Telephones, computers, and radios depend on a variety of equipment to transmit communications signals and connect to the Internet. From electronic and optical switches that route telephone calls and packets of data to their destinations to radio transmitters and receivers that relay signals from radios in airplanes, boats, and emergency vehicles, complex equipment is needed to keep us communicating. The workers who set up and maintain this sophisticated equipment are called radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers have a range of skills and abilities, which vary by the type of work they do and where it is performed. Most work indoors.
Central office installers and repairers—telecommunications equipment installers and repairers who work at switching hubs called central offices—do some of the most complex work. Switching hubs contain the switches and routers that direct packets of information to their destinations. Installers and repairers set up those switches and routers as well as cables and other equipment.
Although most telephone lines connecting houses to central offices and switching stations are still copper, the lines connecting central hubs to each other are fiber optic. Fiber optic lines, along with newer packet switching equipment, have greatly increased the transmission capacity of each line, allowing an ever increasing amount of information to pass through the lines. Switches and routers are used to transmit, process, amplify, and direct a massive amount of information. Installing and maintaining this equipment requires a high level of special technical knowledge.
The increasing reliability of switches and routers has simplified maintenance, however. New self-monitoring telecommunications switches alert central office repairers to malfunctions. Some switches allow repairers to diagnose and correct problems from remote locations. When faced with a malfunction, the repairer may refer to manufacturers' manuals that provide maintenance instructions.
As cable television and telecommunications technology converge, the equipment used in both technologies is becoming more similar. The distribution centers for cable television companies, which are similar to central offices in the telecommunications sector, are called headends. Headend technicians perform essentially the same work as central office technicians, but they work in the cable industry.
When problems with telecommunications equipment arise, telecommunications equipment repairers diagnose the source of the problem by testing each part of the equipment. This requires understanding how the software and hardware interact. Repairers often use spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, or both to locate the problem. A network analyzer sends a signal through the equipment to detect any distortion in the signal. The nature of the signal distortion often directs the repairer to the source of the problem. To fix the equipment, repairers may use small hand tools, including pliers and screwdrivers, to remove and replace defective components such as circuit boards or wiring. Newer equipment is easier to repair because whole boards and parts are designed to be quickly removed and replaced. Repairers also may install updated software or programs that maintain existing software.
Another type of telecommunications installer and repairer, PBX installers and repairers set up private branch exchange (PBX) switchboards, which relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice telephone calls within a single location or organization. To install switches and switchboards, installers first connect the equipment to power lines and communications cables and install frames and supports. They test the connections to ensure that adequate power is available and that the communication links work properly. They also install equipment such as power systems, alarms, and telephone sets. New switches and switchboards are computerized and workers often need to install software or program the equipment to provide specific features. Finally, the installer performs tests to verify that the newly installed equipment functions properly. If a problem arises, PBX repairers determine whether it is located within the PBX system or whether it originates in the telephone lines maintained by the local telephone company. Newer installations use voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) systems. VoIP systems operate like a PBX system, but they use a company's computer wiring to run Internet access, network applications, and telephone communications.
Station installers and repairers, telephone—commonly known as home installers and repairers or telecommunications service technicians—install and repair telecommunications wiring and equipment in customers' home or business premises. They install telephone, VoIP, Internet, and other communications services by installing wiring inside the home or connecting existing wiring to outside service lines. Depending upon the service required, they may setup television capability or connect modems and install software on a customer's computer. To complete the connection to an outside service line, the installer may need to climb telephone poles or ladders and test the line. Later on, if a maintenance problem occurs, station repairers test the customer's lines to determine if the problem is located in the customer's premises or in the outside service lines and attempt to fix the problem if it is inside. If the problem is with the outside service lines, telecommunications line repairers are usually called to fix it.
Radio mechanics install and maintain radio transmitting and receiving equipment, excluding cellular communications systems. This includes stationary equipment mounted on transmission towers or tall buildings and mobile equipment, such as two-way radio communications systems in taxis, airplanes, ships, and emergency vehicles. Aviation and marine radio mechanics also may work on other electronic equipment, in addition to radios. Newer radio equipment is self-monitoring and may alert mechanics to potential malfunctions. When malfunctions occur, these mechanics examine equipment for damaged components and either fix them, replace the part, or make a software modification. They may use electrical measuring instruments to monitor signal strength, transmission capacity, interference, and signal delay, as well as hand tools to replace defective components and parts and to adjust equipment so that it performs within required specifications.
