A longwall support control for controlling the movements of the longwall support units and the advance heading in the longwall of a mine comprises a plurality of control units, of which a separate mining shield control device is locally and operationally associated to each longwall support unit. Each mining shield control device comprises a multi-channel radio transceiver, such that the mining shield control device is in a simultaneous transmit and receive mode with a decentralized operating device for receiving control signals and for transmitting inspection data. The mining shield control devices may be interconnected and each mining shield control device may include an amplifier.