Hello A/V world.

I'm interested in becoming a custom installer for audio, video, data and security equipment. I have many years of experience in the IT field w/ almost any topic. I see major potential in the market and the forthcoming IT/AV technology convergence. And I need some help.. ;)

My questions are:

1. Where do you learn about doing in-wall wiring? I have read enough about it and I have enough skill I feel I could comfortably 'try' but I wanna be sure.

2. Do most customers wanting custom installs insist on doing the wires in the walls, or can you normally get away with painted conduit?

3. How long does the typical 5.1 speaker setup take to install? Not counting training time and config, just running the wires.

4. Is a CEDIA certification enough? Should I go out and take some electrician classes to gain more knowledge?

5. I had originally planned on doing 100% custom cable installs, making the ends and runs as need be. Do most of you guys make your own high-end cables, or do you buy them pre-made.

6. And maybe most important; Where do I find the good reseller deals out there? I need a good supplier for all this stuff.

Maybe I should just buy everything from Crutchfield. (just kidding, haha)

I was thinking trying to stick with Klipsch and Denon stuff. Have liked them very much in the past. Any other popular brands out there?

Thanks in advance

|I need some help.. ;)

Yeah - You do!



www.sublimedirectory.com
Or check with Wesley




Naaaah . Drape the wires whereever they land. Never fasten or sleeve in anything. The bigger the ball of wire - the more techno it looks and the more you can charge.




About 15 minutes. They dont call it home theater in a box for nothing. Just plug that big box in and your done. You dont even need to remove contents from box. You should however tape a few monster cables to the outside of the blose box. it will definately help improve sound quality.



Knowledge is key. Skip CEDIA. Get a GED. Thats where I'd start.



Monster cables dude! They are specially made for in wall applications.




Ebay. They are King!!




I would recoomend using these guys for all your Elan needs. They really know how to do it.




Bose and Monster for starters. Look at Awai and Kraco. Also look at any HTIB under $350. They are geared to the hi end custom market.



As always, your welcome!

lol, oh my

hysterical!

Joe,

Take the facetious tone in oex's response seriously. Dude, if you are asking these kind of questions you have not even begun the journey into this industry as an owner. Get employed by someone who really knows the business and turn what skills you have into a valuable asset for that company.

I know you see the six figs+ of income per year that you'll get from spending 20 hours a week just hooking up stereos but that is like the mirage of an oasis after a week in the sahara... it just disappears when it even begins to look close... and I've been in this industry for 21 years.

If you even score a client you will instantly be in over your head and I would imagine that some other company will be called in to bail out the mess.

Do us all a favor and don't just jump in the pool... wade in on the shallow end with someone who can help you swim.

Say what you will, but it's people like me that put you f***s out of business.

I have every intention of gathering as much information as possible before "jumping in." You people need to realize that you had to learn from somewhere too, and I'm sure while you were learning, you didn't get a bunch of negative commentary.

But that's okay, it's people like you that make me realize I can do well in this market.

Oex, You are all shallow peice of sh**. Go to hell. And thank you for your demonstration of CLEARLY supperior intellect.

If there is anybody on this forum who isn't a complete ass and is nice enough to help me, I still have those questions needing to be answered. Thanks.

joesapo

You asked and others answered. You might want to take some answers serious and lighten up some.

rhm9 is right on.

Dave

joesapo: you know how to make friends :-)

1. I learned about in wall wiring in two ways. One was getting an entry level installer position with Directv (and working there for a couple of years). The other was visiting some construction sites and taking a very close look at homes in various stages of completion.

2. Most customers (nearly all) want the installation to be as invisible as humanly possible. Painted conduit may fly in the chain store installation world, but it does not work in the custom industry.

3. No such thing as a "typical" install. I have had systems take a few hours to complete, others have been many days (months, if you count the entire process). Again, Chain store VS custom.

