After some unpleasent dealings with our service provider, the big boss would like to cut out third parties entirely in regards to Phone switch maintenance.
I have googled a bit but seem to come up short searching for online training/certs for NEC products. Is this something only NEC offers?
Also what are some pre-reqs to taking an NEC specific course.
I am a fluent network admin, and can muddle through the hardware aspects of telcom, but have no formal training except "oh-sh*t it's down, fix it" when it comes to phone/PBX programming.
What certifications, classes etc have any of you taken? Are they even worth it? should I just rtfm :read: ?

thanks

Probably not a wise decsion on the big boss's part. I think he/she needs to see the BIG picture. What will you do when you need parts etc. My advise would be to look for another vendor that is willing to provide the type of service you are looking for. The time to look for support is before you really need it, and not when you are in a real bind.

Mike

Mikes .giving you good advice :thumb:

I just took the IPK Advanced, IPKII basic and advanced, SV8100basic and SV8300 basic all online.

I think a classroom would make actually passing the exam easier, but it wasn't that bad. There is a IP prerequisite that needs to be passed in order to take the SV classes.

If you are an end user you can sign up for training at the NEC Unified website, but will not be able to call the tech support line unless you are a registered dealer.

Going on what the others have posted, I also would reccomend finding another dealer. These guys deal with this stuff everyday and you have to figure in what your time is worth.

look here: https://training.necunified.com/

Follow Mikes advice and I would like to add. Is your boss doubling your pay? Because you will be taking on double the work.
Try calling the manufacture of your phones system. They probably won't give Tech support but they usually can point you to a dependable vendor.

Fortunately this industry is not like the computer industry. Most manufacturers only will provide training and certification for their authorized dealers and techs working for them.

By the way, it always amazes me how bosses and bean counters always think IT people can handle telecom. Ask him if he would ask his dentist to fix his hemorrhoids.

-Hal

An honest man....a CG that actually admits a telephone system requires a different skill set than a server or a switched hub or router. Most come here with the attitude "I can program a router, a phone system can't be as bad...see how smart I am?"

Now then, let me tell you as the other techs did....get another vendor....Contact NEC for a list of dealers in your area. After over four decades in this industry, there is no way you can be proficient with a system you work on rarely. Do you remember how to set your clock in the car without the owner's manual? Once every six months isn't much practice.

Hal, as always makes a good case....

I used to do Lancaster and Palmdale plus some Victorville. Hiway 138 ain't no fun!

So, junkbox, thanks for being honest, let me you to the BB, and keep your sense of humor and smile .

Thanks for all of your input (and please continue)
I don't think the intention is to entirely (at least in my mind) cut out a third party but rather to have an internal "first line of defense".
As KLD stated it's a drive to get here for any third party which limits scheduling and response time. I understand this.
To that end, it doesn't make sense financially or otherwise to call a tech in to fix something that takes 20 minutes. Meanwhile he drives a total 4 hours to get here and back...it can't be good for the service provider either. And those are billable hours for us.
I currently handle the Voicemail and TBoxes as well as the Queues via NEC's software and cosessions (which is fun mainly because it's DOS like)
I wouldn't want to know everything about phone switching... my HD is almost full as is
Really I'd just like to know more about programming the switch from the admin console and what each of the programs are in console, also we have alot of CARs and I often have to switch those on the fly which is Ok but i'd like to know how to create a new one if/when needed. So really just the programming aspect.
Tony and hbiss bring up a good point about the authorized dealer angle (ala Cisco for network hardware)

So I think the consensus would be to become as knowledgable as I can, but have an authorized dealer/tech for major upgrades, major disasters and for use on non time-sensitive installs and issues.

doghart, as you mentioned, we are using an IPKII so I'll hit up that link :rofl:

to the contrary...I think most monkeys could at least put a network together, and employ a slightly more evolved monkey such as myself to route it and secure it. They've made networking too easy now couple of clicks in the web interface and everything's "good". Give me telnet and a 100 line cisco config any day.

A lot of bigger companies usually have a person on staff that is factory trained. My last two companies I worked for had me as their onsite tech. I am factory trained in a multiple of systems so I guess I was the go to guy. Smaller companies don't have this luxury I guess.

Well, there is an option I didn't consider. Hire a tech away from a dealer who is certified. Of course that still may not answer the manufacturer support and parts availability problem because they would no longer be working for a dealer.

If your company is sincere about the travel time/response issue that would be the thing to do but somehow I think they are just blowing smoke. It's all about money and cutting costs. They figure they have you on the payroll and their limited intellegence tells them that since you can handle 'puters you should be able to handle the phone system. So make him work harder for his money and save us some.

-Hal

Some Vendors will sponsor you to go to training class. That's how I got my NEC Neax 2400 cert.

Maybe they will do it since they have a long drive time to get to your place.