sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Vodavi Telephones & Systems Convice boss to upgrade / average life of 616

You had the same thought I did Groundstart, I edited my above post about the same time you posted. Should I be sacred? We were thinking alike?

groundstart - love the humor! I acutally have a few new job offers - what a coincidence! i'm actually a high school student, big into IT/communications. $6/hour as a system admin for a novell network / LAN administration position isn't exactly the ideal thing. but hey! it's the experience that counts (thats what the boss says, anyways :-). JOHNYREB - thanks for your opinion, i'm looking at either a nortel cics or avaya partner. however, no avaya installers within 3 hours of location - any ideas? nortel installer right in town. FYI - just helped our school's IT dept install a 3com NBX (VoIP) across a 4 bdg. campus. works well, and everyone loves it, even though 3com isn't a "phone system" company. hey, thanks again for the posts - helps get through a sunday at the office, its been a good discussion!

[This message has been edited by nickamat (edited January 25, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by nickamat (edited January 25, 2004).]

I'm a high school student too, and I have got to agree that experience really counts. I have spent many hours working with techs from my dad's work, learning all about telecom, doing installs, service calls, MACs, etc. I am working on a couple jobs right now for some people I know, doing cabling in their homes.
I worked at my school last summer in the IT department. I learned a lot about computers and networking. I did lots of manual labor (moving computers around) but it was well worth it. I also showed our IT people the right way to run cable, they made some mistakes in cabling the whole school district.

IF I WAS 18 again...I wouldnt give telcom a thought.....instead I would open a Panera Bread with a Starbucks next door.....


Ona more lighter side.....give some serious thought as to your future....there are tons and tons of people going for Cisco & Microsoft certifications and I know of some who have them and cant find a job.

If you want to stay in Telcom (get a headcheck) I would get certified in the big wigs...AVAYA PBXS & NORTELS..so on and so on...Because maintaining these babies are a required skill.....

BUT give some thought to my first suggestion...you can meet some real neat chicks...

OH AND I FORGOT....You may want to look at replacing Favre at quaterback cause I lost a bundle of that headcase in the playoffs...thats if you are near Green Bay..

Even though my boss says its gonna be another year or two before the upgrade, something tells me it won't. Once the old Vodavi does die, I better be ready with an equip. recommendation. So, in your opinion, Avaya or Nortel? Our local telecom (TDS) installs only Nortel systems. However, we might be lucky to find an installer within an hour or two of here. So, i've kinda got it narrowed down to the Partner ACS or the CICS. I know that AVAYA is doing VoIP for SMB now. We've got a pretty robust LAN with HP switches on the backbone, and good Cat-6 in place for data. (I still don't know how I got that upgrade past the boss, :-). Is there any other system that I'm missing? Once again, all the posts are greatly appreciated! groundstart - lots of people lost quite a bit of money on the packers! we're about 3hrs from gb. yeah, a starbucks/panera venture might be a good one, FYI - panera seems to love AVAYA. every one I've been in has the Partner ACS!

[This message has been edited by nickamat (edited January 26, 2004).]

There are many nice small systems that would be a huge upgrade over the old Vodavi flex. Vodavi STS, Toshiba Strata 40i, Avaya partner, Comdial DX 80, Norstar, etc...
Figure out what you need for features and find a package that will fit your needs.
I would highly recommend getting something that someone local can support for you, otherwise you will be paying for travel time for service calls any time you have a programming issue or add/move that you can't handle.
One additional possibility is some of the smaller VOIP systems. I have heard good things about Altigen, for instance, but have never priced out one of their systems.

[This message has been edited by paul144 (edited January 26, 2004).]

I have heard about lots of people with CCNAs that can't find jobs, because there are already so many CCNAs out there.
I am applying to a vocational program at school for computer networking and electronics (for the next 2 years) and it sounds great.
Personally, I am more interested in networking and IT than telecom. However, I have much more experience in telecom, from working with my dad's company.

Jeff...the problem I have found out about those certification programs are that the companies that are looking for the techs, are looking for somebody with industry experience...in other words somebody who has been in the trenches with the big boys...

These schools preach how much you can make BUT....If I were an employer would I hire a newby fresh out of school with no on the job experiece or somebody who has been in the field??? YOU DO THE MATH.....

PERSONALLY...as I reach the end of my telecom days...I will be 50 in 1 1/2 years...I think a job in the Food Service Industry in the best thing going....

Look at the state of electronics these days...PLUG N PLAY...throw away VCRS..DVD..

As our country outsources more and more manufacturing each day...repairing this stuff isnt cost worthy...

Maybe Im just getting to be an old cranky phoneman...and I am looking forward to my CigarBar....