4. Cedia certification is IMO not necessary, opinions vary. I would imagine the training would be a great help to someone with little/no experiece. I am not Cedia certified, nor do I plan on being.

5. Combination of both. depends on the application.

6. Cannot help you on the reseller end, I am a tech and do not handle the equipment procurement process.


My advice... Since you have IT experience. Perhaps get a job or offer your services as a networking tech. More and more homes are becoming connected and very few consumers have any idea what they are doing. Start with what you know and expand as you gain experience.

Many people here are owners of established companies. They have worked very hard to get to where they are and most have done it the right way. Most have storefronts, are licensed, pay taxes, workmans comp, rent and all the other expenses that come along with running a business. Time and time again, potential clients have been lured away from these hardworking businessmen by "trunk slammers".

Trunk slammers do not typically run their business above board. No license, no liability insurance, nothing. Just a truck and a business card with a cell phone #. As a result they can undercut the competition. If they screw up a job, they do not stand behind their work. They give everyone in the industry a bad name.

Some may have gotten the impression that you were headed that way.

Believe me, this stuff is not as easy as it looks.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. Just do us, yourself and the industry a favor. If you decide to enter this business, go about it the right way.....

Just the $.02 of a guy who started in the industry pulling satellite lines under doublewide trailers with leaking sewer lines so that I could pay my bills...... Now I pull cables under multi million dollar mansions with leaking sewer lines.... : )

RR










4.

WOW!!!
I was going to to offer some insite on the required knowledge to be succsessful in this industry!
I think you have the mindset to deal with the technoligy, but I'm not sure you have the temperment to deal with everything that WILL go wrong!!!

Patience is a vertue.

As far as "negative commentary", I'm my worst crittic!
I've made mistakes in my 19 years of doing this. And I've learned alot in the process!!!

I don't want to diswade you from your endeavor. But, make sure you see the "big picture" before you change (or modify) your current carreer.

That alone actually qualifies you to sell about 95% of the brands on the market providing you have a valid credit card.

SHHH!
Darn, now the secret is out!

Dang credit cards!!!

Guess I'll see if McDonalds is hiring!!!

Ok... so you've already got top-notch "people skills" going for you...


Lack of technical knowledge won't be a problem. "alls you gots to do is hook it up"... Lot of the pro's out there make it sound a whole lot harder than it really is...


You'll be a breath of fresh air...


Heck, who needs spell & grammer check with this much *love* in the room...


Amazingly enough, some people *are* trying to help! I'd be happy to throw in my advice, but since you'll soon you'll be chock full of A/V know-how *and* personal warmth, you're already the total package!

Good luck!

Barry

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. My company has been around since the mid 40's. We've survived allot including but not limited to wars, recessions, Timshow and even the Wesley. I'm am CERTAIN we can survive the wrath of YOU!!



Jumpin in would be the key point. You should have searched the forum FIRST before jumping in. There have been at least 5 thread titled with the same drival as this lame one. You should READ first the ask for additional info to fill in the blanks. Got It????





You are dealing with pros in here. We will help when asked pointed serious questions. Your original post couldnt be taken seriously by anyone.




Been called worst by better. I wont resort to name calling. Thank God for the backspace button.



Thanks for noticing. Now explain that to Alan.



I'll answer. Read every thread in this forum. Go to the home theater section. Go to the remote section. Read it all. After 10 hours of reading youll have learned allot. THEN and ONLY then come back and ask pointed question.

Its hard to take you seriously with the blatant stupidness of the original post. Painted conduit????

I originally thought your post was a spoof to get a rise out of some of us. But maybr not. I have rethought and heres my thinking.

A - Your not old enough to vote and looking for career help. If this is the case then we will help and overlook look the neophyte behavior. I admire the ambition. It's what makes America great.

B- You can vote but cant drink. We still might help.

C - Your simply a fool.

D - Its stil a spoof as marked by a hotmail email account. Can't take any hotmail account with a straight face.

My choice is either A or D.

Good Luck