4 day training

[nwanerka]

So I'm about to start day for control4 training and we have the exam. Does anybody have any advice? is it hard? I did OK on day 3 with the big project and only had 3 things I got stuck on. I hate tests and I know its open book open internet but still.

Any advice would help :-)

 

 

 

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[nwanerka]

We can't share too much Because we were warned that if we give any answers or any of the questions to the exam we would lose our licensing/certification. But the way their doing the 4 day class now is pretty awesome. Because of covin you don't have to travel to them anymore. I don't know there still doing it this way but I got to do it with one of my computers had zoom and the whole class was on the same zoom meeting and then I had another computer Log on to a program called Teamviewer. Teamviewer is so you can log in to one of their stations in Salt Lake City to program c4 system. I chose to do the Chicago class because the class starts at 9:00 a.m. and I live in Florida so I am an hour ahead of them so really my class started at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time period that gave me time for him to go to the office and get all my guys out for the day and still be able to run My business. Once the class starts I had My phone on silent because you really do want to pay attention. They give you plenty of opportunities for breaks and lunch, even at the end couple hours of class it's mostly lab. If you have to choose which location I would highly recommend the Chicago class as my instructor was absolutely amazing. She was very knowledgeable and made herself available almost anytime through email They give you plenty of opportunities for breaks and lunch, even at the end couple hours of class it's mostly lab. If you have to choose which location I would highly recommend the Chicago class as my instructor was absolutely amazing. She was very knowledgeable and made herself available almost anytime through email and zoom to Answer questions. I can't remember the name of the gentleman that man the Salt Lake City terminals but he is probably one of the most knowledgeable C for programmers I've ever met. He was there to make sure all of the stations ran smoothly and all the equipment. You would troubleshoot on the fly and 9.8 out of 10 I can't remember the name of the gentleman that man the Salt Lake City terminals but he is probably one of the most knowledgeable C for programmers I've ever met. He was there to make sure all of the stations ran smoothly and all the equipment. You would troubleshoot on the fly and 9.8 out of 10 times He had the Problem Solved. Really the only time the problem wasn't solved right away is when the person on the other side, but student, could not follow directions or just didn't listen lol. It was amazing to watch him grade the final exam lab. Hes done so many it's like 2nd nature but the cool thing was that if something didn't work when he hit a button , He didn't just mark it off he then at the end went through the actual written programming to either see if it's right and it was a hardware issue or it was wrong but then he took a second and explained what you did wrong. That was cool because even though he was the only one besides the main instructor grading the lab exams he still cared enough to take a second and explain what you did wrong and how you could do it differently in the future. .
The only thing that could read class better is if they would have made it a 5 day class instead of 4. I know that's a lot but a 5th day would have been nice to really go over 3rd party integrations, IR codes that are not in their database and how to proceed and a couple other items. Since I was The only thing that could read class better is if they would have made it a 5 day class instead of 4. I know that's a lot but a 5th day would have been nice to really go over 3rd party integrations, IR codes that are not in their database and how to proceed and a couple other items. Since I was coming from a URC Total Control 2.0 World, Where their databases have just about every device known to man, It took me a minute or 2 on my 1st c4 job to figure out how to find different IR codes and how to change and build custom drivers. I was a little spoiled with URC and how easy they make their Build a driver program but now that I'm immersed in C4 I see a lot of pluses and minuses and different benefits. I Will probably never go back to URC and stick with C4 for life but always keep my option open to maintain the urc jobs I have out there and of course if a customer really want URC I would still do it but really try to talk them into Control 4.
URC definitely has the advantage when programming with their accelerator That automatically billed to macros and layouts but C4 has a more rock solid program.
Like I said there's pluses and minuses for both and I guess it all depends on what direction the customer wants to go in.
The class has a lot of good hands on programming and the manual For the class that you print out I still used to this day for a good reference.
Hope that helps answers your question

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[dcovach]

If you pay attention, do the labs with a serious effort, you should be able to pass the exam 'automagically'

[nwanerka]

So i passed with a 92 overall. I got a 95 on the written and on the programming I missed the color changes on the keypads and I thought I nested the doorbell and camera but I must not have . The things I missed i knew so it kills me but I guess a 92 is not to bad

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[ILoveC4]

Congrats!

[nwanerka]

Thank you. Now I get to order my own c4 equipment for my house. I can't wait for my first c4 job

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[nwanerka]

The weird thing is i passed today yet my certificate is dated for yesterday

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[jfh]

Congrats!  I wish I could take the course and the test.  Would even pay for the costs ...

 

Though I suspect I could pass the test without taking the course.

[VEXTA]

Congrats nwanerka!!

can you share the course agenda?

I would like to know what kind of activities are included.

Thank´s!

[Köhler Medientechnik]

Well, it´s runthrough of everything, from the basics to the bit more sophisticated stuff.

