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the big jump to broadcast engineering

K

kb5njd

Guest
Good evening ladies and gents,

I have been reading this site for quite some time but this is my first post.

Several months ago I made a decision to take a leave of absence from my job as a software engineer to try and get a shot at real love, Broadcast Engineering with a focus on the RF side of things in either radio or TV. I have a technical background in electronics and RF. I have been a licensed Extra class Amateur radio operator for 16 years with extensive experience in building and troublshooting and recently passed the GROL in hopes of adding some credibility to my resume. I made the mistake of getting a 4 year degree from UT in a non-engineering field and my only professional electronics experience was a 2 year stint my senior year of high school and freshman year of college at the Superconducting Supercollider lab's High power lab as a technician -- that was over 10 years ago and that project was scraped before it was finished.

My question is this: In an attempt to add legitimacy to my resume in this new field, would getting a certificate from a correspondence school specializing in B.E. help significantly? I am looking at the program from the cleveland institute of electronics at http://www.cie-wc.edu/Broadcast-Engineering.asp. The price seems right and I suspect that a portion of the information will be basic enough that I can probably get through it rather quickly. I am sure there are other schools that are out there - CIE's electronics program came recommended from several individuals in the commercial electronics field.

Living in the Dallas area, I realize that finding a job in the immediate area is probably out of the question. While I am not in a position to relocate across the country of even across the state, I could see myself driving an hour or better out of the area for an opportunity. Does anyone know how realistic it is to think I could find something in smaller markets within an hour and a half of the DFW area? Am I wasting my time?

Thanks again for listening to my rant. I appreciate any wisdom that might come from this group.

Regards,

John
 
> My question is this: In an attempt to add legitimacy to my
> resume in this new field, would getting a certificate from a
> correspondence school specializing in B.E. help
> significantly?

Welcome on board.
Might we assume you already have a general radiotelephone license?<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by ai4i on 08/09/05 01:49 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> Welcome on board.

Thank you!

> Might we assume you already have a general radiotelephone
> license?

Yes sir. That licensing was completed a few months ago. While I realize that the CIE course work appears to provide prep for GROL I felt like the additional information covered (info not covered in the GROL) would be helpful, especially from the standpoint of CET prep. Since I am talking about helping my resume and making a career jump, I feel (perhap wrongly) that anything I can add that is remotely related might help me in the long run.
 
> Good evening ladies and gents,
>
> I have been reading this site for quite some time but this
> is my first post.
>
> Several months ago I made a decision to take a leave of
> absence from my job as a software engineer to try and get a
> shot at real love, Broadcast Engineering with a focus on the
> RF side of things in either radio or TV. I have a technical
> background in electronics and RF. I have been a licensed
> Extra class Amateur radio operator for 16 years with
> extensive experience in building and troublshooting and
> recently passed the GROL in hopes of adding some credibility
> to my resume. I made the mistake of getting a 4 year degree
> from UT in a non-engineering field and my only professional
> electronics experience was a 2 year stint my senior year of
> high school and freshman year of college at the
> Superconducting Supercollider lab's High power lab as a
> technician -- that was over 10 years ago and that project
> was scraped before it was finished.
>
> My question is this: In an attempt to add legitimacy to my
> resume in this new field, would getting a certificate from a
> correspondence school specializing in B.E. help
> significantly? I am looking at the program from the
> cleveland institute of electronics at
> http://www.cie-wc.edu/Broadcast-Engineering.asp. The price
> seems right and I suspect that a portion of the information
> will be basic enough that I can probably get through it
> rather quickly. I am sure there are other schools that are
> out there - CIE's electronics program came recommended from
> several individuals in the commercial electronics field.
>
> Living in the Dallas area, I realize that finding a job in
> the immediate area is probably out of the question. While I
> am not in a position to relocate across the country of even
> across the state, I could see myself driving an hour or
> better out of the area for an opportunity. Does anyone know
> how realistic it is to think I could find something in
> smaller markets within an hour and a half of the DFW area?
> Am I wasting my time?
>
> Thanks again for listening to my rant. I appreciate any
> wisdom that might come from this group.
>
> Regards,
>
> John
>

Hmmmm.....

How about working for someone like Continental Electronics (transmitter manufacture in Dallas)? With your background, I'd say they'd be a good place to learn even more about RF since you live in the Dallas area. Another interesting idea would be to work with someone like Jack Sellmeier (I probably butchered his last name's spelling.. SORRY!), a Dallas P.E., and learn the black art of AM directionals and other RF-related fun. It would be worth working for that guy for lunch money for a few years just to soak up as much information as you could for future use.
 
