That's my point. They, often, either are not trained to use the proper test equipment or they just think all they have to do is show up and "talk with authority" and point to the equipment and say "there's the problem."
Friday, it happened on a job. I was doing several translations on a Mitel when in walked a Windstream tech and his helper with a VOM. I asked what he was there to do? He said the "IT Department" had called for a DSL line that was not working. Now, the facility has a communications director who is in charge of all voice and data connections and service. As usual, the IT weenies "know better" than the communications director and called the LEC to troubleshoot a non existent problem. I write non existent because that DSL circuit was disconnected several years ago and the equipment was now connected to the facility's network. There was a network problem and the brilliant IT weenies saw the old DSL modem and announced, with authority, there was a problem with the DSL! They NEVER consulted with the communications director who would have avoided a service call charge from the LEC and had them do their job and fix the network problem. More on this later.
So, the LEC tech and his hapless sidekick wonder around the telephone room looking for the non existent circuit, all the while carrying the VOM. I know it's a VOM, but they think I'm clueless. Finally, I asked where this DSL circuit was supposed to be located in the facility? The LEC tech had his work order and it said 2nd floor records room. I immediately knew there was no DSL working there as I have installed every inch of cable and wiring in the place since the mid 70s and have a detailed record of every voice and data circuit to every office and every jack in the place. I showed them the documents which are in a folder in a metal holder directly above the demarc which is a legend of every voice and data circuit provided by the LEC which terminates on a 192 port patch panel to which the LEC's copper is terminated. They scanned the documents and discovered that that circuit had been disconnected in 2008. This is kind of amusing because, as it turns out, their records indicated the circuit was still active.
There was a moment of silence and the hapless sidekick said "what are we doing here?" I chimed in, absolutely nothing especially since you came here to troubleshoot a DSL problem with a VOM. The LEC tech looked at me and said "well, we really didn't know what to expect and our only DSL tester is on the fritz."
Get it?
So, back to the "IT Weenies." It turns out that the computer that they thought was connected to the DSL had a bad patch cable. They did not think a patch cable could go bad, therefore, it had to be something more. The communications director asked me to see if I could fix the problem. In 20 seconds, with my MicroScanner2, I proved a bad patch cable.
My point is, if you want to be in this business, you MUST have some testing tools and know how to use them. If you don't, you will be spinning your wheels and wasting a lot of time.
Rcaman