First, you learn the basics, then you work on a real world example. Then you learn another piece, then real work examples, and so on. Last day is a multiple choice test and a final practical exercise that covers most of what you learned the days before.

The course was actually my very first contact with C4 (i´ve experience in other systems) and it went pretty well.

 

[jfh]

It’s a pity that those who want to take the class the most can’t.

[VEXTA]

3 hours ago, Köhler Medientechnik said:

Well, it´s runthrough of everything, from the basics to the bit more sophisticated stuff.

First, you learn the basics, then you work on a real world example. Then you learn another piece, then real work examples, and so on. Last day is a multiple choice test and a final practical exercise that covers most of what you learned the days before.

The course was actually my very first contact with C4 (i´ve experience in other systems) and it went pretty well.

 

Thank you!

[VEXTA]

We can't share too much Because we were warned that if we give any answers or any of the questions to the exam we would lose our licensing/certification.

 

Hope that helps answers your question

 

 

Wow man!

I really appreciate the time you spend to reply my question.

I don’t really want to know the questions and replies for the test.

I just want to know the agenda of topics included in the training.

I’ve worked in IT for 28 years and I some knowledge of networking, OS, hardware, programming, etc. So I feel confident the training won’t be a big problem.

I’m just curious to know the topics.

Examples:

Curtain control is included?

Practice with Pakedge networking?

Centralized lighting?

AV Matrix?

Surveillance?

Practice some kind of physical connections?

Just composer?

And so on...

If possible to know a little of this, great! Otherwise, no problem, I’ll figured out when I have the opportunity to do the training.

Anyway, really really I appreciate your help!

 

Thank you!

[nwanerka]

From the experience that you listed you should have no problem in the 4 day class. You'll probably even be a little bored lol
But for the agenda, A basically goes like this period the 1st couple hours your following along and taking notes. If you go in person they will give you the big Finder like notebook but if you take it online like we all are now because the covin you will have to print it out yourself. Here's a tip if you have a staples for a Office depot kind of place, You can go there and have them printed in card stock and bind it for you. It cost Around $90-$100 But worth every penny. Some people just printed it out on regular paper and you can tell it was nothing but trouble for them. I printed it myself on card stock but then also went to staples and had them do it. It made it easier to take notes and way easier to look stuff up when I needed to during the exam and the lab's.
The instructor will even tell you what to take notes on and where to write it in your book and then usually the 2nd half is a real world experience lab right out of the same notebook. Your going to learn how to Program all AV stuff including tvs and multi zone sound systems and your also going to learn how to program the c4 dimmer switches and other wireless switches. ( I never saw the hype about their switches until I bought some for myself, install them in program them. Worth every penny I have almost my whole house in C4 dimmer switches and multi switches and all of them engraved)
The next morning of day-to-day will go through the lab that you did the night before and then start the new lesson. They will teach you all about composer pro, You learn things you never knew were even possible with home automation.
Like I said in my last post I came from a URC world but also did Lutron and of course all the little homeowners the wave hubs like wink and smart things and so on and so forth. I now see the true benefit of going to a professional system. Will show you how to add customers and how you give customers access to certain areas. You can even make money from customers with insight a naked even get composer HE which will let them do some things but not everything. They have to get a licence from you which is from control for I now see the true benefit of going to a professional system. Will show you how to add customers and how you give customers access to certain areas. You can even make money from customers with insight a naked even get composer HE which will let them do some things but not everything. They have to get a licence from you which is from control4.
I could go on and on and believe me I love to. If you have any more specific questions your more than welcome to message me smiled

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[VEXTA]

Your answers are very helpful, thank you very much guys.

I hope find you here frequently.

 

[nwanerka]

I agree. I am an electrical contractor but I also have been in the home automation game for a couple of years now and started small with the "home owner" stuff like wink and smart things. Then went to Clare controls and then URC total control and finally control4. I think if I did not have that experience with the other systems and a real love for home automation, I would be lost too. I did the work first and did all the on line stuff first. The guys that just jumo right in, are only hurting themselves and the others in the class

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[nwanerka]

So I finished 3 out of the 4 certifications that control4 has to offer. 1 more to go.. the networking one. Just need to save up some money for that one

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[nwanerka]

These are the 3 I meant. Sorry about that. I doubled one of them

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[VEXTA]

Congratulations!

I´ve completed the Associate Installer and the Centralized Lighting.

Hoping ta have de opportunity to assist to Automation Installer (here in Mexico must be presencial) and like you, saving for the networking

[JSTRONG]

Yeah but you missed the best part. The food!

They always have breakfast snacks and very good lunch they have delivered

 

[Köhler Medientechnik]

43 minutes ago, nwanerka said:

From the experience that you listed you should have no problem in the 4 day class. You'll probably even be a little bored lol

Yep, totally agree.

On our course, the people with the most problems where some older guys with a more traditional electrician background (from sockets and cables to "programming").
But if you´re coming from IT, you shouldn´t have any issues.