From Sound to Signals - How I Got Into Wi-Fi
Welcome to WiFiRonin! This is my very first post on this new blog, where I’ll be giving you a look into my life as a Wi-Fi architect and sharing my journey toward becoming a CWNE. But before we get into the deep technical stuff, let me take you back to where it all started.
Not Your Typical Network Engineer Origin Story
I didn’t start my career in IT. I started it on stage.
My first professional years were spent as a musician — which, looking back, is probably the best possible preparation for a career in wireless networking. Both involve invisible waves, timing, and a lot of troubleshooting when things sound wrong.
After a few years, I decided it was time for a change. I wanted to pursue something new, something technical. So I did what any ambitious career-switcher did in the early internet era: I downloaded a CCNA study book. From Limewire. Along with my very first virus.
Undeterred, I tried to work through it on my own. I failed. So I went back to school — this time for three years — and graduated as a Network Engineer. CCNA certified and ready to go.
Climbing the Ladder
My first job was at one of Belgium’s biggest providers, where I spent my days configuring leased line routers. Solid, foundational work. After a few years I moved on and up, landing a Senior NOC Engineer role at another provider and picking up my CCNP along the way.
Then came the opportunity that would shape everything: a role at Quant ICT as a Solutions Engineer. I worked my way up to Solutions Architect, and I’m still happily there today.
So… How Did Wi-Fi Happen?
A few months into my time at Quant, I was handed my first Wi-Fi survey assignment. An AP-on-a-Stick survey. A colleague gave me a quick explanation, pointed me to the software we used back in the days, and off I went.
Green is fine. Grey is bad
That was roughly the extent of my knowledge. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
After a few more surveys, I started noticing things that didn’t add up. Questions started stacking up that I’d never expected to ask myself:
- Is green always good?
- Why exactly is grey bad?
- Why do I need to overlap?
- What is co-channel interference?
- Roaming ? And why do I keep hearing about -70 dBm?
- …
The more I researched, the more questions I had. The more questions I had, the more complex it all became. And honestly? That’s still a constant in my Wi-Fi life today.
Back to School (Again)
So I did the same thing I’d done before when I hit a wall: I went back to school.
This time it wasn’t three years. It was one week. I signed up for the Ekahau ECSE Design course, with Ferney Munoz (CWNE #187) as my instructor.
By the end of that week, I knew.
I was going to love this Wi-Fi world. And I wanted to become a CWNE too.
That’s where this journey begins. Follow along as I go deeper into the world of wireless — sharing what I learn, what I get wrong, and everything in between. Welcome to Wi-Fi Ronin!