Home theater installer questions

[Hatecrime69]

Well to make a long story short, i'm 24 years old and have no idea what kind of job i'd like to do, so i'm grasping a little at straws here, but it's the best idea i can think of

After many years of being the best with computers in my house and somewhat more recently doing alot of the home theater setup in my house (some people here wouldn't really consider the hardware i have there 'home theater' quality at all, but it's the best i have to work with ) I have come to one consclousion:

I hate working on computers

Granted, i love working with computers and playing games and stuff, and i know the technical stuff quite alot but boy is it a pain. I defnitely have the skill to do it, and i've been thinking of computers as a job, but I think i'd be come a bitter old man far too soon if i had to do it as a career

I have found it fun and enjoyable to get the most out of hardware and to make it all work right. So i've been wondering about looking into makeing it a career. Of course my problem now is, while knowing how to pursue a job in computers, the idea of a home theater installer is quite a mystery to me. Does anybody know how i might get into such a career? What would help me learn what i need for such a thing?


or is the pay for such a job really, really bad and i should forget the whole idea?

 

[jcPanny]

Sounds like you should consider getting a job for a custom HT installer in your area. When you learn enough, you might be able to start your own company. Low voltage wiring is not rocket science, but any knid of electrical or construction experience you can get would help.
My brother works for a little company in SF that installs HT and whole house audio systems for remodels and new construction. These types of systems are becomming more common and I think there is a lot of money in the business if you are the owner vs. the guy who does the wiring.

 

[Hatecrime69]

Sounds like a good idea and a simple enough way to learn. now i just gotta figure out a way to find any ht installers in my area (shouldn't be too difficult i hope as i live right by philly and not in the middle of nowhere) and if any of them happens to have room for me to have a job. Of course for me that's a bigger obsticale than it sounds like (hey, lazyness isnt' the olny reason ) but that's something i can't help and will have to work with anyway.

How would i go about finding ht installers in my area..besides the phone book that is?

 

[breaks911]

Finding HT companies

Go to vendor websites, such as Denon and Marantz and search for dealers in your zip code. I think that would be the best way.

 

[ELK]

HT industry

Well as I work in the A/V low voltage industry and have since 1991, there is a lot to HT installs. To me it sounds like you have a knack for computers and like idea of installing Home Theater systems.

This is what I would advise you to do. Don’t go and work for a trunk slammer. These are the HT installers that go from house to house and undercut the competition by doing inferior work and not knowing how to wire a house. Instead take breaks911’s advice and find a dealer in your area. If you really want to install high end systems visit websites and look for dealers of companies like Runco, Integra Research, Triad, Miller and Kreisel and Kaleidescape. These are companies that deal with very specific dealers and you cannot just go buy there equipment at any store like you can with Denon or Marantz.

The higher end installers can use people like yourself to both installs and with good computer skills utilize you as a programmer for whole home automation systems by installing systems like Crestron or AMX. Also these companies not only do residential installs but a lot of high end commercial projects as well. Look for a company with annual sales of at least 1.5 million before you sign on. These companies have been around a while and have a reputation to uphold.

The type of homes we typically work on range in the $200,000 for just home theater and whole house integration. Now I can tell you that as an installer you will not make as much as you would programming these systems. A programmer on average makes around 60k a year. So think long and hard and do some research.

I think I have the best job there is. I get to play with the top of the line equipment and set systems up everyday. Also one perk is you generally can get your gear from your boss at cost + 10%. Not to bad on a receiver that would normally cost you a grand and you are only out $600.

Think hard and have fun.

 

[Hatecrime69]

Yes, i would hate to work for the truck slammer, i think it would probably give me a negative feeling about the whole thing, and i'd probably woudln't learn correctly either.

Though the way you put it sounds rather intimidateing I suppose it's what i have been doing with computers for many years, I have thought about many areas in computers that I could do, but none that i have thought about have given me the feeling that I want to learn more, and compareing home theater install to computers I defnitley feel an urge to know more, and at the moment that is the best i can say about any career i've thought about, witch is something at least.

I'm personally not sure how much to be worried about money, as i still live with my parents, so 60k a year for example sounds like a high number, but i dont' know what it means exaclty and with my dad having a history of being hyper-senstive with money i'm not sure what to think myself.

