co.uk/hire or contact Stuart, our Hire Executive on 020 8770 1007.

 

Ofcom to target PMR licence holders

Land Mobile magazine (Oct 2010) have reported that Ofcom is planning a crackdown on radio users who are operating on lapsed licences. At the recent Land Mobile Conference, where Paul Jarvis (head of business radio at Ofcom) was speaking on the topic of digital switchover, Jarvis described the preparation of a monitoring process soon to be implemented. He’s quoted as saying:

“We’re going to have to target one particular area first of all to get the scope of whether there is a problem – and if there is, what is the scale of the problem and how has it come about… We do have teeth. We just need to use them, I think”

This could be positive news for licensed PMR users as the renewal process may well be updated and improved in terms of usability and clarity. Although many of our clients will, we’re sure, continue to use the full Wall to Wall service which organises your renewal for you.

The issue here is renewal of licences, if you are an existing client with Wall to Wall Comms we’ll be able to advise on your licence status and act on your behalf accordingly. If you are not an existing client but feel that you would benefit from some advice please do feel free to call us for some obligation-free tips on 020 8770 1007 or check our Ofcom page on our website http://walltowallcomms.co.uk/ofcom.htm