Month: May 2019

When workers are tunnelling underground it is imperative they are able to converse with each other, especially in the case of major incident or accident, which is where underground mine radio systems come into play.

An advanced workplace communications system maximizes the efficiency and productivity of the operation. Carroll Technologies Group supplies a range of portable underground mining radio and radio systems from Kenwood and Motorola, as well as stationary leaky feeder systems.

Over 800 mines across North America put their faith in the solutions supplied to them by Carroll Technologies Group every day to keep their facilities running, supported by Carroll’s 24/7 MinerCare team.

Portable Underground Mining Radios

Kenwood supplies and manufactures both analog and NEXEDGE® digital handheld portable mine radios, designed to withstand the extreme conditions of a mine and allowing instant communication between units. Used in mining operations across the world, the ATEX-certified devices are equipped with gas, dust and mining protection.

 

These easily transportable radios are equipped with a long battery life, with the NEXEDGE® models also boasting GPS capacity.

Motorola likewise offers a series of two-way radio solutions known as the MOTOTRBO range, varying from simple-voice only models to feature-rich voice and data radios. They are accompanied by a wide range of accessories to optimise the performance of the device and have been put through an Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) process to ensure they can withstand up to five years of field use.

Stationary Mine Communication Systems

Should a mining facility be in need of a stationary system, a leaky feeder system can provide effective and secure communication both underground and above ground. Carroll Technologies Group supplies the PB2 112 Page Boss Phone, a stationary two-way radio which can work with traditional pager-type systems and be integrated into leaky feeder system.

A leaky feeder system is more stable than a traditional wired phone system, and can be integrated with tracking and monitoring technologies to provide a holistic solution to everyday mining communication.

In this system, a cable is stretched throughout a mine and it acts as an antenna for a number of devices to pick up a radio signal. This way radio devices do not have to stretch to communicating with each other over long distances, where this may not be possible or practical, but instead communicate with the cable. This extends the range of the devices, meaning a worker ten miles below ground can communicate with a colleague ten miles above ground using the antenna between them as a connection.

These systems can be divided into older pager systems and more modern leaky-feeder systems, both of which have their own pros and cons depending on the operation.

Underground Mining Telephones Available from Carroll Technologies

Carroll Technologies supplies a wide range of Page Boss mine phones and underground telephones, designed for use in harsh conditions. Our mining communication solutions include:

• Model 112S/S GEN 11 Page Boss
• Model 112 GEN 11 Page Boss
• Model 118 Desk Phone
• Model 119 Page Boss
• Model 139 Phone Coupler
• Model 111 Page Boss w/ Bullhorn

Paging telephones in mines are battery-powered, hard-wired communication units that use radio signals to send individual audio and text messages. These mine telephones connect underground personnel with surface-level operators, ensuring clear, static communication. While they have a more limited range than leaky-feeder systems, underground page phones are ideal for smaller or shallower mines where communication needs are more localized.

Leaky Feeder Systems and  Integration

Leaky-feeder systems offer both wired and wireless communication throughout a mine. The leaky feeder cable, a type of coaxial cable with sections of its shielding removed, allows radio signals to “leak” in and out. Stretched across mining tunnels, it acts as an antenna that devices can connect to, greatly extending communication range.

This makes leaky feeder systems a better choice than paging-only setups for large or complex mining operations. Carroll’s minephone offerings from Pyott-Boone Electronics (PBE) can be installed as part of either system, giving mine operators the flexibility to build the ideal communication network.

Portable Underground Communications with the Sybet System

In addition to fixed underground mine phones and leaky feeder systems, Carroll Technologies also offers the Sybet portable communication system as a flexible solution for dynamic underground operations. The Sybet system is ideal for environments where personnel and equipment are frequently relocated, offering reliable portable underground communication without the need for complex infrastructure. This makes it a strong complement or alternative to traditional mining telephone systems, especially in smaller mines, development headings, or temporary work zones where installing permanent underground phones isn’t practical.

Mine Phones for All Environments

The PBE Gen 2 underground mining phone (Model 112) is a two-way radio mine phone that works with both pager and leaky feeder systems. It’s part of PBE’s advanced range, supporting proximity alerts, gas monitoring, and both text and voice communication.

Models 118 desktop mining phones are best suited for control rooms at the surface level and feature battery backups to maintain functionality during power outages.

The Model 139 Page Phone Coupler allows connection between standard page phones and external communication networks.

24/7 Support for Mine Phone Systems

All customers benefit from MinerCare 24/7™, our around-the-clock support line. Whether you’re using underground mine phones, mining phone systems, or integrating a full underground communication network, our team can talk you through issues, assist with network design, and action same-day part deliveries.