My Portfolio
Dawid Luus
Network Engineer
Welcome to where my creativity meets professionalism.
Explore a collection of my projects and creative endeavors that highlight my skills and talents.
Being from South Africa, me and my partner decided to see the world and in 2004 we came to the UK.
I was fortunate to get a role in early 2005 at DACC Europe Ltd, that supported the IT systems at Credit Suisse in London and through this it opened up the world to a career in Enterprise IT for me. In South Africa I used to repair and maintain Point of Sale equipment.
For hobbies I have multiple to chose from that I engage regularly, these are playing computer games, working on cars, tinkering with electronics and doing woodwork.
I enjoy listening to Electronic Dance music but will listen to most genres. My daughter was born in the UK and is currently in her final year of school.
With almost two decades of experience in the field, I believe that my skills and expertise make me an ideal Principle Engineer.
Additionally I have a strong background in fault finding and is effective in finding solutions to problems.
I think outside the box and take initiative. My aim is to deliver on the Principle/Senior Engineer role and to lead from the front. Each scenario represents an aspect of my abilities and passion for creating innovative solutions in my role.
Specialism Experience
At Upp corporation Ltd, I was promoted to a senior engineer role, working closely with the COO - Eryl Stafford. He saw value in my outlook, opinion and expertise regarding how the technical sites should be run and maintained.
I also have a strong background in technical and electrical troubleshooting, which has allowed me to effectively diagnose and resolve complex issues. These came to hand when I was approached by Upp CTO - Alex Marshall to help install a rack mount Air Conditioning system in a technical site. I had to install a relay system on a PLC controller that was never implemented to give the functionality that he needed.
In the start up days of Upp Corporation Ltd, there was very few redundant systems in place and faults caused major outages and has significant impact on systems. I played a key part in helping resolve these issues on site.
Using Smartoptics CWDM/DWDM systems predominately at Upp and only recently being introduced to the Ciena and Infinera CWDM/DWDM equipment it has been insightful to see how similar the Smartoptics is to Ciena and Infinera equipment.
Being that Infinera and Smartoptics both make use of the Extended C - Band to communicate over a fiber optic network.
Please see below my familiarity with the specialism.
What is the OSI model and how its used in my day to day fault finding routine.
Working mostly on the first 3 layers of the OSI model.
I do think of the OSI model as a way to understand how different parts of a network communicate, kind of like a team working together to deliver a package. It’s divided into seven layers, each with its own role:
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Physical Layer: This is the roads and delivery trucks. This layer is all about the actual hardware, like cables and switches, that physically move data from one place to another.
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Data Link Layer: This is like the delivery driver who ensures the package is properly labeled and checks for any damage. It makes sure that the data is sent correctly between two devices on the same network and can fix simple errors.
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Network Layer: This is the GPS system. It figures out the best route for the package to take across different roads (networks) to reach its destination.
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Transport Layer: This layer is like a quality control team. It ensures that the entire package arrives safely and completely, checking for any missing parts and managing how fast the delivery happens.
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Session Layer: I see this as a receptionist who sets up meetings. It establishes connections between applications (like your email and a server) and keeps track of their conversations.
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Presentation Layer: This is like a translator. It makes sure that the data is in a format that the application can understand, whether it’s turning numbers into text or encrypting sensitive information.
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Application Layer: Finally, this is the actual app you use, like your email or web browser. It’s where you interact with the network to send emails or browse websites.
Each layer has its job, and they all work together to ensure data moves smoothly from one device to another. Understanding this model helps people design networks and troubleshoot issues more effectively.
Key Wavelength Bands used:
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O Band (1260 nm to 1330 nm):
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Usage: Primarily used for short-distance communication.
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Characteristics: Lower capacity compared to other bands; suitable for legacy systems.
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E Band (1300 nm to 1350 nm):
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Usage: Slightly higher capacity than the O Band, often used in multimode fibers.
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Characteristics: Good for short to medium distances.
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S Band (1460 nm to 1530 nm):
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Usage: Less common; can be used for specific applications.
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Characteristics: Offers some advantages in certain fiber designs.
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C Band (1530 nm to 1565 nm):
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Usage: The most widely used band for long-haul communications and DWDM systems.
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Characteristics: Low attenuation and dispersion, allowing for high-capacity data transmission over long distances.
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L Band (1565 nm to 1625 nm):
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Usage: Often used in conjunction with the C Band to increase capacity.
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Characteristics: Similar benefits to the C Band, allowing for additional channels in DWDM systems.
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U Band (1625 nm to 1675 nm):
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Usage: Mainly for specialized applications, such as fiber testing and monitoring.
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Characteristics: Higher attenuation, but useful for specific tasks.
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Summary:
Each optical wavelength band has distinctive characteristics and applications in fiber-optic communication. The C and L Bands are particularly important for high-capacity long-distance transmission, making them key to modern telecommunications.
As SmartOptics is predominately used on the Upp network and that is now integrated into Virgin Media , they have very similar functions as the Ciena and Infinera kit used at VMo2.
Both use filter channels to send and receive data.
Each channel operates on a specific wavelength of light. For example, if a DWDM system has 40 channels, it might use wavelengths spaced closely together, such as 1530 nm to 1565 nm in the C band
To recap: Highlighted here is just a small selection of projects that is recorded, over the years I have gained an abundance of knowledge and experience. Please see below some feedback that I have received:
- For the last 3 years Dawid has been a great mentor in helping me progress my skills and career within the fiber industry. Dawid has an extensive knowledge from working in datacenters and is always my go to when I am faced with challenges. He is great team leader and is always there for support when needed. - C.Ash
- In our time working together, I have been consistently impressed with Dawid’s ability to manage complex projects, problem-solve and collaborate across teams. He approaches work with a great deal of professionalism and attention to detail, always striving to deliver the best possible results.
Beyond his obvious technical skills, what sets Dawid apart from others are his interpersonal abilities. He’s an excellent communicator and a strong team player, always willing to lend a helping hand or provide thoughtful advice when needed. Dawid is also incredibly reliable and maintains a positive, can-do attitude even in challenging situations. - R. Lewis
I really enjoy supporting my team and to help lead from the front. I understand our customers, as we are all customers of someone and knowing, if the business succeed we all benefit from it.
Video Showcase
