Abstract

Formed in 1993, Sierra Wireless Inc. has focused on delivering wide area wireless data access products that meet the demands of today's most exacting customers in terms of form, functionality and performance. As a result, the company has experienced dramatic growth and has established a leadership position in each of its targeted markets. Sierra's product line includes some of the smallest wireless modems that one is likely to find anywhere.  Ron Vanderhelm will speak on the challenges faced by the design and manufacturing teams at Sierra as they put these products together and get them built.  This story behind the product includes a look at how Sierra develops wireless modems, the tools and techniques used, what's hard to do and what isn't, and how the end result is put into production.   As Ron specializes in the RF aspects of the product, he will focus on RF design issues associated with 800 MHz and 1900 MHz transceivers and antennas.

About the Speaker:

Ron Vanderhelm, a homegrown Professional Engineer, grew up in Vancouver, was educated in Vancouver, and has spent his career based in Vancouver.  Ron graduated from BCIT Electronics Technology program in 1975,  worked on RCMP mobile communications for a couple of years, then returned to earn his B.A.Sc degree in Electrical Engineering from UBC in 1981.  After designing paging base stations and mobile radios for Western Radio for a couple of years, Ron joined Mobile Data International, later purchased by Motorola, where he created and managed the RF design group. After ten years, ending as a Principal Staff Engineer in Motorola, Ron left the company in 1993 to help found Sierra Wireless.  At Sierra, Ron heads up the RF Development group which looks after the development and support of the RF transceivers and antennas used in all of the company's products.