Below you’ll find a selection of briefing materials on how to set up this equipment, including options for ease of use and different headset types
The use of Duplex Communication is mandated, and is included in Network Rail’s Plant Manual. NR/Plant/0200/Infrastructure Plant Manual, which states:
“Where personnel are required to undertake activities involving on-track machines or on-track plant on or about Network Rail managed infrastructure, mobile voice communication systems shall be provided for the Machine Controller and Machine Operator. Any such system shall be a full digital duplex communication system and as a minimum provide instant simultaneous communications, voice clarity, durability, and enhanced weatherproofing of the equipment.
The communication system shall meet applicable EMC and other environmental requirements of Network Rail standards and other applicable mandatory or statutory requirements as appropriate.”
Work CANNOT start without such a system being in place.
In the event of duplex system failure after work has started and the MC/CC and Operator are unable to resolve then the following actions must be instigated by the MC/CC:
- The MC/CC must attempt to source replacement equipment. (Additional sets should be planned for and held in case this safety critical equipment fails).
- If the time required to source alternative equipment imports risk to successfully completing the task within the given possession working time, an alternative agreed safe system of work can be used.
- The MC/CC MUST record on his OTP Work Plan why an agreed alternative safe system of work is being used and the type/reason of failure of the Radio equipment and report the defect to the Site or Line Manager.
- Equipment failure and consequent actions must be reported through the Close Call system.
Using Dect-com II
DECT- Com II replaces DECT and is easy to use and very reliable, as long as it is set up properly. To make DECT-Com II units as easy as possible to use, it is recommended that:
- Units to go to site already paired (paired units to be marked, for example KIT1 1A/1B; KIT2 2A/2B; KIT3 3A/3B; etc).TANDEMS to be marked, for example KIT1 1A/1B/1C. This needs to be clearly marked and not scratched in
- Units to go to site with parameters pre-set (microphone type, VOX and Volume)
- Pairing to be locked (to avoid complications caused by adding unit to a base)
- Auto talk enabled (this eliminates the need to double click PTT1 on set up and when unit returns to being in range having been out of range)
- Auto power off to be increased to 10 hours (out of the box setting is 4 hours)
- Base Selection option disabled (not required when a pairing is locked)
- Microphone type selection enabled (enables switching between throat mic and headset).UNLESS ELETRET HEADS OR THROAT MICS are being used
- VOX level selection enabled (generally VOX 4 is adequate) unless using MT701H03
We have produced easy to follow user guides:
i-Procurement
Contracts are in place with Site Link and High Motive to assist in the active management of DECT II equipment, for example to install latest firmware and software, and to lock out some functions to improve ease of use. Contracts are also in place to buy throat mics, associated Snap on Acoustic tube earpieces and Open Ear Buds, For Network Rail this is accessible through i-procurement, details on this process can be found below:
Mandatory safety critical briefings for all users covering Duplex Communication Protocols and Detailed briefings on use of DECT II can be found in the page attachments.
The following document provides Cromwell industry agreed rate pricing flyer:
At Source QX provide ear protectors and boom mics, both of which can be incorporated with throat mics, please see FAQ below:
