Telecommuting

What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal processing?

I recently left my job in pursuit of web development so I could do
telecommuting and travel with my family.  However, I'm finding that I
really don't like web development that much, and I liked signal processing
while I was in college (last job was doing application development.)

Aside from SME's with PhD's, both of which I'm not, do people see
opportunity out there for telecommuting with this type of stuff?  What are
people's thoughts on the subject in general, I'm just curious?

-DJ

"DJOrtley" <DJOrtley@gmail.com> writes:

> What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
> processing?

I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a 
contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.

However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
-- 
%  Randy Yates                  % "...the answer lies within your soul
%% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %       'cause no one knows which side
%%% 919-577-9882                %                   the coin will fall."
%%%% <yates@ieee.org>           %  'Big Wheels', *Out of the Blue*, ELO
http://www.digitalsignallabs.com

Randy Yates wrote:
> "DJOrtley" <DJOrtley@gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>> processing?
> 
> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a 
> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
> 
> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.

The test equipment I used in my early career cost many years salary. The 
test equipment I use now costs maybe a month's salary. Whilst I am not 
doing exactly the same kind of work, I think equiping yourself has 
become a great deal more affordable over the years.

Steve

On Oct 26, 1:24 pm, Randy Yates <ya...@ieee.org> wrote:
> "DJOrtley" <DJOrt...@gmail.com> writes:
> > What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
> > processing?
>
> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a
> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>
> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
> --
> %  Randy Yates                  % "...the answer lies within your soul
> %% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %       'cause no one knows which side
> %%% 919-577-9882                %                   the coin will fall."
> %%%% <ya...@ieee.org>           %  'Big Wheels', *Out of the Blue*, ELOhttp://www.digitalsignallabs.com

Randy,

I clicked on your website and wanted to suggest a different color for
the hyperlinks. Bright on dark green is hard to read, at least for me.
I'm using Firefox on OS-X at the moment, if that matters.

John

John wrote:

> On Oct 26, 1:24 pm, Randy Yates <ya...@ieee.org> wrote:
> 
>>"DJOrtley" <DJOrt...@gmail.com> writes:
>>
>>>What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>>>processing?
>>
>>I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a
>>contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>>comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>>
>>However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>>that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>>DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>>it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>>to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>>--
>>%  Randy Yates                  % "...the answer lies within your soul
>>%% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %       'cause no one knows which side
>>%%% 919-577-9882                %                   the coin will fall."
>>%%%% <ya...@ieee.org>           %  'Big Wheels', *Out of the Blue*, ELOhttp://www.digitalsignallabs.com
> 
> 
> Randy,
> 
> I clicked on your website and wanted to suggest a different color for
> the hyperlinks. Bright on dark green is hard to read, at least for me.
> I'm using Firefox on OS-X at the moment, if that matters.
> 
> John
> 

I second the motion ;)
Actually so many sites do things like that that I've set my preferences 
to override with "correct" color scheme. I'm right, world is wrong ;0>

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:21:02 -0000, John <sampson164@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Oct 26, 1:24 pm, Randy Yates <ya...@ieee.org> wrote:
>> "DJOrtley" <DJOrt...@gmail.com> writes:
>> > What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>> > processing?
>>
>> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a
>> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>>
>> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>> --
>> %  Randy Yates                  % "...the answer lies within your soul
>> %% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %       'cause no one knows which side
>> %%% 919-577-9882                %                   the coin will fall."
>> %%%% <ya...@ieee.org>           %  'Big Wheels', *Out of the Blue*, ELOhttp://www.digitalsignallabs.com
>
>Randy,
>
>I clicked on your website and wanted to suggest a different color for
>the hyperlinks. Bright on dark green is hard to read, at least for me.
>I'm using Firefox on OS-X at the moment, if that matters.
>
>John

I agree light green on dark green has low contrast but I think there
is a more serious issue with the web site. Most of the links don't
seem to work.

mk <kal*@dspia.*comdelete> writes:

> On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:21:02 -0000, John <sampson164@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Oct 26, 1:24 pm, Randy Yates <ya...@ieee.org> wrote:
>>> "DJOrtley" <DJOrt...@gmail.com> writes:
>>> > What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>>> > processing?
>>>
>>> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a
>>> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>>> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>>>
>>> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>>> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>>> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>>> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>>> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>>> --
>>> %  Randy Yates                  % "...the answer lies within your soul
>>> %% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %       'cause no one knows which side
>>> %%% 919-577-9882                %                   the coin will fall."
>>> %%%% <ya...@ieee.org>           %  'Big Wheels', *Out of the Blue*, ELOhttp://www.digitalsignallabs.com
>>
>>Randy,
>>
>>I clicked on your website and wanted to suggest a different color for
>>the hyperlinks. Bright on dark green is hard to read, at least for me.
>>I'm using Firefox on OS-X at the moment, if that matters.
>>
>>John
>
> I agree light green on dark green has low contrast but I think there
> is a more serious issue with the web site. Most of the links don't
> seem to work.

