Lunch & Learn: The Aging Wireless Workforce | Agenda 2026 | IWCE Everyone getting old....
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For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).
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IWCE 2026
- Thread starter mmckenna
- Start date
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
We are mostly a bunch of geezers.
I'd love to find a ~30 something to take over some of my job as I slide into retirement.
speedway_navigator
Member
I tell folks I'm fighting the 'ers'
Older, slower, grayer, poorer
rescue Randy, what course did you want?
I have a problem getting to the expo floor since I'm teaching all 4 days.
I might suggest the ETA only have ed forum on Monday and Tuesday.
Older, slower, grayer, poorer
rescue Randy, what course did you want?
I have a problem getting to the expo floor since I'm teaching all 4 days.
I might suggest the ETA only have ed forum on Monday and Tuesday.
RescueRandy
Member
We were considering GCT2 or Line and Antenna Sweep classes for a couple of us. I think we will pick these courses up another time as this trip’s schedule and budget are set now.
I’m sure it’s a challenge for the ETA to schedule training during an event like this. Especially for folks who are interested in both training and for what the events offer (presentations, meetings, floor expo, etc).
RescueRandy
Member
That’s cool, I’ll try and come by. I’m presenting on response equipment cache building and maintenance.
Disaster Comms - Fit for a Mission | Agenda 2026 | IWCE
IWCE (International Wireless Communications Expo) is where critical communications technology professionals gather to evaluate, learn and network.
agenda.iwceexpo.com
Firebuff880
Member
That’s cool, I’ll try and come by. I’m presenting on response equipment cache building and maintenance.
Disaster Comms - Fit for a Mission | Agenda 2026 | IWCE
IWCE (International Wireless Communications Expo) is where critical communications technology professionals gather to evaluate, learn and network.
Maintenance = Budget. Can't tell you how much now neglected post 9/11 cache hardware I helped secure that no one wants to even do simple things like replace batteries, or maintain suspended service accounts for VSAT gear. Never mind upgrading to some more current technology.
DeoVindice
P25 Underground
Just turned 30 myself. I'd love to do more RF work but largely have my hands full sustaining old iron built when my dad was in grade school.
RescueRandy
Member
That is very true. Budget is an important part of it. I feel too many organizations use grants to purchase equipment or implement programs with little thought as to what resources are needed to maintain them.
I also believe that many agencies don’t look to their own internal expertise (or even have the personnel with the necessary expertise) for cache buildouts/implementation. Too often it’s a process of: leadership sees shiny thing, find grant for shiny thing, throw money at vendor for shiny thing, put shiny thing in warehouse to sit. The folks on the ground may never be involved in the process.
Granted, I hope most of the equipment in our response caches never have to be used. But I’d rather see the equipment not used because we never respond to a disaster that scale vs never using it due to it never being maintained, trained on, or actually meeting a need in the first place.
Of course I am likely preaching to the choir on here so disregard any snark that may come across.
speedway_navigator
Member
I'll see if we can break our RFI class for lunch at 1 so I can attend.
Project25_MASTR
TX-COMU
You know, I just got done working for a county Judge that was very discriminatory against millennials...especially as department heads.
speedway_navigator
Member
I've noticed younger generations have poor speaking skills, I hear 'ah' and 'um' many times in a conversation, even when they reading from a paper or phone. Pivot seems to be a buzz word for them, I hear it in sitreps.
For me it is the "right" at the end of the sentence, sometimes every sentence (my issue with younger people, used as an end to the sentence, acknowledgement, or asking for buy in - not sure which at times). IWCE is not going to happen for me this year, APCO might though. Always enjoy seeing the new gear on display.
Older and greyer myself. Seems test equipment use, soldering, and general skills to terminal cables or safety cut wire without bleeding oneself is dying with the current generation.
Had a few 30-something's try to terminate LMR-400 and the amount of blood, then complaining, with no understanding of the first aid kit being on the wall, I need to retire.
But, need to stay a little while longer, might get to go to some trade shows, employer got a group account set up for APCO, has only been several years in the arguing (sending single people at a time for the highest price possible, and then firefighters that lack technical knowledge).
Older and greyer myself. Seems test equipment use, soldering, and general skills to terminal cables or safety cut wire without bleeding oneself is dying with the current generation.
Had a few 30-something's try to terminate LMR-400 and the amount of blood, then complaining, with no understanding of the first aid kit being on the wall, I need to retire.
But, need to stay a little while longer, might get to go to some trade shows, employer got a group account set up for APCO, has only been several years in the arguing (sending single people at a time for the highest price possible, and then firefighters that lack technical knowledge).
