Whats your job?

Ahhh, Sheppard. How I miss the mud that falls from the sky, 0330 wakeups, the fifty degree swings in temperature in three hours and those gigantic roaches. Did you guys ever find any girls there? I heard that there was one behind every tree. The only problem is, I never found a tree while I was there. I have to say that the Security Forces school was much more fun. I did that while in the Reserves. At least we got to shoot at stuff and blow things up. Plus, It wasn't at Sheppard. How I love Lackland and Camp Bullis. I cannot say the same for Camp Robinson near Little Rock AFB. Camp Warlord in that pit was horrible. That place was hot! 500 oz of water a day & 200 yards into a patrol and your boots were squishy. Don't get me started rambling about the SAW that I had the pleasure of humping all over that place. BTW, I love the site already. Lots of good knowledge floating around.

Edited by KenbergTech, 08 April 2008 - 07:12 PM.

Company: Bell Canada
Service Territory: Sudbury, Ont. Canada
Years Of Service: 6
Current Position: Combo Tech
SkillSet: 1LR 2LR 4LR, Biz, Res, High Speed ADSL, Cisco Systems, Sattelite, Microwave, Buried Service, Aerial Term Rehab, DAVAR trained.

I've been reading this forum for the past few weeks, and decided to register today. I figured I would start here, with my first post.

I started in the the Army, 1982-85, 72E-Combat Telecommunications. After my discharge, Honorable (LOL), I worked for Osmose Wood Preserving for 2 years in Youngstown, Oh and Lexington KY doing groundline inspection of wooden poles and pole reinforcing. I spent the next few years bouncing from underground locating companies, whoever got the contract, and I finally got a break and was hired at Ameritech in 1995 in the Line Dept. Spent 2 years there, and took an upgrade in Construction/Engineering. IT SUCKED! I lasted exactly 2 years, and I bid into into Construction/Splicing. Spent 6 months, and was forced into the Infrastructure Maintenance group, after 3 months, I accepted the Davar testing gig, and have been doing that ever since. I have been a Union Steward for our local since 1996, and enjoy both jobs. I have been asked to be the Mobilization Coordinator for our Union, and that's what brought me to this forum.

Welcome to the site Rich!
There is a lot of knowledge here, so dont be shy and ask away if ya need anything

Hi everyone, I've never joined a forum, this is my first. I was a system engineer for some mom and pop catv systems. They got bought by Tango Whiskey and I stayed with them as a service tech till I vested (5yrs) and not a day more. Next day I hired on at SWBT as a cable repairman. Did that for 2 yrs and got some really good training from a pair of 30yr+ old school cable repairmen. Got a little curious about those specials techs so when an opening came up I took and passed the TKT test and all the other pass/fail classes and I was in.

I've been a specials tech now for 12 yrs and really love it. We have an "All Around Cowboy" designation that some mgr dreamed up where we do as much of our own aerial/ buried ready access cable work as possible, our own manhole work (repeaters/ doublers), RT/Fiber drop work, and of course what we're really supposed to do- special circuits (dry loop up to DS1). I do a lot of copper troubleshooting but I really like to work on chronic trouble- especially if it involves timing or signaling.

I work nights 4pm to midnight and I cover most of Central Texas. I was recently told it's about 5,000 square miles, and it's just me out there. Since my relief comes in the next morning at 8am, I get a lot of OT. I average about 300 hrs OT a yr but the worst year was 867. Most nights I get 2-3 live tkts and mainly try to stay busy- that's the key to night work. Since I sometimes have to hook a pole at night I have a lot of respect for the power lineman that do it all the time. I get funny looks at pole re-cert time because of my lights and all.

I really like to learn new things about my chosen profession and look forward to learning a lot from the members here. I have a ton of older test sets and ran an Internet Advisor for several years. The test sets in my regular bag are a 7B Sidekick, an HST3000-C (rocks), T-Bug, and of course the 188 (I check everything). I drive a 4x4 SC90 that I wish had a bucket on it. That's about it. Take care and be safe.

Im new to the site, but I am a specials tech for AT&T, formerly Bellsouth. I have been wondering how the old SBC techs handle specials and dlc? Do you have dedicated techs to work specials? I work on everything from 2.4k to e911. Just wondering where things are headed for me if anyone can give some feedback..Also I see in the post by specials tech that he works dry loops. Is that common in all areas? I don't work dry loops they are handled by st's. I also handle everything from the co to the customer prem. I am in eastern Kentucky mountains so we have about 1% buried and 99% aerial. I would like to meet some more specials techs to see how things are done elsewhere. thanks

Roberts Electric
Oilfeild panels and secondary some primary work (done by dad not me get off my ass lol)
ive worked with hime since i was 11 in 2006 we had real bad fires in the texas panhandle and i helped him settin poles and framing and stuff....
Im a apprintence lineman!!!! WHOAH!!! lol

j-man 81

st louis att rehaber/repair, go any where, anytime do what ever. mo/ok/ar/tx/kan

I work for at&t in Oklahoma. I currently work cable repair and routine. I've been with at&t for 11 years, and was a splicer in the Ok Air Guard. I have been doing phone work for 14 years.

Ya know.. Im always impressed to see how many ppl have mil training in telcom.. specific stuff like cable splicing..

Maybe the tv ads about 'get your education, serve a few years for payback, and off you go' does indeed work.

Ive never looked into it, but I dont imagine the CDN mil offers near the same thing.
(I think all the cdn mil Ive met are lifers..maybe thats our only choice ?)

I am one of the few female Cable Splicing Techs in WV, I am looking for decals, t-shirts, etc with a female on them can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

She wants me.

Edited by lashdawg, 02 May 2010 - 04:08 PM.

ROFL!

WoodWalkinGirl, on 02 May 2010 - 01:40 PM, said:

I think LineChicks Rock!!!! No matter what industry they are in.....

olo131

System Tech Senior:

Are you talking about me? That's it! I always dreamed of being a CST for Verizon so I could come to this website and meet you...... Thanks for the laughs I needed that. Read the profile I'm married BOYZ! Any sorry to bust your bubble but the only woman who would want you is your mom, maybe you should call her to come hold ya now cause I know your cryin. My sarcasm is free, it helps when working with guys like you LMAO!! All in good fun.

Edited by WoodWalkinGirl, 03 May 2010 - 07:03 PM.

As much as I like picking on STS or even seeing others pick on STS I think he was referring to the Picture you posted in that thread....... I could be wrong.


But he can take it as well as he dishes it out..... all sarcasm welcome

olo131


EXCEPT YOU LASHDAWG...... I expect charm instead.

LOL I forgot I posted that pic! She a hottie! Are there a lot of female tech in your states? There is only one other girl in WV that I know of right now that's a CST, and a couple in the C crew.

I see only a few on the bell side but more on the Power side. I guess chicks think CATV is boring. Many year ago the was this chick that worked for Comcast as a service tech and I that was cool and now she works for my company as a construction coordinator. Now thats paying your dues.


Glad to have some chicks on here. I think it lets the boys know they aren't the only ones with the balls to do this kind of work.
olo131