Feature -- by Jennifer Bysterveld and Mark Sproxton

Heard of the electronic devices used to track products as they are shipped across the country? Such tools are manufactured in Calgary, and many more wireless products are being designed, developed and manufactured locally as well. In short, Calgary's wireless and high technology sectors are booming, with no sight in end.

"Calgary is probably the centre for wireless technology development in Canada," said the local industry's head promoter Charles Reichert, Director of Infoport, an arm of Calgary Technologies Inc.. "To be in the wireless industry, you have to have higher education, although there are many levels of employment. Obviously, to be very much in it, you have to have a technological background."

Those with that technical background, particularly electrical engineers with radio frequency experience, are in high demand, he said. But there are positions in the industry not requiring four or more years of post-secondary education. Opportunities are available to sell cellular phones, or GPS (Global Position System) equipment, or in repairing and installing wireless networks, and in manufacturing.

"About two times a week I get calls from people looking for students," explained Rob Robinson, instructor of Bow Valley College's Electronic Manufacturing Assembler program. And while the manufacturing positions are growing, they are also changing. Reichert and Gayle Gartner, Senior Human Resources Analyst with Novatel Wireless Technologies, said companies formerly involved in manufacturing and research and development are contracting out more of their manufacturing work.

Hundreds of Calgary companies use, design, develop and manufacture products used for all forms of wireless technology. About 1,400 companies in Calgary employing 50,000 people, work in the software development, telecom wireless, electronics, information technology services, geomatics and multi-media industries, according to figures from Calgary Technologies Inc. (formerly CR&DA). While these sub-industries are not all directly related to wireless, they play an integral role in its development. About 10,000 local people work in the wireless and telecommunications fields alone.

At Novatel Wireless, a wireless communications company with a research and development facility in Calgary, some of the development/manufacturing jobs include test technologists, lab technologists, mechanical designers, and manufacturing technologists. These positions require a two-year technical diploma. "Extensive on-the-job training is available for our new hires as well as job related training when necessary," Gartner explained. "New hires typically mentor with a senior technologist initially."

Manufacturing jobs can essentially be broken down into the following categories: surface mounting, through-hole mounting, completions, testing and mechanical. All require the ability to sit for long periods of time while concentrating on minute pieces of electronics. Soldering skills, component identification abilities and an understanding of how precisely different pieces have to be mounted on a circuit board also are key to these positions, almost all of which are in a large, open warehouse setting. A high school diploma is a minimum requirement for these positions, while a two-year diploma is required for some.

While there are many employment opportunities for the right people, wireless technology can be a confusing industry to understand. The technology is new and constantly changing. With so many different products on the market it is hard to figure out just what is what.

Understanding the technology

Basically, wireless communication involves transmitting information (data, voice or image) using a variety of technological applications without the use of wire. A wireless application is the specific type of equipment used to transmit the information. Applications may be cellular, cordless, PCS (Personal Communication System) or even satellite. Regardless of what the equipment looks like from the outside, or even what it does specifically, all the applications have one thing in common: a radio frequency (RF) box. The radio frequency box is found in all wireless equipment and converts information to power which is sent or received on radio frequency.

For example, if you are calling one cellular phone from another, the RF box in your phone converts the number you dial and your voice into power, which is sent on a radio frequency to the RF box of the receiver (antenna). The antenna directs the call to the RF box of the cellular phone you are calling. There are countless wireless communication products on the market, each supposedly better than the next. However, most fall into one of the following general type:

• Information sent to and from base stations on earth using orbiting satellites is a form of wireless communication. The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a major form of satellite communication. This system consists of 24 satellite and five ground stations and can be used to locate your exact position provided you have some type of receiver.
• Microwave Radio Solutions combine microwave with other radio technology (i.e. different receivers or transmitters), to move large amounts of information great distances. Telephone companies are the major users of microwave technology.
• With cellular technology, geographical regions are divided into small 'cells', each with its own control tower to which information is directed. The Personal Communication System, or PCS, is an advanced form of cellular, which allows you to make calls from anywhere in the world. PCS is one of the latest advances in wireless and offers phone, caller identification, fax, e-mail and Internet access.
• With cordless systems, portable handsets are connected to the base station which is in-house. The base station is connected to the telephone line which is connected to the public telephone network which means that your call is directed through your telephone company.
• Specialized fixed wireless systems are the communication systems which can be found in police, fire or utilities vehicles. These are two-way radios by which voice or data signals are transmitted between the receiver in the vehicle and central controller. The information is then passed onto other units, dispatch consoles or computers.

The wireless future

Read any techno/business oriented publication and the predictions for wireless growth are immense. For example, wireless communications in Canada is a $4-billion industry, and is still considered to be in its early stages, according to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). Even if the growth predicted for this sector are only partially correct, it translates into many future job opportunities and a growing requirement to create educational opportunities.

To meet the growing demand for all types of engineers and technicians, the Alberta Government has increased funding to post-secondary schools, and increased spaces in schools to ensure people are groomed to fill the multitude of available industry positions. Already, engineering and technologist positions are readily available in the city.

With more companies setting up shop in Calgary, Reichert also believes there will be many local job opportunities in this industry for years to come. For now, he recommends job hunters/career planners view company job boards, or local head hunting agencies to track Calgary employment opportunities.