G1DLH,G4XAY, G6EGO, G0VOB controlling.
This was the first major test of the new Talk through unit. We placed the it in a car on the top of the Multi-storey Car Park,
the one visible from the Castle, and ran the RF into a normal dual band mobile whip antenna ( 5/8 on 2Metres).
 

The new location and required power levels were tested two weeks before the event. The Alinco DR130 was running 50 Watts on 2Metres out to the mobiles and  the DR430, 5 Watts to the control room. There was complete coverage of the course  and on a lot of occasions hand-helds could be used where previously mobiles were required. It also saved G4SFB the trouble of towing and erecting his 50 Foot tower and running  heavy cables from the Control room.

On the Saturday we powered it from the car battery but its power consumption was such that it completely drained the battery and Ben (Kettering Raynet)
had to jump start his car in the torrential rain. For Sunday we used a second battery.
 

The control station was set up in the annex room adjoining the St John's main first aid post. Apart from providing great comfort for the Raynet personnel not out on the course it made  for great liaison between Raynet and St John The DR430 used as the control station  operated on 5 Watts into a tiny antenna on the window ledge. The control station can be operated in one of 3 modes. 'Hands Almost Free' with a headphones with boom mic,  A standard fist mic and external speaker, The speaker can be disabled when the headset  is on but is always active if the unit is in fist mic mode. If the worst comes to the worst then the rigs own mic and speaker sockets are available

There was one major search operation when a walker, in unknown condition, was 'misplaced' a couple of miles before the Sywell checkpoint.
A full road search ( G6EGO, G6MTE) and footpath sweep ( 2E1CZF with Dog) was instigated. Multiple sweeps of the area ensued, and while this
was in progress the man turned up at a checkpoint further along the course. We are still not sure if the man ever became lost or whether he just missed a
checkpoint or if the Marshals just didn't see him when he checked through. The only other incident of note was having to extract 3 casualties from one
checkpoint to the First Aid caravan at The Slips. They all appeared at once and Raynet provided transport. After consideration it would probably have been
better if we had delayed the extra few minutes and called for an Ambo to come across from one of the further locations to the checkpoint in question,
this would have been safer if anything had occurred on the way.

A procedural point to note is that if you are ever assigned to get the keys to a building, especially a toilet block, and have to unlock areas and then
re-lock them. Its always a good idea to make sure there are no radio operators locked inside when you leave. When this occurred on
The Waendel, a loud chorus of 'Oh dear what can the matter be' echoed from the St John's main First Aid post, who were monitoring our
communications.