Looking for UK - related technical careers info:
I previously worked for a number of years as a telecom system (pabx)
installation / programming engineer, installing Panasonic KXTD series
and Lucent / Avaya Argent Office switches, for which I had attended
all the relevant manufacturer training courses in the UK. (up to
version 5 for the KXTD). The kind of premises I serviced ranged from
small offices, 4 or 5 phone extensions, to mid sized businesses,
schools etc where the extension count ran to maybe 120 odd.
I took a break from this line of work for several years, and although
I've kept in regular contact with the engineers I previously worked
with, and retained a fairly strong interest, both in telecoms and data
networking, I guess I'm a little rusty - things move and develop fast
in the telecoms industry, and if you're not working with the kit week
in - week out, you forget stuff as well as getting 'left behind'.
My last serious training must have been.. I guess around summer 2000,
when I attended the KXTD v5 programming course with Panasonic.
I'm now considering returning to work in this industry. I know that my
old knowledge will have been superseded to a degree, so I'm looking to
discover the answers to the specific questions below amongst any other
advice you might find which will help me update and maximise my
employability. Since it is all too easy, once 'in the job', to become
focussed on a small area, I'm planning on spending the greater part of
2003 in education / training rather than full time fitting work. I
want to broaden and update my knowledge, in saleable areas.
Specifics.
1.
I'm told that the LG Goldstar GDK & LDK phone systems are very popular
in the UK at present. What is the expected lifetime of these series of
systems, before they are superseded by 'something new'? What are their
capabilities, and, would it be worthwhile my spending considerable
time & money learning & getting comfortable with the installation and
programming of these systems, or would that knowledge be likely to
become irrelevant in the industry quickly?
2.
At the time I left off the industry, The Panasonic KXTD systems were
up to version 6 programming & were extremely popular in the UK. Most,
if not all, employers either specifically required manufacturer
training on these as a prerequisite for an engineers' employment, or
else viewed such as a definite advantage. What currently is the market
share for these systems in the UK; is their popularity falling,
staying the same, increasing?
3.
What's happening in the industry these days in the UK, with regard to
the Argent Office & Argent Branch systems, which as I recall started
out as Network Alchemy, were taken over by Lucent, and at the last
count had something to do with Avaya? Are these systems worth brushing
up on, or are they waning in popularity?
4.
At the time I left the industry, the main lines encountered day-to-day
were standard analogue lines supplied by British Telecom (sometimes by
other companies such as Telewest etc), and digital lines in the ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network) format. These I have no problem
with hooking up to a system, however I have heard that various
flavours of 'Broadband','DSL',ADSL' are becoming rapidly more common.
Any information regarding this from an engineers' perspective, both in
technical terms and relating to employment opportunity, would be
interesting.
5.
The last data network I installed involved Category 5 4-pair UTP
cabling, RJ-45 connectors, running at 100 Mbit. I've heard tales that
things have moved on a little here also, are we putting in Category 6
cabling these days? I'd like to pursue an MCSE in areas currently
related to Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) & Voice Over IP (VoIP)
- I have a training company in mind with whom I'd like to begin study
toward this (currently my knowledge is self-inflicted), but can you
give me a brief overview of which modules etc. I should ask to be
included in my course to maximise my employability?
6.
Are there any other major pbx systems of current importance I should
factor into the equation?
Time at posting this question is 0445 GMT - for the purposes of
clarification requests if needed, I'll be up 'till around 0600 GMT,
then I'll be away from the computer until around 1400 tomorrow.
I'm looking for UK - specific information.
Thanks. |