FieldSENSE concentrates on doing one thing – and doing it well. Since 2009, the company has been laser-focused on providing tower climbers with the very best in personal RF monitor technology at an accessible price. With the introduction of its latest device, FieldSENSE is leading the way with personal protective equipment for the 5G generation.
The South Africa-based company developed its first personal RF monitor as a response to market demand for a device affordable and robust enough to be a part of every climber’s essential PPE, according to Max Birch, Senior Product Manager.
“The products available at the time were either unreliable or disproportionally expensive,” he said. “Their uptake and ultimate use in the market was limited, causing RF workers to often be at risk of RF over-exposure,” Birch explains – an obvious safety hazard.
FieldSENSE identified the need and with an EM-experienced product development team, got to work, quickly launching the first FieldSENSE units.
The product was initially tailored to the needs of local, South African mobile carriers and didn’t include typical broadcast frequency coverage for FM and terrestrial television. This was quickly pinpointed as an expansion opportunity that made way for the second-generation device, the FieldSENSE 2.0. “This product is now the market standard in many markets globally,” says Birch.
Technology doesn’t slow down and with the advent of 5G, an upgrade was inevitable. The third generation of the device, the FieldSENSE 60, provides coverage from FM frequencies up to 60 GHz, encompassing all mmWave 5G frequencies.
Birch, who holds a Masters degree in Electromagnetics and whose impressive career began with antenna work in the commercial aviation sector, has been with the company through all iterations and generations of the FieldSENSE product. “It checks all the boxes. It’s user-friendly and accurate; it’s robust and field-proven. And it’s affordable, not just up front, but over the entire life of the product,” he said.
The new model automatically logs all data, from the moment it is switched on. It has a redesigned, coiled lanyard that keeps the monitor close at hand, a fall detection system that sounds an alarm in an emergency to avoid the risks of suspension trauma as well as a voice-memo feature.
One of the things that sets FieldSENSE apart is its approach to design – a process that centers on the user experience.
“Many of our designers have climbed a tower or two. It makes us see things differently,” Birch said. “We’ve made sure our devices meet the most stringent design requirements and have the best price point. Our game-changing, low-downtime devices can be recalibrated, too, which also makes for the lowest total cost of ownership in the market.”
The team at FieldSENSE takes feedback seriously and is always willing to talk to climbers about what they would like to see from the company’s next RF monitor.
“This is the only metric we have in ensuring we have accomplished our design goals,” Birch explained. “I love spending time getting client feedback and suggestions. Industry events, as arranged by NATE or STAC, are critical for our success. Many of the improvements we have engineered in over time have come through feedback and suggestions from our partners and clients.”
What is next for FieldSENSE? Birch said as infrastructure buildout continues and networks densify, the need for protective equipment will only grow.
“The teams responsible for the installation and maintenance of this infrastructure are of critical importance to any country, and their well-being should be treated as a priority.”
For more information about FieldSENSE RF monitors, or to find a distributor, visit FieldSENSE.com.
Reader Interactions