sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Just a question

It has been a few years since I have visited and post on this site. Who ever response, thanks in advance.

It's been 15 years since I was placed into a wheelchair and was fired. just wondered what has changed in the field service area. If I was hired today, could one work their way through the job, by on site learn. Or do you need network degree before hand?

I also wonder how it is handled getting into a customers network, to manage the phone side, with lilablity or hacking, for the small and medium size companies?

I just wonder how the learning curve has changed.

Thanks, Mike g.

Sorry guys, I thought it was a simple conversation. But one no one wants. Thanks.

Probably because most of us are also old so don't know what the new learning curve is. You can pretty much bet it's geared more towards IT then Telephony, at least that's my opinion. There's several members that deal in VoIP services they may have a better feel for it.

I would say someone could start totally green and learn on the job, yes. But you would need to have a mind for IPv4 networking for sure to get truly good at it. Otherwise it's mostly plugging in routers/switches/phones per a network diagram. Of course it helps having a background in telephony when it comes to translating what the customer is asking for into actual programming of the system - cloud or otherwise.

I did see your post and replied, but then changed my mind as it didn't answer your question and I was waiting for those with more knowledge than I to reply. Basically, I haven't been in the industry since 2016 and haven't installed a phone system since 2004. My knowledge of anything VoIP/ Cloud-based is zilch.

However, did go back to college in 2020 and in 2022 I received an AAS in Network Administration and another AAS in Cybersecurity at the age of 68. Being an older student has it's advantages (besides tuition discount) in your willingness to actually put the effort into learning as opposed to a 19 year old student.

If you choose to attend college, you won't be the only "old" student. It was also great for me, because I could ask businesses if the have Student or Senior or Veteran discounts.

Patience, grasshopper.

I vaguely remember you as I was in BG. Hi, this is like I broke my hand in an accident. Will I be able to play the piano when they take off the cast?

IP telephony is like any other skill. Did your "old tech" life include any skills of construction, data cabling, networking? Or is this a new skill you hope to acquire. When I 'retired' I kept my remote accounts. I have a guy that does the hands on stuff and I direct his installations and program from remote. It's not pretty, but it works. The key is you MUST know how to lock down a network and limit access to the customer's site. It's learnable. If you're interested, you might want to reach out to me via PM. The scary part is I sorta kept my old contacts from the Nationals. It's good for a few hundred dollars a month, although I'm not sure if it really pays my $2600 annual insurance bill for business liability, vehicle, and contents. Dummy signed for another year, then I should pull the plug.

Carl

Thanks again to the replies.

Kind of what II thought. especially when dealing with customers network. I have been doing some learning online. The thing that gets to me, is trying to trouble shoot a phone dead. Is it the firewall, node issue, etc, etc. Not like tring to find cross talk on crappy lines. Tring to get a ip phone to work, using cat 1 quad.

Carol, I have talked to you over the years, before my stroke. Glad you are doing ok.

I wonder if small key systems are even being installed these days with copper line instead of sip and voip.

Technology will keep changing. Like when the customer goes from copper line, to isdn, to pri, to sip. Just makes it hard to get to the problem, you haven't seen before.

It has been good talking to everyone. I hope everything goes well. And you are not net 90days out on the next job.

Thanks Mike G.

The twist is that digital phone systems that run on a single pair are getting harder to find. My test bench and shelf of shame is littered with old systems. I have a Nortel BCM-50, an ESI system, a Panasonic TDA-50, and an NEC-DSX 40/80, all with digital phones. None of this is 'state of the art' but they are all functional if you have analog phone lines. My next two installations are Grandstream UCM systems, one in a motel and one in a small business. The hospitality box is 120 extensions and the small business system is a replacement for a Partner system with 5 extensions. The small business box will be all WiFi phones. Now, there's a thought....but you better have a strong network. I control the router and access point on this job. Have to, and all the phones are within 150' of the main AP.

The DSX-40 is a strange duck. The customer gave me 6 phones and I already own 2 cabinets and 2 phones. They promise to give me more phones when the get full access to the building and probably the KSU. As soon as I assemble my storage unit for 10 27-gallon totes, I'll start dedicating a bin for each of the used systems so I can have an NEC, Panasonic, ESI, and Nortel tubs. That will keep them together and I can start to blow them out the door :-)

Good luck to you and keep in touch.

Carl