From Technician to Product Manager: Mike Collins’ 40-Year Cable Career | The Cable Climb

Описание: Join Brady Volpe on The Cable Climb as he interviews Mike Collins, Product Manager at VX, Inc., about his 40-year journey in the broadband industry. From his early days as a cable technician in the 1980s to developing cutting-edge test equipment for DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 networks, Mike shares invaluable career lessons and insider perspectives.

Learn how foundational skills in RF, AC, DC, and fiber have evolved, the importance of mentors in the cable industry, and how test meters like the CM1000 and CX380C have transformed technician Join Brady Volpe on The Cable Climb as he interviews Mike Collins, Product Manager at VeEX, Inc., about his 40-year journey in the broadband industry. From his early days as a cable technician in the 1980s to developing cutting-edge test equipment for DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 networks, Mike shares invaluable career lessons and insider perspectives.

Learn how foundational skills in RF, AC, DC, and fiber have evolved, the importance of mentors in the cable industry, and how test meters like the CM1000 and CX380C have transformed technician workflows. Whether you’re a field tech, network engineer, or aspiring product manager, Mike’s story is full of practical advice and industry history you won’t want to miss.

👉 Topics covered:
• Early cable industry challenges & training in the 80s and 90s
• Evolution of test meters: Sadelco, SAM Jr, CM1000, CX310, and beyond
• DOCSIS 1.0 to 4.0 technologies and how test equipment kept pace
• Importance of mentors and relationships in the broadband industry
• Career advice for technicians looking to grow into leadership roles

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0:00 Welcome & introduction of Mike Collins
1:00 Mike’s start in the cable industry
2:30 First jobs: aerial inspections and pole measurements
3:50 Early training and first exposure to computers
4:40 Moving into site surveys and headend builds
5:30 Becoming a service technician
6:15 First test meters used (Sadelco, SAM Jr.)
8:00 Transition to maintenance tech and key mentors
9:00 The “RF, AC, DC (and light)” fundamentals
10:00 Moving into design work and CAD mapping
11:30 Contract work at Kennedy Space Center
13:00 Splicing crews & proof testing for MediaOne
14:40 Joining Huck Engineering and Sunrise Telecom
15:50 Developing the CM1000 and early DOCSIS meters
17:00 Simplifying user interfaces for technicians
19:00 Lessons learned from working with CMTS configurations
20:20 The value of mentors in career growth
22:20 Keeping industry friendships and relationships strong
23:00 Joining VeEX, Inc. and becoming a product manager
24:20 Evolution of VeEX test equipment (AT3G, 380C, CX310)
25:50 How test meters evolve with industry needs
27:00 Staying current with DOCSIS 4.0, fiber, and PON
28:00 Training and resources for today’s technicians
30:20 Career advice: taking challenges and growing your skills
31:10 Final thoughts and closing
33:00 Mike’s show & tell: CX380C, Sweep Box, and CX310
37:00 Wrap-up and key takeaways