A system is provided for communicating within a borehole using controlled vibrations. A movement mechanism uses mechanical energy provided by a mechanical energy source to enable translational movement of a first surface relative to a second surface to allow the first surface to repeatedly impact the second surface to produce a plurality of vibration beats. The vibration beats will occur whenever the mechanical energy is provided by the mechanical energy source at one of at least three impact levels. A vibration control mechanism selectively controls an amplitude of the plurality of vibration beats to encode information therein. The amplitude of a vibration beat is selectively controlled by regulating the impact of the first surface and the second surface to one of the at least three impact levels.