Morne Wentzel
Athlone,County Westmeath
Summary
Results-driven Telecoms Network Engineer with expertise in installation, commissioning, and maintenance of 2G to 5G systems. Specialises in drive testing for quality assurance, RF performance testing, and microwave transmission. Experienced in leading commissioning projects and skilled in VSAT satellite dish installation and PSU maintenance. Focused on enhancing network infrastructure through innovative solutions and ongoing professional development.
Overview
2
2
years of post-secondary education
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Hybrid Field Engineer
Obelisk
Athlone, County Westmeath
2007.04 - Current
- Worked all over Ireland. Strong knowledge about all kinds of site access procedures.
- Commissioning & Installation of all types of Microwave radio solutions, SIAE, Ceregon, Alcatel/Lucent/Nokia.
- Perform Drive Test for newly integrated sites, swaps and site expansion using TEMS investigation to find faulty TRXs, Partial/total cross feeders, loose connectors etc.
- Performed RS-232/RS-485 communication setup, diagnostics, and fault finding for field devices and control systems.
- Coordinated with IP Core, Transmission and Change Team to ensure efficient interface connectivity and upgrades during network implementation.
- LOS & Surveys for new link installation, Links relocation & upgrades.
- Preparation of survey reports and Hand Over Documents.
- Diagnosed and resolved issues on telecom equipment, enhancing operational efficiency and reliability.
- Completing daily & weekly reports as Commissioning Manager, Track Sheet, Hardware Listing.
- Performing surveys, Installation and Commissioning for 2G, LTE/4G & 5G Upgrade for Three Ireland Project, Vodafone and Meteor and Cisco Nodes installations.
- Conducted UHF radio configuration, RF performance testing, VSWR/DTF measurements using a Site Master, and interference identification with a spectrum analyzer.
- Coordinated with project managers for smooth project execution.
- Trained junior engineers to enhance their field knowledge and skills.
- Maintenance and upgrades on Eltek/PowerOne PSU DC Chargers, including batteries swaps/upgrades to Lithium-Ion units. Wiring and testing off all alarms back to NOC.
- Survey, installing and powering up new Cisco N540X, NCS560 nodes for Vodafone.
- Fiber patching from Microwave links and ODFs back to core Nodes and to third party partners such as Enet, Siro, Eir and Virgin Media for new services and redundancy routes/links.
Field Engineer
Alandick UK
2006.05 - 2007.03
- Commissioned, integrated, troubleshot, and performed preventive maintenance on Alcatel/Lucent SDH systems (LH, LSY, USY), wiring site alarms via DB9 or DB25 (RS232) connections to internal or external alarm transport units.
- Completed site acceptance and commissioning procedures, signed off on sites, and documented test results to validate system performance.
- Performed corrective maintenance tasks on SDH systems.
- Troubleshooting of Quality, alarms and first line support on faulty equipment.
- Provided on-call and onsite support to field teams and colleagues, addressing urgent technical issues and ensuring operational continuity.
- Providing Technical Support to Customers.
- Maintain and update the Daily activity reports and trackers.
Core Network Field Engineer
Telkom South Africa
1991.01 - 2007.03
- Core Network Field Engineer
- Transmission - Installation and maintenance of 2-155 Mb links on Mux's/PDH & SDH and SXA. Testing of optic fiber routes with OTDR and patching fiber tails.
- Microwave – Installation, Commissioning and maintenance of Ericsson's Mini-links, E-type, C-type. Installing the antennas, feeders as well as indoor units according to specifications. Also do maintenance on SDH microwave, SRT1C.
- Access System - Installation and maintenance of existing and new sites in Telkom's expanding rural radio and optic fiber networks. Mostly TDM/TDMA systems.
- Data Services - Complete installation and maintenance of all data/leased line communication equipment.
- VSAT, Tellabs, Diginet, ISDN, ADSL, Performed indoor and outdoor cabling and installation from exchange to customer sites, maintaining and supporting network systems for optimal performance.
- Executed fault acceptance processes for Unibase service activation, ensuring reliable service delivery.
- Completed professional development courses at Telkom SA to enhance technical knowledge and skills.
- ATM Principals, SDH Principals and Radio Fundamentals
- Transmission Principals, Ericsson PDH Minilink, HDR4 PDH Microwave (Plessey)
- SDH SMA 1&4 ADM(Siemens), SDH Microwave SRT1C(Siemens)
- Tellabs DXX Installations and faults
- Mast and Tower Safety, Industrial Rope Access
- Vsat-Spacestream (Galat), Vsat-Hughes
- Cisco (Basic router installation and maintenance)
- ISDN VPN In/outdoor application
- EWSD Switching principles
- Rurtel Maintenance and Installation
- Studied principles of digital transmission technologies
- SXA Cross Connect Operation
- DWDM Principals
Firefighter
Airforce
Pretoria , South Africa
1990.01 - 1991.01
- Trained in rescue operations involving hazardous materials and Fire fighting -a testament to adeptness under pressure.
- Assessed accident scenes to provide effective rescue operations.
- Provided first aid services to support victims' recovery during emergency situations.
- Maintained high fitness levels to meet rigorous physical demands of firefighting role.
- Completed 3 months basics, covering outdoor, undercover and night manoeuvres. Then got trained in Fire and Rescue operation to deal with all operations on an airforce base.
- Completed military training to ensure operational readiness for service, seconded to Air Force.
Education
Higher National Diploma - Engineering
Pretoria West Technical College
Pretoria, South Africa 1991.09 - 1993.11
Skills
- Field Engineer
- Ericsson RBS 6000 integration
- Huawei BTS 3900 2G/3G/LTE installation, commissioning & integration
- Ericsson equipment commissioning
- Installation & commissioning of Ericsson Minilink, Ceragon, SIAE AGS20, ALC 2E plus Microwave Equipment
- Experienced in Microwave Transmission, SDH/PDH, Commissioning and troubleshooting
- Drive testing and PIM
- RF performance testing, VSWR/DTF measurements using a Site Master, and interference identification with a spectrum analyzer
- Installation of VSAT satellite dishes, commissioning and testing with earth station
- Alcatel SDH links integration
- Maintenance and upgrades on Eltek/PowerOne PSU DC Chargers
- Worked as Core Network Engineer for Telkom SA in South Africa from 1991 -2006
- RS-232/RS-485 diagnostics
TRAININGS:
- Safe Pass
- Rescue & Climbing Training
- Rooftop Access
- ESB Telecoms Induction.
- ESB Substation Training.
- CIE Induction
- RTE NL Induction
- Garda Card
- Towercom Training
- Eircom Card VF
- Manual Handling
- Occupational First Aid
- EMF Certification
- Huawei Siro Induction
- Alcatel – Lucent MPR LH & SH
- Cisco ASR900 Series
- Driving License
Affiliations
- Cycling and Hiking
Languages
Afrikaans
Native
English
Fluent
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Hybrid Field Engineer
Obelisk
2007.04 - Current
Field Engineer
Alandick UK
2006.05 - 2007.03
Higher National Diploma - Engineering
Pretoria West Technical College
1991.09 - 1993.11
Core Network Field Engineer
Telkom South Africa
1991.01 - 2007.03
Firefighter
Airforce
1990.01 - 1991.01