An Electronics Communications Technician is a person who installs, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs data and communication systems, equipment and cabling on computer networking, telephone, security and other related data systems.

What do these workers do?
(Source: BC Work Futures)

The growth of wireless telecommunications over the past thirty years has created a demand for workers with a specialization in communication electronics. Some of your tasks will be the same as other electronics technicians but most will be unique to the communications industry. These include:

Detect spectrum leaks. The wireless airwaves are crowded and malfunctions happen. Calls are lost and data gets garbled when antennas or transmitters go out of tune and begin sending and receiving outside their assigned frequency spectrum.

Set up and adjust microwave and radio transmitters. Most telecommunications signals are now carried at some point by radio or microwaves. While technically straightforward, the practical challenge of having an antenna transmit a signal that can be received by another antenna, without data loss, calls for technical precision. Your skills in this area are crucial. Errors in the system can degrade the performance of the whole telecommunications network.

Program and maintain network switching gear. The invention of electronic digital switches has allowed a great increase in phone and data traffic. Switches must be precisely programmed and electronic communications technicians are directly involved in this work.

Stay current on emerging technologies and communications protocols. The standards for Communications protocols must be updated as equipment and the needs of the public change. Electronics communication technicians must remain current with new equipment and updated standards.

Read the full Electric Communications Technician Profile (40kb pdf).

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