High Flying Satellite Installer Covers Western Australia
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
For thirty years, Kununurra resident, Brian Sonneman has been at the cutting edge of technology. He started his career servicing typewriters then moved to cash registers, photocopiers, telephones and then computers.
“To now install and fix satellites, which receive signals from space, feels like the right gadget for our times,” Brian said.
“A pilot’s licence and my wingman wife are the main tools of my current trade, a satellite broadband technician for Activ8me.”
Brian and Shirley Sonneman have been working for Activ8me, Australia’s largest satellite provider and regional specialist for twelve months.
“We have crossed rivers, shared the road with camels and covered thousands of miles to connect rural and remote Australians,” Brian said.
The couple has installed satellite broadband in the Pilbara mines, on sprawling cattle stations and in a remote Balgo Hill art community.
“We meet many people with little physical contact with the rest of Australia and who are thrilled to have the technological connection via email and internet,” Brian said.
“Some days we cover more than 1300 kilometres a day, so I am lucky to share the road or air with ‘smiley’, my wife.”
A three-part process is followed to install a satellite dish which includes finding the best position on the roof, building the frame to support the dish and then the cabling to receive and transmit the signal.
“Brian gets on the roof, but I make sure the satellite is ready to send up there, but he is usually up and down the ladder a lot throughout the installation,” Shirley said.
“We have met some great people and I love the scenery along the way.”
Tony Bundrock, CEO of Activ8me, says more Australians should consider a satellite broadband solution if they are still on dial-up or dissatisfied with their current broadband connection.
“Our core customers are the remote and regional Australians the Sonnemans have met and will continue to meet working with Activ8me,” Mr Bundrock said.
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