Episode Guide

How do you add more spectrum, more bandwidth, and more performance without adding more towers?

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea sits down with Fergal Lawlor, Founder and CEO of Alpha Wireless, to unpack the hidden engineering behind modern cellular networks. Fergal shares his journey from military radio technician to building a global antenna company, along with stories from designing Olympic stadium antennas to solving some of the toughest challenges in 5G infrastructure.

The conversation dives into multi-band base station antenna design, frequency-transparent elements, remote electrical tilt, and why passive intermodulation (PIM) remains one of the most unforgiving problems in RF engineering. Fergal also explains how the industry is densifying networks with “hidden” street-level sites – delivering more capacity without visual clutter.

If you’ve ever wondered how mobile networks keep improving without growing more visible, this episode reveals the antenna innovation happening behind the scenes.

Antennas are often overlooked—until they fail. In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea sits down with Ben Culver, CEO of Southwest Antennas, to explore why antenna design is one of the most critical—and misunderstood—elements of any RF system.

Ben shares his journey from U.S. Navy fire control electronics to leading a $25M antenna company, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design antennas that perform in real-world, mission-critical environments. From embedded surveillance antennas hidden in everyday objects to massive, high-performance MIMO arrays mounted on towers, this conversation highlights just how diverse—and complex—modern antenna engineering has become.

The discussion also dives into the realities of antenna simulation, why experience still matters more than software alone, and the growing challenge of finding skilled antenna engineers in today’s workforce. Whether you’re an RF engineer, system designer, or simply curious about the technology powering wireless systems, this episode delivers practical insights, war stories, and a fresh appreciation for the antenna’s role where RF and mechanics collide.

In this episode of the Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea speaks with Oliver Leisten, CTO of Helix Geospace, about his journey from GPS pioneer to antenna innovator. Oliver shares how his work with dielectric-loaded antennas transformed performance for satellite and IoT applications, improving efficiency, reducing detuning near the human body, and enabling compact, high-performing designs. He explores the challenges of achieving low gain ripple, the importance of manufacturing precision, and how his technology supports Iridium systems and advanced beamforming arrays. The conversation offers an inspiring look at innovation, persistence, and the future of smarter, more efficient wireless connectivity.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the wireless technology that powers everything around us. From Wi-Fi and 5G to long-range links connecting entire communities. In this Episode Dermot chats with Dr. John Sanford, Professor of Practice at UC San Diego where he dives into the breakthroughs that changed the industry: how MIMO went from a wild academic idea to a capacity-boosting superpower, how multipath (normally a problem) became a tool to create 12 independent channels at once, and why smart antenna design can make or break real-world performance.

You’ll hear stories from the front lines of antenna innovation, including the creation of ultra-low-cost wireless systems deployed by the thousands, and a glimpse into the future with optical phased arrays and liquid-crystal reflector technology that could rewrite what’s possible in high-frequency communications. If you’ve ever wondered how wireless links get faster, smarter, and more reliable year after year or what the next wave of antenna tech looks like then this episode is a must-listen.

Why does your antenna design pass every simulation—but fall apart when the device powers on? In this episode, Dermot O’Shea chats with Dr. Argy Petros, VP of Engineering at Taoglas, about bridging the brutal gap between theory and practice in RF design. From his early work at Motorola and XM Satellite Radio to launching his own antenna business, Argy shares lessons learned over decades of designing antennas that actually perform in the wild. They cover efficiency vs. gain, the dangers of ignoring real-world interference, and why black magic and persistence still matter. If you’re building wireless products—or just want to understand what’s really happening inside that low-profile 5G antenna—this one’s essential listening.

What do submarines, smartphones, and vending machines have in common? Antennas – and according to Olivier Robin, they can be pretty damn sexy. In this episode, Olivier, CEO at Taoglas, joins Dermot O’Shea to share how storytelling, creativity, and design flair turn invisible tech into unforgettable products. From his early days working on French Navy submarines to optimizing antennas for today’s toughest RF environments, Olivier reveals why theory alone won’t cut it and how blending mechanical smarts with RF experience is the real secret sauce. Packed with insights for engineers, designers, and anyone obsessed with connectivity.

In this episode, Professor Satish K. Sharma of San Diego State University shares his remarkable journey from adjusting rooftop TV antennas in India to designing advanced RF systems for NASA, defense agencies, and next-generation wireless networks. He discusses his most memorable antenna projects including high-altitude balloon missions, phased-array innovations, and space-qualified antenna designs, while breaking down what makes beam-steering technology so transformative. Prof. Sharma also talks about the future of antenna engineering, the skills students need, and why demand for RF expertise continues to explode across aerospace, defense, and 5G applications.

Why do engineers call antenna design “black magic”? Because getting wireless right is harder than it looks. In this episode, Dermot O’Shea talks with Baha Badran, Global Head of Engineering at Taoglas, about designing antennas for everything from ultra-luxury phones made of solid gold to today’s most complex connected devices. Packed with hard-earned insights, real-world challenges, and advice every hardware team needs to hear — this is your behind-the-scenes look at what really makes wireless work.