Nortel training

[xman44]

ok gang...

I have asked you all so many questions. Its time to hit the books and learn these systems

Price is not an issue, so where do you all recommend I start. I am a complete ameture, but am ready to take the plunge into the Telcom world.

I need a starting point but have no guidance

Thanks for any insight

 

[johnpoole]

global knowledge is about the only game in town, there website has the loc's and schedules. that is the old nortel training division

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[xman44]

is it worth the money John? Is the information there going to keep me fresh for upcoming revisions and upgrades? Or at least provide me the know how to work in the field with more confidence

 

[westcoaster]

Having gone through all the courses required to become a support specialist I would have to say it is worth the money. specially if you are starting from nothing.
The good: you will be prepared to take the prometrics exams required for certification, you will learn about the nortel equipment and how to configure it
The not-so-good: The instructors are only versed in the material they are presenting some are good instructors others, not so good. sometimes you get an instructor that has never taught the material before... Overall they are good at what they do. If they don't have the answer you are looking for they will find it for you.
Due to the abuse the equipment gets put through, sometimes the system you are working on has difficulties that go beyond the norm. This can be frustrating when you are learning on the equipment for the first time, but it also provides a valuable trouble shooting experiance. They are usually quite good in getting things repaired, usually by the next morning.

On a scale of 1 to ten one being pi$$ poor and 10 being the most wonderful I would have to rate it at a 8+ I have come away with a clear understanding of the equipment and how to configure it (heavy emphasis on the VOIP stuff)

You will benifit more if you do have a little practical experiance, know in advance (rough idea) the system types and how they go together but even that you will be taught early on. The prerequsits are important and to take the classes in order is also important as some of the later courses build on some of the earlier courses. Some classes will seam redundant and a waste of time. You just won't know until you are into them...


.........................................................
Some people are like slinkies...not really good for anything, but seeing one tumble down the stairs makes you smile!

 

[xman44]

thanks for taking the time to respond. I am looking at globalknowledge. Should this be considered as a accredited way of learning nortel and meridian equip? I will be taking the elearning road as I am a fulltime father of 2 and just do not have time for a classroom environment. So I guess I will be utilizing online Company Equipment to troubleshoot,lol.

 

[johnpoole]

it's worth the money unless your in a shop with a great mentor. the best thing you learn from any school is the right way to use the books. everything you ever need to know is documented somewhere. knowing the fastest way to find that information makes you worth more $ to yourself and your company.. two rules i apply before i spend money on a course.. never send anyone to school that has not spent time on the switch, never send anyone to school unless they are going to spend time on the switch when they return. used knowledge is retained knowledge.. you can buy wallpaper at lowes a litte cheaper then cert's

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[pbxn]

I know you said you are going the web route for training, which would be fine if you currently support your environment, or work side by side with another tech etc. The benefit of the classroom is the multitude of problems that you will hear from your classmates, that are mostly addressed by the instructor. Like John said, it is better to learn from a seasoned tech, side by side, as there are alot of little known facts about Nortel stuff, that only real world experience can teach. I'd start off small with the web classes, see how you benefit from them, and then go from there.

 

[xman44]

yes I work alone and have been doing so for 2 years. Not just on Phone systems. No mentor and learning on my own for 2 years has been rewarding at times, yet frustrating. I am the only IT guy at my location..corporate either takes too long or I get the cold shoulder.

just ready to really secure my position and gain some confidence.

thanks for the great insight everyone

 

[srmega41]

One other thing I could add besides training is a local users group. I believe this forum is one of the best for asking questions quickly, but there is something to be said for personal contact. Contact your vendor, or even visit the INNUA web site directly to see if there is a users group in your area.

Hopefully, they have meetings at least once every other month. If they do; go!! Meeting people in your area who work on these systems is a great additional benefit. I have lots of contacts in my area that are always willing to talk or run a situation by to get input. Sometimes, they can even get Global Knowledge to bring a course into your area. Our local group has done several, including Database Admin, I&M, as well as Mail and Symposium.

If you are not sure where to look or who to ask, post back with your city and state, and I will get you contact information about meetings and times, if you are interested.

Hope this helps,

Scott M.

BTW: Global Knowledge has an arrangement with INNUA, so user group members get 10% off all Nortel training. This usually more than pays for any membership dues. (I am not in any way associated with INNUA, other than being a local user group memner)

 

[xman44]

great information Scott...I think this is what I really need. I am more of a hands on guy and will need people from the field to communicate with face to face with real world situations.


Location:
Duluth, GA

Txs a lot!

 

[srmega41]

OK. Here is what I could find for you. The web site for your local chapter is:

http://www.gmua.org

There is a users group meeting scheduled on October 5th at a location in Atlanta, which is about 20 miles from where you are (I did a check from your town to the meeting site).

The president there is Mark Mausen, and his email address is on the home page. You can contact him or the Membership chair, Lauren Cantrell with any questions. I do not those these people personnaly, but I have met several people in the Georgia users group, and they are a very strong group. You should be able to attend one or two meetings without paying membership, sort of like a try and buy.

Good luck.

Scott M.

 

[hawks]

Duluth, no problem I beleive there is a few chapters in the Atlanta area to choose from. To answer your question from ealier yes Global Knowledge is accredited by NORTEL. Also look at the CBT because it has material in it that you can refer back to. Don't know if they still do it but before if you took a Web or CBT class for just a couple of $$ more you could get what they called ASK A MENTOR or somthing like that. That's where you could have access to their instructors for a period of time to help resolve problems that you might run into.

 

[xman44]

you guys are great! Thanks for taking time out of your (what I am sure to be a busy day) to help me get started.

unreal....help like this makes my road rage headache from this morning go away,lol