COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS USED IN A SURFACE MINING OPERATION

COMMUNICATION: ( BASIC PRINCIPLES )

• Communication systems available for surface mining operation are divided

into two categories:
• 1. Wired systems requiring some type of metallic conductor.
• 2. Non wired system, or those commonly referred to as space-radio
systems.
COMMUNICATIONS ( WIRED COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS)
• Under the heading of a wired systems, telephones of the ringer type utilizing
magnetos were used in the early pit operations.
• These type are still being used in underground mining operations where
calling is accomplished by ringing a code made up of short and long rings.
• While the standard Bell Telephone Systems have not been applied extensively
in an underground operation, they have been used in open pit operations but
with some advantages and disadvantages.
WIRED SYSTEMS OF COMMUNICATION

A magneto is an electrical
generator that uses permanent
magnets to produce periodic pulses
of alternating current.
-it produces an alternating voltage to
alert the central office operator, or to
ring the bells of other telephones
WIRED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• The advantage of a Bell System during the operation is that when a Bell
system is installed in a surface mining operation, communication is available
not only within the operation but to any point in the world through the facilities
of the world wide Bell Systems.
• But the disadvantage of this system in a surface mining operation is you need
multiple pair cables which must be installed and maintained as the mining
operation proceed.
WIRED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• A second type of communication available is the AUDIO SYSTEM OR PUBLIC

ADDRESS SYSTEM requiring the use of a special audio cable made up of shielded
pairs for the loudspeaker and microphone circuits.
• Also, this system has an advantage over most telephone systems in that, with a high
powered amplifier, a paging call can be heard over and above the high ambient
noise usually found at a surface mining operation.
• However, they have disadvantage of requiring special cable which must be installed
and maintained.
WIRED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
WIRED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• Another type available for surface mining operation is that of CARRIER

FREQUENCY EQUIPMENT similar to that used in an underground mining
operations.
• In this system, transmission is accomplished by means of a frequency
modulated carrier that travels over the underground trolley wire, the rail on
which the locomotives travel, and adjacent telephone wires.
WIRED TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

• Such system was installed in an open pit operation in1948 in an effort to overcome
some of the disadvantages of conventional telephone communication.
• One unit of this system is installed in the control tower and another in the cab of an
electric locomotive. Considerable time and expense was involved in installing and
testing the carrier system. With 40 miles of track in and out of the pit, numerous
dead spots developed along the haulage way. Power was cut off and the locomotive
communication service when the pantograph lost contact with the overhead trolley
wire.
WIRED TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

• In places where the rails are not bonded on the bench tracks, contact with the control unit was
broken. There are also a great deal of interference with other locomotives and electrical
equipment installed in the operation, Contact with the control tower could not be maintained
when the locomotive was at various places in the system.
• Carrier frequency equipment is still being used in some surface mining operations utilizing
locomotives operating from a trolley wire and track system and in many installations has
proven an effective communication system. Use of transistorized equipment operating from
storage batteries has overcome problems resulting from power failures, but in general, carrier
frequency equipment has been placed into service at only a few surface mining operations.
NON WIRED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• Non wired or space radio communication was first tried in the 1948.
• In the US, the Federal Communications Commission established the established the
Citizens Radio Service, which included Classes A, B, and D stations intended primarily
for personal or business short range voice communication.
• Frequencies in the 460 to 470-mc band for class A and B stations, and frequencies
ranging from 26.965 mc to 27.255mc were assigned to class D stations.
• With the establishment of this new radio service, the surface mining industry had at
its disposal another communication medium which seem to be quite adaptable to its
needs. So by that time, all systems of communication were disregarded and they use
two way or space radio systems as their primary means of communications.
CITIZENS BAND RADIO SYSTEMS

The surface mining industry has been utilizing small transceivers with a
maximum allowable power input of 5 watts as a communication medium, with
satisfactory communications possible over an area of 50 to 300 square miles.
The distances over which effective communications between two class D Citizens
band transceivers can be maintained depends upon transmitting power, antenna
location, type, and height, nature of the terrain at and between the transmitter-
receiver locations, frequency of operation, and atmospheric conditions