Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Bolt equipment into place, using hand or power tools.
- Check antenna positioning to ensure specified azimuths or mechanical tilts and adjust as necessary.
- Inspect completed work to ensure all hardware is tight, antennas are level, hangers are properly fastened, proper support is in place, or adequate weather proofing has been installed.
- Install all necessary transmission equipment components, including antennas or antenna mounts, surge arrestors, transmission lines, connectors, or tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs).
- Install, connect, or test underground or aboveground grounding systems.
- Read work orders, blueprints, plans, datasheets or site drawings to determine work to be done.
- Replace existing antennas with new antennas as directed.
- Run appropriate power, ground, or coaxial cables.
- Test operation of tower transmission components, using sweep testing tools or software.
- Complete reports related to project status, progress, or other work details, using computer software.
- Take site survey photos or photos of work performed, using digital cameras.
- Transport equipment to work sites, using utility trucks and equipment trailers.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- Climb communication towers to install, replace, or repair antennas or auxiliary equipment used to transmit and receive radio waves.
- Install or repair tower lighting components, including strobes, beacons, or lighting controllers.
- Lift equipment into position, using cranes and rigging tools or equipment, such as gin poles.
- Perform maintenance or repair work on existing tower equipment, using hand or power tools.
- Climb towers to access components, using safety equipment, such as full-body harnesses.
- Locate tower sites where work is to be performed, using mapping software.
Tasks Include:
- Calibrate and align components, using scales, gauges, and other measuring instruments.
- Examine malfunctioning radio equipment to locate defects such as loose connections, broken wires, or burned-out components, using schematic diagrams and test equipment.
- Insert plugs into receptacles and bolt or screw leads to terminals to connect equipment to power sources, using hand tools.
- Install, adjust, and repair stationary and mobile radio transmitting and receiving equipment and two-way radio communication systems.
- Monitor radio range stations to detect transmission flaws and adjust controls to eliminate flaws.
- Mount equipment on transmission towers and in vehicles such as ships or ambulances.
- Remove and replace defective components and parts such as conductors, resistors, semiconductors, and integrated circuits, using soldering irons, wire cutters, and hand tools.
- Repair circuits, wiring, and soldering, using soldering irons and hand tools to install parts and adjust connections.
- Test batteries, using hydrometers and ammeters, and charge batteries as necessary.
- Test emergency transmitters to ensure their readiness for immediate use.
- Test equipment functions such as signal strength and quality, transmission capacity, interference, and signal delay, using equipment such as oscilloscopes, circuit analyzers, frequency meters, and wattmeters.
- Turn setscrews to adjust receivers for maximum sensitivity and transmitters for maximum output.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