My website, as you all have noticed, is a train-wreck. I've been meaning to
rework the whole thing for many months now, but I haven't found one
of those circular tuits. When I get a round tuit, I'll update it.
-- 
%  Randy Yates                  % "And all that I can do
%% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %  is say I'm sorry, 
%%% 919-577-9882                %  that's the way it goes..."
%%%% <yates@ieee.org>           % Getting To The Point', *Balance of Power*, ELO
http://www.digitalsignallabs.com

On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:24:33 +0800, Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
wrote:

>Randy Yates wrote:
>> "DJOrtley" <DJOrtley@gmail.com> writes:
>> 
>>> What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>>> processing?
>> 
>> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a 
>> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>> 
>> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>
>The test equipment I used in my early career cost many years salary. The 
>test equipment I use now costs maybe a month's salary. Whilst I am not 
>doing exactly the same kind of work, I think equiping yourself has 
>become a great deal more affordable over the years.
>
>Steve

I've worked from home for about five years, but it really depends on
who you're working for and what you're doing.  You also need to be the
sort of person who can do that...it doesn't work for everybody.

And I agree with Steve's point about test equipment.   Everyone in our
little company right now works from home, and we just expanded from
having two 'labs' to three, all in the homes of the guys doing the
work.   One of the 'labs' is instrumented primarily with chipscope
(which works on Xilinx FPGAs), so the equipment cost was nearly zilch.

Eric Jacobsen
Minister of Algorithms
Abineau Communications
http://www.ericjacobsen.org

Eric Jacobsen <eric.jacobsen@ieee.org> writes:

> On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:24:33 +0800, Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
> wrote:
>
>>Randy Yates wrote:
>>> "DJOrtley" <DJOrtley@gmail.com> writes:
>>> 
>>>> What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>>>> processing?
>>> 
>>> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a 
>>> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>>> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>>> 
>>> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>>> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>>> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>>> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>>> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>>
>>The test equipment I used in my early career cost many years salary. The 
>>test equipment I use now costs maybe a month's salary. Whilst I am not 
>>doing exactly the same kind of work, I think equiping yourself has 
>>become a great deal more affordable over the years.
>>
>>Steve
>
> I've worked from home for about five years, but it really depends on
> who you're working for and what you're doing.  You also need to be the
> sort of person who can do that...it doesn't work for everybody.
>
> And I agree with Steve's point about test equipment.   Everyone in our
> little company right now works from home, and we just expanded from
> having two 'labs' to three, all in the homes of the guys doing the
> work.   One of the 'labs' is instrumented primarily with chipscope
> (which works on Xilinx FPGAs), so the equipment cost was nearly zilch.

I agree that lots of equipment has come way down in recent years. I
think it was in one of the trade mags (EETimes, Electronic Products)
that I recently saw a relatively decent portable scope for $700 brand
new! 

But still, equipping your home lab can be costly when you consider
some of the potential items: JTAG debugger, Code Composer (what, $3000?
ouch!), Matlab (which most companies buy and provide to you), scopes,
DMMs, microscopes. Not impossible, and much more within reach than
in the past, but still a little pricey (for my salary at least!).
-- 
%  Randy Yates                  % "The dreamer, the unwoken fool - 
%% Fuquay-Varina, NC            %  in dreams, no pain will kiss the brow..."
%%% 919-577-9882                %  
%%%% <yates@ieee.org>           % 'Eldorado Overture', *Eldorado*, ELO
http://www.digitalsignallabs.com

Randy Yates wrote:
> Eric Jacobsen <eric.jacobsen@ieee.org> writes:
> 
>> On Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:24:33 +0800, Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Randy Yates wrote:
>>>> "DJOrtley" <DJOrtley@gmail.com> writes:
>>>>
>>>>> What are peoples' experiences with telecommuting and signal
>>>>> processing?
>>>> I recently (in the past year) had the privilege of securing a 
>>>> contract that was all-software so I could perform it from the
>>>> comfort of my own computer. It was absolutely wonderful.
>>>>
>>>> However, my feeling is that these types of contracts are not
>>>> that common. In my case the job was all-software, but most
>>>> DSP involves hardware, and when there's custom hardware involved
>>>> it is much more likely you will be required to be on-site, e.g.,
>>>> to do integration, use test equipment, etc.
>>> The test equipment I used in my early career cost many years salary. The 
>>> test equipment I use now costs maybe a month's salary. Whilst I am not 
>>> doing exactly the same kind of work, I think equiping yourself has 
>>> become a great deal more affordable over the years.
>>>
>>> Steve
>> I've worked from home for about five years, but it really depends on
>> who you're working for and what you're doing.  You also need to be the
>> sort of person who can do that...it doesn't work for everybody.
>>
>> And I agree with Steve's point about test equipment.   Everyone in our
>> little company right now works from home, and we just expanded from
>> having two 'labs' to three, all in the homes of the guys doing the
>> work.   One of the 'labs' is instrumented primarily with chipscope
>> (which works on Xilinx FPGAs), so the equipment cost was nearly zilch.
> 
> I agree that lots of equipment has come way down in recent years. I
> think it was in one of the trade mags (EETimes, Electronic Products)
> that I recently saw a relatively decent portable scope for $700 brand
> new! 
> 
> But still, equipping your home lab can be costly when you consider
> some of the potential items: JTAG debugger, Code Composer (what, $3000?
> ouch!), Matlab (which most companies buy and provide to you), scopes,
> DMMs, microscopes. Not impossible, and much more within reach than
> in the past, but still a little pricey (for my salary at least!).

Equiping your home with real physical equipment is pretty affordable 
now. Its equiping your home with CAD software that will really cripple 
you. Something seems seriously screwed up about that.

Steve