I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I am presently in the IT (networking) field with more than 10 years’ experience. I have also been involved in emergency services for over 15 years and have a lot of two-way radio knowledge. I am a licensed ham and have always been interested in two-way radios. I am always the “radio guy” on whatever agency I belong to and I am told I do a better job than the local M dealer. I would love to be able to start a career in the two-way radio field. What would be the best place to start? I could look around at local dealers, but it seems they only hire people they know or it is a small shop. Also, I am sure I would take a pretty good pay cut working for a dealer (I am guessing).
Thanks for any advice!
Career in Radios
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Batwings21
- Posts: 930
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:21 am
Re: Career in Radios
There's a saying in the two-way business.
How do you make a small fortune in the two-way business?
Start with a large one.
Stick with IT that's the way a lot of our techs are moving. And those who aren't need to retire in a few more years.
How do you make a small fortune in the two-way business?
Start with a large one.
Stick with IT that's the way a lot of our techs are moving. And those who aren't need to retire in a few more years.
Re: Career in Radios
People always tell you that you do a better job than the other guy .... which should make you wonder what they tell the other guy.
The great convergence of phone, radio, and computer is upon us, and you do need to competent in layer 1, 2, and 3. But, there is still demand for people who can do the wizard's work with radio. The best advise I can give you is to plug your nose, and jump into the deep end of the pool.
The great convergence of phone, radio, and computer is upon us, and you do need to competent in layer 1, 2, and 3. But, there is still demand for people who can do the wizard's work with radio. The best advise I can give you is to plug your nose, and jump into the deep end of the pool.
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Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
Re: Career in Radios
Unless you have "family" money, you'd really be selling yourself short if you took a lower-paying job compared to
what you're now doing. With ten years' IT experience I would stick with the IT work. Probably the only way you'd
be happy with the two-way field would be to open, after a thorough investigation, your own sales and service shop
and then work like mad for several years to get it off the ground and profitable. This would also call for a fair amount
of management ability which might not be your particular strong area but it would be a definite requirement for success.
Short of opening your own sales and service shop, my personal recommendation if you still wanted to be in the two-way
field would be to go into sales at a middle management level which, based on your prior experience might just be possible.
Good luck on your search.
what you're now doing. With ten years' IT experience I would stick with the IT work. Probably the only way you'd
be happy with the two-way field would be to open, after a thorough investigation, your own sales and service shop
and then work like mad for several years to get it off the ground and profitable. This would also call for a fair amount
of management ability which might not be your particular strong area but it would be a definite requirement for success.
Short of opening your own sales and service shop, my personal recommendation if you still wanted to be in the two-way
field would be to go into sales at a middle management level which, based on your prior experience might just be possible.
Good luck on your search.
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
Re: Career in Radios
Just stay doing what you're doing, and you'll be better off. The local radio shop is going the way of tube testers in drug stores.
Re: Career in Radios
So Joes243 - saying you pursue this - what are your other skills? Any general electronics background? Auto-mechanics? Construction? Low voltage or electrical licenses? Any experience with the local permitting process? What test equipment are you familiar with? Any system design or system maintenance experience? Record keeping? Project status reports? Faithfully return calls? Can you respond 24/7? Can you function with an audience? Can you work unsupervised? Driving record? Can you read a map and work a compass? Are you comfortable not knowing what you are doing? Can you RTFM? Are you decisive but not risky? Can you see the black wire under the dash in the dark? Can you work with other trades and white collar? Can you explain complex ideas in three words or less?
Re: Career in Radios
Don't do it, Stay in IT.
Even if your in the design end of it you will selling yourself short, you'll be used and chewed up.
remember this old saying 'leave well enough alone', and if your doing some radio stuff on the side better than the local moto dealer then keep doing it but do it on the side, don't stop doing your regular IT stuff cold turkey on move over to two way.
You need to have a secure backup plan and two way radio is not it, starting out raw in either repair, sales or design of two way radio is going to be real hard to make any money.
Mike
Even if your in the design end of it you will selling yourself short, you'll be used and chewed up.
remember this old saying 'leave well enough alone', and if your doing some radio stuff on the side better than the local moto dealer then keep doing it but do it on the side, don't stop doing your regular IT stuff cold turkey on move over to two way.
You need to have a secure backup plan and two way radio is not it, starting out raw in either repair, sales or design of two way radio is going to be real hard to make any money.
Mike
Re: Career in Radios
The "RADIO" field is sort of a mix of things today. There is a large demand for "good" radio technicians.
Problem is there are few to be found. The field is also starting to melt the radio and the IT together. It
is hard today not to be involved in both.
Many agencies are having a problem with the radio networks when something goes wrong. If one person
doesn't know both sides of the divide between radio and the network IT system, he probably won't be able
to get it fixed. Maybe not even know where to look. You have to be careful in pointing the finger these
days when trouble shooting "radio network" issues. Have seen some good people just sit down and hold
their head with their hands. Not having a clue where to look. In the meantime, the agency trunking system
or what ever it is, is now down and no one is able to talk over the radio.
My company has been looking for someone with both public safety radio system background and able to repair,
connect up tone remote control, install software programs and willing to travel. So far either no takers, or
lack of ability to perform have not produced any warm bodies. The pay is good, but all the other radio shops
are also looking for the same kind of person. It is almost to the point of stealing a body from a company or
public safety agency to be able to find anyone.
Jim
Problem is there are few to be found. The field is also starting to melt the radio and the IT together. It
is hard today not to be involved in both.
Many agencies are having a problem with the radio networks when something goes wrong. If one person
doesn't know both sides of the divide between radio and the network IT system, he probably won't be able
to get it fixed. Maybe not even know where to look. You have to be careful in pointing the finger these
days when trouble shooting "radio network" issues. Have seen some good people just sit down and hold
their head with their hands. Not having a clue where to look. In the meantime, the agency trunking system
or what ever it is, is now down and no one is able to talk over the radio.
My company has been looking for someone with both public safety radio system background and able to repair,
connect up tone remote control, install software programs and willing to travel. So far either no takers, or
lack of ability to perform have not produced any warm bodies. The pay is good, but all the other radio shops
are also looking for the same kind of person. It is almost to the point of stealing a body from a company or
public safety agency to be able to find anyone.
Jim
Re: Career in Radios
We have the same problem, and generally have to train our own. It takes years. We usually hire former miltary. Sometimes we find an experienced tech. Most of the guys straight out of school are computer strong, and basic electronics weak, with zero telephone, RF, automotive, small construction, or civil engineering experience. But, they can work the heck out of a laptop.