Speaker

February 23, 2021: Tom Mikkelsen WA0POD: An unusual piece of ham radio gear

Since Tom Mikkelsen moved away to South Caroilina, he has kept in touch with our group. He is a past President of the club, and a long time active contributor to our activities, including Field Days. Recently he shared a bit of ingeneous design and construction with us, and will talk about it during this meeting.

Tom Mikkelsen is a senior engineering; operations and project management executive focused on making organizations operate more effectively, leading productive and successful teams.

After a brief break in retirement, he is currently Chief Transition Director for BitPath formerly SpectrumCo a consortium funded by Sinclair Broadcast and Nexstar Media. His present work is focused on the implementation and program management of NextGen television technology converting broadcast markets to the next television standard ATSC 3.0. In 2020 we have transitioned 20 initial broadcast markets and targeting 25 additional markets in 2021, with more beyond. 

Previously he was a Principal for National TeleConsultants (NTC) in Glendale CA and was actively involved with major network and cable providers in a variety of advanced technology projects. Prior to NTC Mikkelsen served as Chief Technology Officer for Encompass Digital Media-LA, during his work there he lead teams that launched 37 US cable networks in less than 24 months. 

He has held senior technology positions with leading organizations such as Qualcomm for the implementation of MediaFLO, Starz Encore, Comcast/AT&T/ TCI, as well as Vyvx/Cycle Sat.  His career also spans broadcast technology management experience with such prominent firms as the Journal Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting (WGN-TV), The Des Moines Register Broadcast Group, and Motorola Communications.

Mikkelsen earned a BSE degree and holds a FCC General Class Commercial License.  He is a SMPTE Fellow and active an active Life Member with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), as well as a Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He is also a member of The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), The Society of Cable and Television Engineers (SCTE), Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) and the Society of Television Engineers (STE). Is also an avid Amateur Radio Operator WAØPOD with and Advance Class License.