When you choose a mesh platform for an industrial communication earmuff or helmet, four details matter on site: effective range, performance around obstacles, how many people can speak at once, and which frequency band the system uses.

1. Judge effective range on a real work site

Datasheet range is often measured with a clear line of sight. On a work site, people move behind equipment, steel structures and trees. Background noise also affects how far apart two people can be and still understand each other.

Ask your supplier: What is the effective communication range, and how was it measured? Ask whether the figure is for a direct link between two units or a network with relay units.

2. Check performance around obstacles

 

Radio signals can reach a headset along several paths after reflecting off walls, steel structures or other objects. These signals can interfere with each other, and reception can change as people move. ITU-R Recommendation P.833-10 also discusses scattering and changes in attenuation as foliage moves.

During a site trial, walk behind the obstacles your crew encounters in normal work. If the platform supports relaying, repeat the route with a relay unit in place and listen for interruptions.

 

3. Ask how many people can speak at once

“Supports 50 users” may mean that 50 units can join the network. Ask for the number of people who can speak at the same time.

• SONUMESH Nano: 25–50 users per network, with 4–6 people speaking at once.
• SONUMESH Range: 8 full-duplex talkers plus 200 listeners.

4. Confirm the frequency band for each market

The 2.4 GHz and 915 MHz versions discussed here use separate mesh networks. Choose a compatible version for the whole crew and confirm which frequency band is permitted in each target market before ordering.

 

What to check when testing evaluation samples

• Start with 4 headsets to test full-duplex conversation.
• Measure effective range on your own site, with typical obstacles, noise and people moving.
• Use enough units to test how many people can speak at once, and listen for audio break-ups.
• Confirm the frequency band for each target market.

MEIYIN Acoustics offers four SONUMESH platforms for different product lines. Evaluation samples are available in pairs after an NDA, so you can test the system on your own site.

Request evaluation samples: sales1@njmyat.com or hua@njmyat.com.

Reference: ITU-R Recommendation P.833-10, Attenuation in vegetation (2021-09).