“RF ENGINEER…!”

Being an engineer by profession (of course not by interest) I am expected to act as a master problem solver in my domain-RF Engineering, though some says it is tower climbing and cable pulling.

Wikipedia says RF Engineering is a highly specialized field. To produce quality results, an in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics and general electronics theory is required. I am here to say you, how me performs as an RF engineer. You may go through some events where I have showed the analytical skills of mine.

Event 1:

Tishman Speyer is one of the leading owners, developers, operators, and managers of first-class real estate in the world. WaveRock,Hyderabad is hailed as its first project in Asia.

Tata TeleServices ltd (TTSL) was given the responsibility to ensure smooth mobile phone signal in the entire 20lakh sq.feetof TSI-WaveRock. So Cellcomm was called in to provide solution for both Tata Indicom and Docomo. Installation was progressing smoothly and for the existing customers we had even arranged a Network Booster on a temporary basis, near to the MD’s cabin.

One fine day, I got a call from TSI saying they face signal problem. To increase my blood pressure none from the technical team was available in the site or office. Since my boss was too confident with my technical skill, I was asked to meet the MD and convince them that network issues can only be rectified later. I tried to do so but failed as usual. They have even threatened me that they would change the operator unless the network issue is solved before evening. If that happens, the orders that we enjoy from TTSL will have a sudden break.

Though a hard core atheist, there are moments in my life I wish the existence of the Supreme power..(LOL). There left no option, so I had to run through all the floors like a sniffer dog to catch smell..Oh ...no.. signal. I could find nothing (you may say I know nothing)..Tired…frustrated...I came back to Repeater room near MD’s cabin. Obviously I can’t tell him I’m helpless. Rather than concentrating on the issue, my mind was searching for a better lie to convince him.

Eurekaa….!! there was no power to Repeater. Power Chord is loose. I did nothing..came out of the Repeater room,walk around MD’s cabin.I assured him I would’t move from site unless the problem get solved. He just nodded..clear lack of interest on his face.I acted as manually checking some antennas on the same floor, surfed through the hand held netmonitor and even tried to bring some seriousness on my face though the real me was laughing hilariously, inside.

Half an hour passed by…Repeater was made ON and I approached MD politely to tell him the signal is Ok now…”You have done a good/great/excellent job…” such scraps followed by a warm shake hand. People happened to be around looked at me as if I come from Mars.

Nothing to say more…God is happy since they say Customer is god. TTSL happy, My boss happy, of course me too..the RF Engineer.

Event 2:

Ever since proved a good trouble shooter(!,?) I enjoyed a little more respect(?) from the Organization. I was asked to visit another site with a TTSL engineer Mr.Kishor, where customer were not able to communicate properly over land line phone due to heavy noise produced from the line. The firm belonged to Tata and was located at the outskirts of Hyderabad.

We kept our network booster in the said premise some days before. Luckily, a technical person, Mr.Ajesh, was with me. We could sense the importance of the case as Kishor was getting a lot of calls from his management, although the time was reaching midnight.

Kishor put a lot of confidence on us. I could hear him saying “ Cellcomm team is with me, we will fix the problem.” Ajesh threw a smile at me. I could count my heart beats clearely.

At site, we had experienced the problem by listening over the phone. Something to do -also we have to prove that our equipment is innocent. Everyone was waiting for the solution-not at site, but at the other end of the mobile phone.

The Booster (Repeater) was placed at the network room. Ajesh manually checked antennas transmission levels, Repeater’s output power etc. He was unable to find any possible cause. Just to show others that we had done something, we planned to change the Repeater location to the corner of the same network room. Since the power cable of the Repeater was inadequate to tap the power, I had used an extension box that found in the network room.

With the new set up, the status of the landlines were checked..Miracle happened..! Voice is pretty good now..! We all were in ecstacy…!

To convince people we needed a strong reason. While analyzing the new set up, the newly added extension board was seen “Universal Power Strip with EMI filter….!” written on it.

A spark in mind…what else but Electro Magnetic Interference(!)?

Kishor agreed the same. With the new EMI power strip we tested the equipment at the old power pin…Result was as expected.

Rest everything is as usual….RF Engineer accepts shake hand and congrats as usual while Ajesh is looking on. The following days, we got some mails from TTSL praising Cellcomm’s team effort and the outstanding performance(?) of this loyal(?) RF Engineer…(LOL)

Event 3:

Hyderabad was a Princely state of India. The Ruling Aristocracy, The Nizams,the Nawabs had a beautiful palace here in Falaknuma.

Let me come to the point, Ratan Tata is in Hyderabad now to inaugurate the ‘Taj Falaknuma.’ Yes Ratan Tata is the new Nawab as the palace is now a Taj Hotel.

Since he is in town,cellcommians expect restless/sleepless days/nights as the reputed Tata TeleServices Ltd(TTSL) in Hyderabad will tolerate no minor network issues during his visit in town.

We had made additional network upgradation using Cellcomm’s ‘CDMA Fibre Optic Repeater’ in Taj Falaknuma since he spends some days in the palace. ‘CDMA Fibre Optic Repeater (FOR)’ was a novel product of Cellcomm.

The day before Tata comes, TTSL’s top team had a routine signl checking at Falaknuma- Tata Indicom signal is weak…panic.. We were called in around 8pm…RF enginner had no other option but to go to site with Ajesh who had installed the same with others. Mr. Mohmmed Faheem, Sr.Manager- TTSL was waiting for us at site with other TTSL engineers. This time even we were treated as VIPs as a Tata Indica sent by TTSL was waiting outside Cellcomm( for the first time…may be final too!)

On the way to site, Ajesh called up one of the engineers at site for the site status.- “No network plus PD alarm” was the issue. Since we both were equally ignorant of the FOR, seeked help from our Technical Manager over phone who is in Bangalore. We are told the PD( Photo Diode) alarm is due to the Fibre problem. So on the way we got 4 fibre patches also.

We were enough confident and gave assurance to Faheem that we would fix the problem today night itself. The Repeater got the PD alarm at its master unit. Ajesh replaced the input Fibre patch as I was ready to deliver a lecture in front of Faheem. Fibre got replaced- PD Alarm still ON…visible irritation on Faheem’s face…! I felt speechless. PD alarm laughed at me through its Red LED.

Frustrated…we (Ajesh&RF Engineer!) headed to the Remote unit where Optical Transceiver, FOR and GSM Antennas were placed. Though the fibre cable was changed even at the remote unit, signal found dead. I really had to fight off the urge to run away from there. Ajesh was busy with checking the physical connections to antenna and its connectorisation parts. No visible damage was found in cables as well.

Since the first time seeing the equipment, I had nothing to do but opened the Repeater door. Very poor design...! , I thought, since there were no LED indications inside. I conveyed my point to Ajesh. He was enough brilliant to sense that Repeater doesn’t have any input power, again a loose connection…! Again Eureka……!!###....

Our handsets started showing full network..mean time call from Faheem who was with the Master unit saying PD Alarm is cleared.

The sky had lot of stars; but we were the real stars as far as TTSL was concerned.

Talepiece:

1. "If Ratan Tata travels every nook and corner of India, TTSL will have the largest and best network in India" - RF Engineer

2.

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of
the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time"

- Abraham Lincoln

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=172215369475389&set=a.150966191600307.26941.100000607821594&bcode=nVFwR#!/video/video.php?v=1380682793832