DISCO DAVES TUNNEL GUIDE

  Chapter 13

Communications

  In the UK cheap two way intercom systems and leads are readily available from electrical stores. Being small and relatively easy to use they are ideal for tunnels. To operate the person in the tunnel with an intercom unit holds down a button which will activate a buzzer on the surface unit. The person on the surface switches on the intercom and then communicates by holding the buzzer button.

  To install

   Attaching the wire along the shoring from the surface to the chamber is the easiest way to install shoring. However with tunnellers crawling in and out constantly the wire is liable to be damaged from a boot or from material being pulled along. Bearing this in mind it is far better to let the wire run along the inside of the airpipe.

  (1)Puncture a hole in the airpipe just after the fan unit

  (2 )With a long length of thick wire feed a piece of rope down the airpipe Once the wire and rope have reached the end pull the rope through with the intercom wire at one end of it.Then cover the punctured hole with gaffer tape. If at all possible feed the intercom wire through the air pipe before placing the pipe in the tunnel.

  3)The tunnel intercom should be attached to an upright in a chamber.The surface unit should be positioned on the outside of the bunker with a small cover over it.

  Mobile phones

  They cannot receive a signal underground so are useless. As a point of interest. When on the surface with your mobile phone switched on the mobile phone company can locate your position anywhere within 25 metres. They will only do this if asked ...wait for it ....by the police.

CB Radio

 Protesters were surprised that during the evictions at Birmingham the Under Sheriff officer didn't order the CB communications between protesters be jammed. One can surmise that this was a shrewd move on their part as it allowed them to listen into conversations thus possibly gaining valuable information .The CB will be a massive morale booster. If your the last one in the tunnel and have been alone for a number of days. No amount of vodka ,whiskey etc is going to make up for hearing that friendly voice giving you support and news from the outside, (even if it is to hear that your friends just run of with your girlfriend). That said reception will be bad to non existent if your tunnel is at a great depth. Therefore your only communication will be with the tunnellers coming to get you out. Between the various CB units on site agree a daily set of frequencies. The main one and a back up in case the reception on the first is jammed etc. Agree a code so hearing it the user can change frequency. The chart with the frequencies on should be kept in the tunnel out of general view.

  (Example chart)

  BAZOOKA (code word)

 Keep at least 3 fully charged car batteries in the tunnel for use only during eviction. Use a fourth for day to day use. During the Birmingham evictions the two tunnels had intercom links and CB's which led to a safety caravan. The safety caravan was manned constantly during the eviction and was a point where the authorities could go and liaise With a representative of the protesters to make the eviction as safe as possible

top

 e-mail the author with your comments

home