An underground mine communications upgrade comprises an independent VHF-UHF band to MF band repeater-transceiver translator (RTT) and loop antenna added to a conventional miner's cap-lamp and helmet. VHF/UHF band communications with nearby conventional handsets are translated to medium frequency (MF band) communications that couple mine-wide to copper-core life-lines in all the entries. Such life-lines also do well supporting ultra low frequency (ULF), through-the-earth (TTE) communications with the surface above. Roof mounted borehole MF band ULF RTT's are coupled to the dual-frequency life-lines and bridge the MF band communications on the life-lines with the ULF communications on the life-lines. The MF band radio traffic primarily consists of digital packetswitch communications. Both the cap-lamp and borehole RTT's translate between the types of modulation used on the VHF/UHF band handsets, and also the types of modulation used on the ULF TTE surface communications, with the MF band digital packetswitch communications.