Completely redundant communication system utilizing radiating transmission line

A radio frequency communication system for communicating signals from and to remote mobile communication units comprising:

• a radiating transmission line having a first end and a second end;
• a first mobile communication unit comprising mobile receiver means for receiving a first communication signal from the transmission line at a first frequency and mobile transmitter means for transmitting a second communication signal to the transmission line at a second frequency;
• a base station coupled to the first end of the radiating transmission line comprising:
• base transmitter means for transmitting the first communication signal at the first frequency into the first end;
• and
• base receiver means for receiving the second communication signal at the second frequency from the first end;
• a first branching means located at a branching location on the radiating transmission line for electrically coupling the second end of the radiating transmission line to the radiating transmission line at the branching location such that the first and second communication signals may pass from the radiating transmission line into the second end of the transmission line;
• wherein the second end of the radiating transmission line is electrically coupled to the radiating transmission line at the branching location if, and only if, there is a fault in the system between the branching location and the second end of the transmission line.

A radio frequency communication system for communicating signals from and to remote mobile communication units comprising:

• a radiating transmission line having a first end and a second end;
• a first remote mobile communication unit comprising mobile receiver means for receiving a first communication signal from the transmission line at a first frequency and mobile transmitter means for transmitting a second communication signal to the transmission line at a second frequency;
• a base station coupled to the first end and the second end of the radiating transmission line, said base station comprising:
• base transmitter means for transmitting the first communication signal at the first frequency into the first end or into the second end of the transmission line;
• and
• base receiver means for receiving the second communication signal at the second frequency from the first end or the second end of the transmission line;
• a branching radiating transmission line having a first end and a second end;
• a first branching means for electrically coupling the first end of the branching radiating transmission line to the radiating transmission line such that the first and second communication signals may pass from the radiating transmission line to the branching transmission line, said first branching means being connected to the radiating transmission line at a first branching location;
• a second branching means for electrically coupling the second end of the branching radiating transmission line to the radiating transmission line such that the first and second communication signals may pass from the radiating transmission line to the branching transmission line, said second branching means connected to the radiating transmission line at a second branching location separated from the first branching location;
• and
• wherein the branching radiating transmission line is electrically coupled to the radiating transmission line at only one of the first branching location or the second branching location such that there is no more than one continuous electrical connection from the first end to the second end of the transmission line.