> Hmmmm.....
>
> How about working for someone like Continental Electronics
> (transmitter manufacture in Dallas)? With your background,
> I'd say they'd be a good place to learn even more about RF
> since you live in the Dallas area. Another interesting idea
> would be to work with someone like Jack Sellmeier (I
> probably butchered his last name's spelling.. SORRY!), a
> Dallas P.E., and learn the black art of AM directionals and
> other RF-related fun. It would be worth working for that
> guy for lunch money for a few years just to soak up as much
> information as you could for future use.
>


Those are both excellent suggestions and ones that I will follow up on tomorrow. I dont feel a need to work in a station necessarily. Working for a PE that deals with antennas (one of my passions) or for a company that builds transmitters would be a very rewarding experience. I think the key would be getting my foot in the door and finding someone willing to take that chance.

A great suggestion and one that I will do my best to develop.
 
Your background might also get you into an assistant position with a major broadcaster, any interest in TV? As for your original question: yes, extra certificates should help open doors.<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P>
 
>any interest in TV?


Oh absolutely! In fact, in an attempt to make contacts in any way possible, I recently sent resumes/cover letters to chief engineers of most of the TV stations in the Dallas market. I didnt necessarily expect anything to come of it, rather I wanted to get my name out there and if nothing else get a rejection letter that might possibly stimulate some dialog about how I should proceed. After about a week and a half, I have heard nothing. Perhaps still a little soon to tell if that strategy will yield any useful information.
 
Re: SBE Chapter 67-- can help with the big jump to broadcast engineering

I'd start by attending the next Dallas area Society of Broadcast Engineers' meeting.

The gentlemen and ladies you'll meet there are happy to see a new face that's interested in getting into Broadcast engineering.

I suspect they might have some recommendations about what to do and who to talk to, if not perhaps some uses for your programming skills around an increasingly digital and CPU controlled broadcast environment.

Make sure you take business cards with name, phone, an e-mail address and a website URL prominently printed on the front. The URL should have a page outlining your desire to get into engineering and a link to your resume.

The back of the business card should have a short skill list printed on back side with the word "Available" at the top.) You never know how that might be just the thing that someone refers to a month from now when they have something for you to do.

Take some resumes along in case someone wants to see one immediately.

There are also SBE certifications you can study for and take. Definitely ask who at the chapter coordinates the exams.

Certification details are at the SBE national orginazation website:
http://sbe.org/.

Remaining Exam dates this year are:

October 20 at the SBE National Meeting - Dallas... application deadline is August 18. 2005 and

November 11-21 at the Local Chapters. Deadline for apps is September 23, 2005

Chapter 67 is on the web at http://www.sbe67.org/

You'll enjoy the downloadable PDF of the lastest newsletter. Chair Martin Sandberg has some words that will probably be just what you wanted to hear.


Chapter 67 Officers are:
Chairman Martin “Sandy”Sandberg - CPBE Consultant [email protected]

Vice Chairman Gerry Dalton, CBRE, CBNT Consolidated Communications [email protected]

Secretary John J. Baumann Transmitter - Maintenance Engineer KSTR TV- 49 / DT- 48 KUVN TV- 23 / DT- 24 [email protected]

Treasurer Guy Partridge, CBT KDFWTV [email protected]

Newsletter Editor GerryDalton,CBRE, CBNT Consolidated Communications [email protected]


It looks like they meet the last Thursday of the month for dinner somewhere with a guest speaker. The website lists the July meeting, but I suspect Martin or someone else can tell you the when and where for the August meeting.

Of note in the broadcast engineering world: Dallas and Boston will host the Ennes workshops, named after highly regarded engineer, the late Harold Ennes, author of numerous textbooks about the subject. That's in October, right in your backyard.

See http://www.bee2005.org/ for details.

Hope this gets you where you want to go. At least it'll put you in the room with the people who do the fixing and the hiring. Heck, maybe you can arrange an internship of some kind... if not a paying position.

I'm in California... and you may wonder why I'm so enthused about an SBE chapter that's half a continent from me. Well, I've found broadcast engineers willing to share and get somebody into the profession since I was a 10-year old... and

Sacramento chapter 43 members http://www.broadcast.net/~sbe43/
were highly helpful with equipment and other advice when I was rebuilding the (late) ROP Radio-TV program I taught at Marysville High 10-15 years ago.

I attend meetings in Sacramento as I can, and learn something new every time I do, especally about the ever-changing landscape as things move from anlog to digital.

If you fancy a spin out of town check out the other Texas chapters:
69-San Antiono, 29-Corpus Christi, 38-El Paso, 79-Austin, 99-Bryan,
105-Huston, 134-Beaumont-Lake Charles and 136-Rio Grande Valley.

