Large and often remote locations are common on many mining operations. Hand-in-glove with this widespread and harsh environment is the issue of consistent communications capabilities. Since it is critical for mine management to retain uninterrupted two-way communication with on-site workers, the deployment of two-way radios is a cost-effective and reliable alternative to other communication modalities.

“Durability and dependability are key factors in the design and manufacture of any two-way radio, since the units are exposed to inclement conditions over extended periods of time. Apart from the internal technology, which ensures that signals are optimally transmitted and received, the physical operation of two-way radios, in mechanical terms, is highly dependent on the reliability of the push-to-talk (PTT) buttons,” says Sean Mervitz, Sales Manager at Global Communications, Kenwood’s distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The PTT buttons are in fact the most mechanically used component of portable two-way radios with employees often using the buttons as a mechanical microphone. “The PTT buttons are subject to not only extreme conditions, but furthermore to excessive use. In the mining environment, where the radio is often the major or only form of communication, they are clearly tested to their limits,” says Mervitz.

The design of the Kenwood NX1000 range of two-way radios guarantees that all elements are sealed to the highest possible standards, to provide a completely watertight and dust-proof unit for use in even the most challenging environments. Global Communications is so confident of the durability of the radios that it announced late last year that specific models in the Kenwood NX1000 range would be covered by an unprecedented five-year warranty (Ts & Cs apply).

“Kenwood subjected the radios to stringent testing to create a unit that would endure in the face of the most extreme conditions possible. The PTT buttons were exposed to repeated and ongoing tests that underlined their excellence with a very satisfying PTT reliability of 100 000 activations. What this means is that mine management can be confident that these Kenwood radios are able to provide constant and regular communication, without any concerns over push button failure,” says Mervitz.

A classic example of the reliability of the Kenwood radios is illustrated in the deployment of a NEXEDGE NXDN network by Global Communications across 16 sites for the commercial banking arm of a major Southern African bank. https://www.globalcomms.net/news/kenwood-bank-case-study

For more information contact Global Communications, +27 (0) 12 621 0400, info@globalcomms.net, www.globalcomms.net