What was the biggest technology challenge you’ve had to face in your work? It’s been one of the hardest technical challenges that our customers have set for us and was dealt with head-on by our whole team, especially on the R&D and product side: how do we unlock the full potential of superior 5G connections in our mobile transmitters? Essentially, how do we add multiple antennae to such a small, portable transmitter, without compromising performance and reliability? Some think it’s about replacing 4G modems with 5G, which is what some other transmitter manufacturers have done, but it is not that simple. For maximum performance, we chose to completely redesign the RF and antenna architecture for our EnGo 3 and EnGo 3x; quadrupling the number of antennae per modem in such a small form factor is no easy feat. We managed to fit four MIMO (multiple-input, multiple- output) antennae per modem, which groups together antennae to provide better throughput and improved spectral efficiency. On top of that was the challenge of developing our product during a global pandemic. The endless lockdowns, closed borders, increased isolation protocols and uncertainty tested our capacity to stay connected, ensure clear communication and remain focused – but we persevered. What were the stakes for not resolving it? The most important thing to me is not letting down our customers. Our team worked so hard on this design – failing to get the product to market was not an option. Yvonne Monterroso Dejero Director of product management
THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER AGAINST ALL THE ODDS, AS WE WERE DEVELOPING THIS SOLUTION
We wanted the EnGo 3 and EnGo 3x to not only stand up against what competitors were offering, but equip our customers with the best 5G performance. We had a plan in place and had to pivot as needed to achieve this ambitious goal. We are delighted with the result – and the positive feedback we received from NAB visitors after announcing the new solutions at this year’s show. What happened? How did everything work out? Meeting the 5G specification for antenna design – while keeping the unit compact enough for backpack use – definitely pushed our team, requiring absolute precision and an incredible effort in qualification and validation. In the end, the performance of the unit completely justifies the investment, but it wasn’t the easy choice as we navigated through early R&D. The team came together against all odds, as we were developing this new solution when the world was facing a pandemic crisis. We at Dejero had to learn to collaborate virtually, since our offices were closed due to isolation and safety protocols. At the same time, we had to ensure teams had access to the equipment they needed to assess and validate, continuously testing, learning and never settling – that is really key. We took the time to achieve our goal and believe we have created a
best-in-class mobile transmitter. We are all very proud. One of the amazing things that happened, which I’ve only come to appreciate in retrospect, is the remarkably quick and decisive action taken by management to protect our team at the start of the pandemic, then following up with a culture of support and flexibility as we navigated working from home. I learnt a great deal about the importance of taking care of the team and people, and how that moved us all forward together to be stronger and more resilient. One thing that surprised me was how soon our customers adapted to working from home, and the willingness to engage with us through different virtual meeting technology. As customers faced the various challenges, they were still invested in their relationship with us as a vendor and partner, perhaps even more so than pre-pandemic times. What did you learn – and what would you do differently if you had your time again? We underestimated some of the risks with 5G, so I think we would have put in more time upfront de-risking, but I’m really happy with the product we are bringing to the market. I know that we are delivering the quality and reliability our customers have all come to expect from Dejero.
@feedzinesocial
Powered by FlippingBook