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Rose,
He might want to consider working for a network/cable installer to gain some experience. Doesn’t pay much, but it’ll be a wealth of knowledge regarding termination, wire media, protocols, etc. I’ve been working in a similar field, and I don’t know of any “formal” training…Good Luck.
Near the street light,
Robert
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I'd be extremely suspicious about that hourly wage...Unless they want him to relocate to Saudi Arabia or something!
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At least you can legally kill yourself there. :) Dumb rule re wiring.
*Before you move to S.F. check out the cost of living out there, especially (shaky) land...
*Ayeah, that's one reason I wouldn't go. My (computer) trade magazines are forever lamenting the lack of temp housing for new peons, high rents, and high real estate. From what I've seen cost of living is at least 1/3 higher. I suppose I still could make a "profit" with the pay increase, but I'm still not interested.The real reason I won't go is I just love Philly. No earthquakes, tornados, and whatever hurricanes we get are mild(er) by the time they hit us. Not as cold/snowy as north, not as hot as south. Like Goldilocks said, "Just right." Plus the sports teams are um, well, maybe this isn't the best year to bring that up... Same with the family...
*My best friend defected from Northern VA for there just before we moved here ... out East he complained all the time about the weather, now he complains about traffic and money.... We're content where we are. I actually wish we got -real- snow!
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Hubby is contemplating a career change. I've suggested he consider intalling structured wiring systems in new homes. It looks to me like an incredible career opportunity that is still in its infancy. Like learning how to run phone lines 100 years ago.
Hubby has been an appliance tech for 10 years and has taken a number of electronics and similar courses, just to keep up with the appliance industry. This, IMO, would provide a good foundation for this telecommunications work.
Does anyone know how you get started installing structured wiring systems? Where do you get trained? Certification required? Who provides it?
*http://www.ceenews.com/default.htmI was told about CEE News here at Breaktime...The last few issues dealt with structured wire extensively...There are courses in it advertised and there are many companys looking for employees...I would go to a large one and ask for a job and make it clear that I only was accepting structured wire work, not AC 120 etc...near the stream,ajthe CEE is free to subscribe to
*Thanks, AJ, for yet anoher bookmark.
*I wish there were some sort of "junior electrician" license for light residential work, it comes up a lot that I want to run one stupid receptacle or something. Structured wiring is generally not even low-voltage and should not require licensing, but to put in the hard-wired X10 modules and such I imagine you'd have to be an electrician in most places that have inspectors.Re structured wiring, check out the chatty self-help stuff at HomeTech Solutions. They also offer competitive trade pricing and have been helpful on the phone. (Why anyone needs most of this cr*p is beyond me, but heck I'll install it. The pro-level equipment does make for nice telephone, Cat 5, and cable installations.)Someone here -- I'm forgetting who, Scooter? -- did take some training in this. Search and ye shall find.
*Rose,He might want to consider working for a network/cable installer to gain some experience. Doesn't pay much, but it'll be a wealth of knowledge regarding termination, wire media, protocols, etc. I've been working in a similar field, and I don't know of any "formal" training...Good Luck.Near the street light,Robert
*When I was in California a few years ago, I installed a lot of network wiring - had lots of training and experience. When I retired from that life and returned to Oregon, I was told that only licensed electricians can install network cabling in Oregon - don't have to know anything about network wiring, only be a licensed electrician...
*Thanks for the responses, the link and the information. I talked with a vo-tech type school that told me starting wages (with a few weeks training to get to "level 2") are $28 an hour.$28 an hour sounds like a LOT for a few weeks training. Hubby has spent 10 years mastering his current trade and he's just NOW getting near that kind of pay.Is $28 an hour believable? Or hype?Rose
*It's possible, I guess. Where do you live? I know that if I moved from Philly to San Fran/Bay area, I could expect a 200-250% raise, in my field, computer programming. I have three and a half years experience, and I'm no expert, just "extraordinarily competent". Now, with all the computer geeks out in San Fran area, I would expect the demand for Cat 5, etc. wiring is higher than here. So, yes, it's possible, but they may not be telling you the full deal - $28/hr may be what the "valedctoirian" of the last class got paid, while the average drops a bit lower. Call a competing school for their take, and maybe even some prospective employers for their ideas, too?
*CaseyR:That figures. Oregon is the only place I know where a customer is prohibited from pumping their own gas! Like when I was a kid and skilsaws weren't allowed on union jobs, wierd!
*New Jersey is full-serve only as well. I don't mind not having to pump gas in NJ, what annoys me most is that they're usually $.05 - $.10 cheaper than Philly!
*Well, Oregon had the honor of having the highest average gasoline prices in the country a while back (might still be so, but it is no longer news so don't have a way to easily check...)As to $28 per hour, I would say that is bit high if it is a wage given to an employee, but probably a little low if it is the charging rate used by a contractor. A few years ago we were paying computer network gurus $17 per hour, but charging them out to other departments at $35 per hour to cover overhead, etc. However, that was before the current high tech labor shortage. Of course, it is always possible for a highly specialized individual to find a nich that pays above average - some computer programmers are reportedly getting well into six figures whereas most programmers are getting more like 50 to 60K max.
*I would say mostly hype. Here in the Denver area where we are booming in this kind of work, an installed could make about half that. Of course leads and supervisors make more but that takes mare than a couple of weeks training. Some manufacturers offer training seminars but generally sponsored by installation companies that use their products.Pulling wires for structure cable systems is not much different fromregular electrician work, other than the cables require more care that electric wiring. The big difference is in the terminations and testing.I work in the telcom kept of a reasonably large mufti site quasi got.place and we are in the process of retiring a major portion of our systems to cat 6 standards, a step up from cat 5 and actually cat 6 does not have published specs yet.Above all, neat, quality workmanship is required.Along with copper wires there is the fiber and that takes a lot of practice.Anyone who is reasonably mechanical, attentive and willing to learn can do the work, just like all trades. Call a local company in the business and find out. Regardless of schooling, we always have to start at the bottom but good one rise faster.good luck