A list with contacts and meeting times is at
http://www.sbe.org/Chapter Meeting Dates for web.pdf

http://sbe.org/sbe_chapter_on_web.html will link you to chapter websites.

Clicking on either of these two links will take you out of the SBE.org's framed website. The links to these pages are toward the end of the left hand navigation column on the left site of the main site.

Good luck and the great watt-meister's blessings on you and your career change.

Ted.


> >any interest in TV?
>
>
> Oh absolutely! In fact, in an attempt to make contacts in
> any way possible, I recently sent resumes/cover letters to
> chief engineers of most of the TV stations in the Dallas
> market. I didnt necessarily expect anything to come of it,
> rather I wanted to get my name out there and if nothing else
> get a rejection letter that might possibly stimulate some
> dialog about how I should proceed. After about a week and a
> half, I have heard nothing. Perhaps still a little soon to
> tell if that strategy will yield any useful information.
>
 
> How about working for someone like Continental Electronics
> (transmitter manufacture in Dallas)?

Unfortunately, it appears that Continental has either "gone under" or been bought out or both.

I started a search last night for them on the web and while there were numerous web listening, their home page had been taken down. I found an old phone number for them and called today only to get a busy signal. When i finally did get a ring, no one ever answered the phone. I called directory assistance to verify the number and they dont have any listing.

Does anyone know who might have bought them out or what the situation is?

thanks,

john
 
> Unfortunately, it appears that Continental has either "gone
> under" or been bought out or both.

> Does anyone know who might have bought them out or what the
> situation is?

Try this website for more information:

http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=6870

Apparently Continental has been sold more times than
a character from "Roots". Don't know whether they're active;
didn't see them at NAB, but then I wasn't specifically looking.<P ID="signature">______________
So who investigates Special Prosecutors when
their work is done and second-guessing begins?</P>
 
> Good evening ladies and gents,
>
> I have been reading this site for quite some time but this
> is my first post.
>
> Several months ago I made a decision to take a leave of
> absence from my job as a software engineer to try and get a
> shot at real love, Broadcast Engineering with a focus on the
> RF side of things in either radio or TV. I have a technical
> background in electronics and RF. I have been a licensed
> Extra class Amateur radio operator for 16 years with
> extensive experience in building and troublshooting and
> recently passed the GROL in hopes of adding some credibility
> to my resume. I made the mistake of getting a 4 year degree
> from UT in a non-engineering field and my only professional
> electronics experience was a 2 year stint my senior year of
> high school and freshman year of college at the
> Superconducting Supercollider lab's High power lab as a
> technician -- that was over 10 years ago and that project
> was scraped before it was finished.
>
> My question is this: In an attempt to add legitimacy to my
> resume in this new field, would getting a certificate from a
> correspondence school specializing in B.E. help
> significantly?

Hope you are ready to work LONG hours for lower pay (no OT even though if you are not a chief engineer, thats illegal but they do it anyway), put up with egos a mile wide (from all departments), little appreciation and a good chance you will be let go if the GM or other upper management doesn't like you (even though you are doing the job technically). There HAS been a long discussion on the Broadcast Radio-tech remailer on the internet recently....the general feeling is engineers are treated with less respect (MUCH less) than they used to 20-30 years ago...because of the way corporate radio is running things..

Good luck....its hard to get the engineer out of the blood once bitten, but there are better paying jobs with less hours and headaches out there...
treat yourself right!!
 
> > How about working for someone like Continental Electronics
>
> > (transmitter manufacture in Dallas)?
>
> Unfortunately, it appears that Continental has either "gone
> under" or been bought out or both.
>
> I started a search last night for them on the web and while
> there were numerous web listening, their home page had been
> taken down.

www.contelec.com us is their URL (site may be down)...DRS owns them but they are still business...as far as I know...havent seen or heard anything about them going under..214-381-7161 is the main number...works when I dial it right now..

> I found an old phone number for them and called
> today only to get a busy signal. When i finally did get a
> ring, no one ever answered the phone. I called directory
> assistance to verify the number and they dont have any
> listing.
>
 
> > Welcome on board.
>
> Thank you!
>
> > Might we assume you already have a general radiotelephone
> > license?
>
> Yes sir. That licensing was completed a few months ago.
> While I realize that the CIE course work appears to provide
> prep for GROL I felt like the additional information covered
> (info not covered in the GROL) would be helpful, especially
> from the standpoint of CET prep. Since I am talking about
> helping my resume and making a career jump, I feel (perhap
> wrongly) that anything I can add that is remotely related
> might help me in the long run.

GROL is not required...and in fact, the license specifically says it is not valid in broadcasting...(damn FCC). ANYONE can be a broadcast engineer..there are NO licensing requirements.....
 
