r/lowvoltage

So we all know tech is in a bad spot. A lot of fields are in a bad spot. I am sure Low Voltage has been hit as well. I have a BS in IT and about 6 years experience doing tech support tier 1 and tier 2 and now I work as a sole IT specialist at a highschool.

I've been aggressively trying to make a lateral move for a year now and I actually recently have had some luck with getting interviews, however it seems that rejections are fairly common so there is no telling what might work out for me.

I don't want to go in a ton of detail, but my current work has burned me out and I need to change things up. Being stuck in the role for a year while trying to leave has been just awful. Up skilling, constant resume revisions, career counselors, networking, applications.. things are just brutal.

I am consider plan B. Low Volt, AV, Security systems? has been an interest for me, but I didn't strongly consider, because things weren't as bad several years ago for myself and I saw a more hopeful future in tech. I did always miss more hands on work, which is part of why I had considered these options.

My dilemma. I make 55k right now, which is honestly not good at all for someone who has been in IT for almost 6 years. I also can't afford to make much less, which makes any career moves feel impossible. My wife and I are in a 1bedroom apartment and eat out about once a week. We don't have much to cut financially and things are tight already. So that is a huge problem for any significant changes on my end.

I know my networking knowledge would be of use, but I fear my lack of hands on experience will set me back to low entry pay. I know there are certs I could get? But that is still not hands on experience.

If I were to seriously consider this, what would I be facing? What reality do I need to face with that? Any advice would be appreciated.

Here in a few weeks I will be starting a new position as a jr structured cabling tech. I'm so happy to have been able to get this position. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pretty nervous. I have no prior experience. Although I have a pretty solid understanding of general networking, network equipment, tools, standards, etc.

This will be my first job within the field of "IT" or maybe electrician is more fitting. I've been watching tons of videos on what this job might entail. I'm just curious of what expectations I should have. Or rather, what expectations they should have of me. I want to make a solid first impression. It's only a contract job for a few weeks. So being able to secure future projects is my goal.

Looking for any advice that someone with experience can offer. Do's and don'ts. What should I be mainly focused on? Terminating? Basic cable pulling and techniques. Really any advice is welcome.

Been doing low voltage, security installations for around 4 years and 6 years telecommunication and experience. I make 30$ hr company truck an gas paid.. very chill a laid back gig… but I’m 100% maxed out at this company I see the work slowing down. An drastically cutting OT an I wanna keep growing a building im 29. What’s next

Hello All,

I'm a field engineer and I'm on a project where we are going to use MMC terminated fiber.

I'm wondering if any of you out there have hands on experience cleaning, testing, and installing MMC and have time to chat.

We are using Viavi products for scoping and olts.

I'm a low voltage contractor and I currently have an F-250 pickup that I use as my work vehicle.

I'm considering getting something like a used Econoline. I really only have to travel throughout my small town, and I estimate I will probably only drive it a couple thousand miles a year.

I am looking to get some input on how used of a vehicle I can safely get by with before the truck becomes more trouble than its worth...

There are quite a few for sale in my area under $10,000, but they tend to have in the neighborhood of 200,000 miles at that price.

Anybody have any recommendations for a good trade-off of price versus mileage/age to get a decently-reliable vehicle that will work for what I need?

Last thing I want to do is save $2,000 on a van only to have to spend $5,000 on an engine rebuild 3 months later....

I'd really like to add a compact Impact Driver to my toolbag. Often times I basically need little more than an electric screwdriver, so it doesn't need to be very powerful (things like putting together server racks, and maybe the rare occassion I have to drill a lag screw into a stud or something).

I currently have the Bosch 12V impact driver, and it works fine, but it does have detachable batteries which requires me to keep the charger somewhere nearby.

I'd really like to find something that is compact and charges via USB-C (since I have a few other things such as my laptop what require me to carry a USB-C battery bank with me, anyway).

Anybody know of such a tool?

Hi.

I been buying Klein Tools fish rod stick and i'll be honest some of their products lately has be crappy and fall apart easy. It seems some a few of their products. They are losing the quality in most of the things they are putting out.

Do anyone know of a great brand with quality rods ??? Where at least the ends wont break or slip off ??