How do you spend most of your time at work?
The great thing about Radiocoms is the variety, in terms of both clients and technology. Most of my time is spent analysing requirements and working towards designing a solution.
What’s the one gadget that you can’t live without?
My satnav. I travel a great deal.
Describe your most unforgettable project.
Redesigning a trunked radio and microwave network in West Africa. This involved overcoming the challenges of logistics and resources in order to meet tight deadlines and mitigate the collapse of an existing supplier of shared infrastructure. My employer was at risk of losing transmission sites.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen while working in the radio sector?
The freak lightning and other weather during the wet season in West Africa. While it was incredibly impressive to see the consequences of such frequent electrical storms, they presented several technical challenges.
What advice would you give to a young radio engineer who’s starting their first job in the industry?
When I finished my British Army apprenticeship, my first task was to make short bootlace coaxes. Being left alone to get on with the task taught me that I had so much to learn. My advice would be to identify a good mentor.
How has your role changed since you started working within the radio industry?
I started out in a bench test and repair environment, and have ended up planning major infrastructure projects.
What do you do in your free time to relax?
I spend a considerable amount of time away from my family, so our time together is spent trying to make up for lost time. Anything from dog walks to just a simple board game.
Andy enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals as a radio technician and served for 13 years in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia. He has since worked in Africa and Afghanistan. He has been at Radiocoms for the past 15 months.