I'm defnitely gonna start looking into it, though i doubt i'm able to rush into it too quickly anyway (more likely the other way really ), Finding installers who use the really high-end equipment sounds like a good place to start though

 

[ELK]

Education Education Education

Look there is nothing intimidating about this type of work. It is actually one of the best jobs I feel a person can have and I have had a few. Though there is a lot however to learn and know about the field. Let me suggest a simple start go to a web site named infocom.org, look at taking a course under the education tab on the websites link. A good place to start would be taking a class called Essentials of the AV Industry. This will cost you around $150.00 bucks to take this course since you are not a member. This will give you an idea of what the pro’s in the industry actually look for. If you decide after taking this course that this is the field for you then take AV from A-Z for Sales Professionals. This is a great course even if you are not in sales. It has a wealth of knowledge. Finally look at taking and passing the CTS exam and become certified within the industry. Then there are thousands of course's to take and learn. This is just a start.

You should be able to take these classes and pass the course for certification at a cost of around $500.00. Though don’t think because you are certified that you are now the grand wizard of the A/V Industry. I design systems and this business changes daily. Products change weekly and you have to keep learning every day. I really think if you feel that this is a job for you then look at these courses. If a person were to walk into my office and ask for a job with no experience but took the indicative to get CTS certified then they would probably get a job.

This is a fantastic field to work in and don’t sell out that programming issue I mentioned earlier. Look at Crestron’s web site and check out the home, business and classroom tabs. Read through these and look at the graphic interface of the displays. There are some really cool applications and GUI’s and the program controls everything.

Like I said you get to play with, Design, Install and program systems that most people that own HT systems would die for. The best part of my job is turning over a system and watching the clients face light up with a smile as they get trained and listen to there system for the first time.

Good luck and remember knowledge is power.

 

[MacManNM]

Look into joining the Air Force, there are several electronics jobs they can train you in. Learn some basics, and go from there. A little discipline never killed anyone. I joined when I was 21, best thing I ever did. I spent 10 years in, finished school, and am way better off for it. of course the judge staring at me helped me make that decision too...........

 

[Hatecrime69]

I could never join anything like the air force, defnitely not a quesiton no matter what there.

The courses sound like a good thing, should i try and find a job with an installer and work on certifacation then or get some expirence in a job, then work on certifacation when i'm ready?

I don't think it's the work itself that is intimidateing, but rather how to begin. The actual work doesn't sound like too much of a problem, but i grow increaseingly intimidated for the path to get to the easyer part (always my problem)

What is the programmer job exactly? I know what a computer programmer is (useing c++ and the like) but i'm not sure if that's the same thing your describeing.

I'm not sure what area of install i'd like to be in, i know i enjoy figureing out how to get a bunch of different things to work together, and out of my fustration for never being able to get it right at the level I'd want, with something out of my controll always being in the way someplace.

 

[breaks911]

show the initiative

You should go ahead and get the education and certification under your belt. As mentioned above, it shows good character, initiative, and ambition. Otherwise to the employer, you're just another guy looking for free education from them so you can go find a better paying job later.

The programming he's referencing is program home audio systems, multi-room systems, etc. They're computers now with media sharing, direct storage, routing, etc. All that must be programmed by someone. So if you already know something about computers, and interested in HT work, then it's the best of both worlds. Apply your computer knowledge to doing great programming work for a client.


At 24, you need to start thinking about getting some drive here and moving forward. Your first real job likely won't be your dream job, but you have to start somewhere. If you can't decide what you want to do, then try something. At least then you'll have a frame of reference. I'm not real sure what you're waiting for here...if you're interested, do it. Don't wait your life away. If you make a mistake, so what?? Sounds like you're still protected under the parental blanket.

The remainder of my .02 is that the USAF or Navy sounds like a great fit for you. Not sure why you're so against it. Probably be the most honorable and beneficial thing you could do.

 

[MDS]

If you're against the military then go to college. You can start at a community college and take a few classes at a time and take the HT classes as well. You will never regret getting an education.

Electronics and computers are converging. If you like computers and have a knack for learning, that would be your best bet. A programming job will pay far more than an installer job. Just beware that a computer science degree involves far more than 'C++ and the like'.