Work environment. Radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers generally work in clean, well-lighted, air-conditioned surroundings, such as a telecommunications company's central office, a customer's location, or an electronic repair shop or service center. Traveling to the site of the installation or repair is common among station installers and repairers, PBX and VoIP installers and repairers, and radio mechanics. The installation may require access to rooftops, ladders, and telephone poles to complete the repair. Radio mechanics may need to work on transmissions towers, which may be located on top of tall buildings or mountains, as well as aboard airplanes and ships. These workers are subject to a variety of weather conditions while working outdoors.
The work of most repairers involves lifting, reaching, stooping, crouching, and crawling. Adherence to safety precautions is important in order to guard against work hazards. These hazards include falls, minor burns, electrical shock, and contact with hazardous materials.
Nearly all radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers work full time. Many work regular business hours to meet the demand for repair services during the workday. Schedules are more irregular at employers that provide repair services 24 hours a day, such as for police radio communications operations or where installation and maintenance must take place after normal business hours. At these locations, mechanics work a variety of shifts, including weekend and holiday hours. Repairers may be on call around the clock, in case of emergencies, and may have to work overtime.
| 1. | Note differences in wire and cable colors so that work can be performed correctly. |
| 2. | Test circuits and components of malfunctioning telecommunications equipment to isolate sources of malfunctions, using test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes, and other hand tools. |
| 3. | Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation. |
| 4. | Drive crew trucks to and from work areas. |
| 5. | Inspect equipment on a regular basis in order to ensure proper functioning. |
| 6. | Repair or replace faulty equipment such as defective and damaged telephones, wires, switching system components, and associated equipment. |
| 7. | Remove and remake connections in order to change circuit layouts, following work orders or diagrams. |
| 8. | Demonstrate equipment to customers and explain how it is to be used, and respond to any inquiries or complaints. |
| 9. | Analyze test readings, computer printouts, and trouble reports to determine equipment repair needs and required repair methods. |
| 10. | Adjust or modify equipment to enhance equipment performance or to respond to customer requests. |
| 11. | Request support from technical service centers when on-site procedures fail to solve installation or maintenance problems. |
| 12. | Remove loose wires and other debris after work is completed. |
| 13. | Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks. |
| 14. | Communicate with bases, using telephones or two-way radios to receive instructions or technical advice, or to report equipment status. |
| 15. | Collaborate with other workers in order to locate and correct malfunctions. |
| 16. | Review manufacturer's instructions, manuals, technical specifications, building permits, and ordinances in order to determine communication equipment requirements and procedures. |
| 17. | Test connections to ensure that power supplies are adequate and that communications links function. |
| 18. | Climb poles and ladders, use truck-mounted booms, and enter areas such as manholes and cable vaults, in order to install, maintain, or inspect equipment. |
| 19. | Refer to manufacturers' manuals to obtain maintenance instructions pertaining to specific malfunctions. |
| 20. | Designate cables available for use. |
| 21. | Run wires between components and to outside cable systems, connecting them to wires from telephone poles or underground cable accesses. |
| 22. | Remove and replace plug-in circuit equipment. |
| 23. | Route and connect cables and lines to switches, switchboard equipment, and distributing frames, using wire-wrap guns or soldering irons to connect wires to terminals. |
| 24. | Clean and maintain tools, test equipment, and motor vehicles. |
| 25. | Program computerized switches and switchboards to provide requested features. |
| 26. | Diagnose and correct problems from remote locations, using special switchboards to find the sources of problems. |
| 27. | Maintain computer and manual records pertaining to facilities and equipment. |
| 28. | Install updated software, and programs that maintain existing software and/or provide requested features such as time-correlated call routing. |
| 29. | Enter codes needed to correct electronic switching system programming. |
| 30. | Perform database verifications, using computers. |
| 31. | Address special issues or situations, such as illegal or unauthorized use of equipment, or cases of electrical or acoustic shock. |
| 32. | Examine telephone transmission facilities to determine requirements for new or additional telephone services. |
| 33. | Determine viability of sites through observation, and discuss site locations and construction requirements with customers. |
| 34. | Perform routine maintenance on equipment, including adjusting and lubricating components, and painting worn or exposed areas. |
| 35. | Measure distances from landmarks to identify exact installation sites for equipment. |
| 36. | Clean switches and replace contact points, using vacuum hoses, solvents, and hand tools. |
| 37. | Dig holes or trenches as necessary for equipment installation and access. |
| 38. | Install telephone station equipment, such as intercommunication systems, transmitters, receivers, relays, and ringers, and related apparatus, such as coin collectors, telephone booths, and switching-key equipment. |
| 39. | Provide input into the design and manufacturing of new equipment. |
| 40. | Place intercept circuits on terminals to handle vacant lines in central office installations. |
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