Inter-Society Activities Mentoring EMC Engineers
	By David A. Case NCE, RAC Chairman

Education has always been a key in EMC and a very important key. More and more I find myself in situations where I must do impromptu training even when I am not planning on it. Sometimes it is fun, other times it is annoying. As the field of EMC expands, the greater need for training as our ranks grow.

One thing I have noticed is that some of the basic skill sets are not actually being taught. For example, last year while at a test lab that was qualifying one of our radios, the tester observed that we had a failing frequency below 100 MHz. However, he was surprised when I explained it was channel three audio and was not our product. Since I did not know the ambient of the test lab, how could I know it was an ambient? I explained that when you work in RF, you learn at what frequencies the various services operate in so as to avoid problems. He was more surprised when I proved that I was correct by locking on the signal and demodulating it to hear the audio. It seemed no one had taught him to do that before.

Basically what is required is mentoring. My own skill set was greatly enhanced by having worked with, or even now working with, skilled practitioners in the field whose breadth of knowledge covers areas in which I am not as well versed.

We need to review our skill sets and determine not only what skill sets we need to pass on to those who work for us, or eventually will occupy our chairs, but what tricks can we teach them. In other words, teach the tricks that make an average test engineer an above average tester, or an exceptional compliance engineer.

We need to teach beyond the FCC rulebook. I have seen too many cases where people quote or misquote the FCC rules because they do not see a specific reference in them - even though the specific information may very well be available in an FCC docket, updated rule making release, public notice, or interpretation by the FCC.

The EMC Society plays a key role in this and as members we all do. The EMC Society provides not only an excellent forum for technical presentations on everything from standards to wireless issues, it also provides a social forum where one can meet fellow engineers and have fun. Whether at special sessions, workshops, regular sessions, or chapter meetings, we provide a fun learning atmosphere for the seasoned veteran or the new comer.

The Representative Advisory Com-mittee (RAC) is helping with this effort by reaching out to the various industry groups in-volved in issues that involve EMC or wireless matters in order to provide an avenue for helping those needing compliance issues addressed.

This year the RAC will be sponsoring a Special Session on wireless issues at the 2001 IEEE International Symposium on EMC in Montreal. We will discuss Bluetooth, ultra-wide band technology, SAR/MPE and TCB issues.

However, for the first time in a number of years I will not be attending this year's EMC Symposium in Montreal. This is due the fact I will be awaiting the arrival of the stork that week. My Vice-Chair, Steve Berger, will host the Special RAC Session this year. Also at this year's Symposium, the RAC committee will again participate in the RAC/SACCom (Standards Advisory and Coordination Committee) jointly organized luncheon. This year, Elya Joffe as the SACCom Chair will host this event. As usual, RAC and SACCom members are welcome to attend along with the EMC Society Board of Directors and both the 2001 and 2002 symposium steering committees.

See you in 2002. EMC

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