Re: SBE Chapter 67-- can help with the big jump to broadcast engineering

> I'm in California... and you may wonder why I'm so enthused
> about an SBE chapter that's half a continent from me. Well,
> I've found broadcast engineers willing to share and get
> somebody into the profession since I was a 10-year old...

You havent been to a Chapter 67 meeting.....
 
Re: SBE Chapter 67-- can help with the big jump to broadcast engineering

> > I'm in California... and you may wonder why I'm so
> enthused
> > about an SBE chapter that's half a continent from me.
> Well,
> > I've found broadcast engineers willing to share and get
> > somebody into the profession since I was a 10-year old...
>
> You havent been to a Chapter 67 meeting.....
>

OK. What's the scoop with Chapter 67? I'm not there.

Ted.
 
> under..214-381-7161 is the main number...works when I dial
> it right now..

That is the same number I called and let ring for 30 minutes today without an answer.. i will continue to try.
 
>
> GROL is not required...and in fact, the license specifically
> says it is not valid in broadcasting...(damn FCC). ANYONE
> can be a broadcast engineer..there are NO licensing
> requirements.....
>

I do realize that. My goal here is to look as presentable on paper as I can, having not worked in B.E. in my past. I also miss taking tests, as crazy as that sounds so studying for it as well as some of the other FCC exams was fun, regardless of their practical application.

I did notice that on the SBE site that there are credits given for having the GROL or an amateur license for their testing programs.
 
> Hope you are ready to work LONG hours for lower pay (no OT
> even though if you are not a chief engineer, thats illegal
> but they do it anyway), put up with egos a mile wide (from
> all departments), little appreciation and a good chance you
> will be let go if the GM or other upper management doesn't
> like you (even though you are doing the job technically).

While I am sure there are differences, I can draw parallels to what you said above in what I am doing now. My feeling is that I might as well do something I enjoy instead of doing something that I am only good at and not necessarily enjoying. Having had time to reflect, being on this leave of absence, I can say without a doubt that there is more to life and happiness than making tons of cash...
 
I agree that SBE certification would look very nice on your resume as most station managers recognize the SBE. The study school certification route costs a bit of money as you said and most simply prepare you for the General Class License which you already have.
You mentioned you were a ham. Your town probably has one or two 2m or 440 MHz ham repeaters that are frequented by the local broadcast engineers. That would be a great place to hang out and get to know people.
You might also want to check with the local college stations to see if they have any part time/contract or even volunteer engineer positions open. As with most professions, employers like to see that you have real life work experience in the field you want to go into.
Working with a consultant is also a great idea as someone already mentioned. Don't forget the contract broadcast engineering companies . . . there must at least two or three in the area. Often these firms are looking for people who have the skill sets you have and who love radio.
Broadcast enginieering isn't for everyone, but it is a great field.
 
> > Good evening ladies and gents,
> >
> > I have been reading this site for quite some time but this
>
> > is my first post.
> >
> > Several months ago I made a decision to take a leave of
> > absence from my job as a software engineer to try and get
> a
> > shot at real love, Broadcast Engineering with a focus on
> the
> > RF side of things in either radio or TV. I have a
> technical
> > background in electronics and RF. I have been a licensed
> > Extra class Amateur radio operator for 16 years with
> > extensive experience in building and troublshooting and
> > recently passed the GROL in hopes of adding some
> credibility
> > to my resume. I made the mistake of getting a 4 year
> degree
> > from UT in a non-engineering field and my only
> professional
> > electronics experience was a 2 year stint my senior year
> of
> > high school and freshman year of college at the
> > Superconducting Supercollider lab's High power lab as a
> > technician -- that was over 10 years ago and that project
> > was scraped before it was finished.
> >
> > My question is this: In an attempt to add legitimacy to
> my
> > resume in this new field, would getting a certificate from
> a
> > correspondence school specializing in B.E. help
> > significantly?
>
> Hope you are ready to work LONG hours for lower pay (no OT
> even though if you are not a chief engineer, thats illegal
> but they do it anyway), put up with egos a mile wide (from
> all departments), little appreciation and a good chance you
> will be let go if the GM or other upper management doesn't
> like you (even though you are doing the job technically).
> There HAS been a long discussion on the Broadcast Radio-tech
> remailer on the internet recently....the general feeling is
> engineers are treated with less respect (MUCH less) than
> they used to 20-30 years ago...because of the way corporate
> radio is running things..
>
> Good luck....its hard to get the engineer out of the blood
> once bitten, but there are better paying jobs with less
> hours and headaches out there...
> treat yourself right!!

Speak for yourself Chris.
>
 
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