Leaky feeder

A leaky feeder is a communications system used in underground mining and other tunnel environments. It consists of a coaxial cable run along tunnels which emits and receives radio waves, functioning as an extended antenna. The cable is "leaky" in that it has gaps or slots in its outer conductor to allow the radio signal to leak into or out of the cable along its entire length. Because of this leakage of signal, line amplifiers are required to be inserted at regular intervals, typically every 350 to 500 metres, to boost the signal back up to acceptable levels. The signal is usually picked up by portable transceivers carried by personnel. Transmissions from the transcievers are picked up by the feeder and carried to other parts of the tunnel, allowing two-way radio communication throughout the tunnel system.

The system has a limited range and because of the high frequency it uses, transmissions cannot pass through solid rock, which limits the system to a line-of-sight application. It does, however, allow two-way mobile communication.

This system is also used for underground mobile communication in mass transit railways. In Hong Kong the leaky feeder aerial was incorporated in the specification of the capital project and installed during construction. This allows emergency services seamless mobile communication from the underground to the surface.

In London, London Underground uses a leaky feeder system for their internal communication network Connect. The emergency services' communications system however was not compatible and did not work underground. That this situation continued to exist after the 1987 King's Cross fire was criticized in reports into the 7 July 2005 London bombings, where it hampered rescue efforts.

Aircraft also use a leaky feeder antennae system for the latest generation of IFE systems.

See also

Tunnel transmitter