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 in question.

Underground mining telephones available from Carroll Technologies include:

• Model 112S/S GEN 11 Page Boss
• Model 117 Weatherproof Phone
• Model 118 Desk Phone
• Model 119 Page Boss
• Model 139 Phone Coupler
• Model 140 Pageboss w/ Keypad
• Model 111 Page Boss w/ Bullhorn
• Model 112 GEN 11 Page Boss

Paging telephones in mines are battery-powered, static communication units that use radio signals to send individual audio and text messages. They are hard-wired to the surface level of a mine, and allow communication back and forth between workers above and below ground. While they have a more limited range than leaky-feeder systems, they can be much more efficient in smaller or shallower mining operations where communication is only needed over shorter distances.

Meanwhile, a leaky-feeder system provides both wired and wireless communication throughout a mine. Leaky feeder cable is coaxial cable which has sections of the outer shielding shaved away, allowing radio signals to “leak” in and out. This is stretched throughout a mine, and acts as antenna for devices to receive a signal, drastically extending the physical range over which miners can communicate. This means leaky-feeders are more appropriate than pagers for large-scale projects.

Carroll Technologies Group offers a number of underground mining telephones from Pyott-Boone Electronics (PBE), designed to enable a clear channel of communication throughout a mine. They can be mixed and matched depending on the individual needs of a mining operation, and installed as part of either a pager or leaky feeder system.

Underground mining telephones come in a variety of options for different functionalities

The PBE 112 Mine Phone is a two-way radio telephone which can be integrated into either a traditional pager or leaky feeder system. It’s also part of PBE’s fourth generation leaky feeder technology range, which incorporates proximity alert systems, gas monitoring and both text and voice communication.

PBE also offer the 117 Weatherproof Phone, which can be installed in wet or exposed areas underground, outside, or on preparation plants. Its polycarbonate resin protects it from the harsh elements it may be exposed to in these spaces.

The Models 118, 110, and 220 VAC Desktop phones are designed to be installed in surface level control rooms, and come with battery backup to prevent the risk of communication collapse during power outages. Carroll also offer the Model 139 Page Phone, a public telephone couple that allows standard page phones to connect to external networks.

All Carroll Technologies Group customers have access to the MinerCare 24/7 support line, which is available for all servicing inquiries they may have at any time. MinerCare representatives can be on the phone in minutes to help talk operators through technical hitches, action same-day delivery of parts from one of 13 distribution centers across North America, and even assist in communications network design.