Newbie - About me

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Newbie - About me

+1 Billy.

It takes YEARS if you are good at your job and have the resources needed for the job. Life before on-line training,, place like CTN and the Internet made it basically as learn as you go situation .. and back then the senior techs seemed reluctant to help a newbie. That is one reason I have always tried to help the 'new guy on the block'. Soo much knowledge was lost do to that attitude by the older techs. Call-in Tech support is more understanding now also.

Ahhh to be young and with all these great tools for the asking.

I guess that's why I push the contribution thingy here at CTN.. because a lot of these type sites have gone by the wayside. A Small contribution to the site ( $5-10 ) to this wonderful resource will earn you a contributor badge (such as the one on my profile) will get you help quicker than not having one. Please keep in mind, that donation DOES NOT GO to the techs here, but rather goes to keep the site running without the need for advertisers.
Some are willing to SELL you what you need but techs like Synth - tsbservice - mga and others are willing to help out without the need for compensation.

https://www.copytechnet.com/forums/vbdonate.php?do=donate

I also urge all newbies to review the Forum Rules so you don't collect red cards for violating forum rules. ** NOTE fighting harassment and foul language CAN earn you a red card in anything BUT Rants-N-Raves threads where really (according to forum rules ANYTHING GOES).

https://www.copytechnet.com/forums/misc.php?do=vsarules

Again welcome M94 and glad to see you also BillyCarpenter !

I'm with ya, bro. Copier techs can be a strange bunch. Some don't want to share information with ANYbody. They want to keep the information to themselves in hopes of impressing the owner or service manager. Then, some are just assholes.

I was lucky in that I had a tech take me under their wing and show me the ropes. I always wanted to share information with new techs because I didn't want to go behind them and fix the mess. That serves no one.

Yeah, back in the say before the internet we were left to our own devices. Folks don't understand the hours spent to be a true professional copier tech. Hours and hours of frustration.

I've seen new techs from all backgrouds. Some don't make it. Many become OK techs. And some become great because they have a true desire for learning. That's what separates the good from the great, in my opinion.

My 2-cents for what it's worth.

[M94]

Re: Newbie - About me

I appreciate all the suggestions guys! Keep em coming!

That said in response to what you have said so far, I have laptop with a two monitor dock station that is being used for all of the tasks Phil listed (test taking, manuals, prep etc) is there any reason in particular you're recommending multiple machines for those tasks? I have been basically grinding through the training on kyocera and HP's websites as I do have login for both of them. Taking several of the courses multiple times just for the sake of reinforcing what I learned and to re-contextualize any new information I have gained from other courses. I also now have access to a TASKalfa 3551ci That I have disassembled and put back together a handful of times (this came after 2 months worth of classes.)

Don't worry, I absolutely value this site as a resource and fully intend to start a regular contribution. You'll see my badge in the next week or so, I can promise you that.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Newbie - About me

I appreciate all the suggestions guys! Keep em coming!

That said in response to what you have said so far, I have laptop with a two monitor dock station that is being used for all of the tasks Phil listed (test taking, manuals, prep etc) is there any reason in particular you're recommending multiple machines for those tasks? I have been basically grinding through the training on kyocera and HP's websites as I do have login for both of them. Taking several of the courses multiple times just for the sake of reinforcing what I learned and to re-contextualize any new information I have gained from other courses. I also now have access to a TASKalfa 3551ci That I have disassembled and put back together a handful of times (this came after 2 months worth of classes.)

Don't worry, I absolutely value this site as a resource and fully intend to start a regular contribution. You'll see my badge in the next week or so, I can promise you that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your boss hired you to service the Kyocera copiers and you have no experience and he expects you to figure all of this out for yourself? If so, I don't know what he's paying you but you should ask for a raise. Or just run as fast as you can. I kid. I kid. Sorta.

[Phil B.]

Re: Newbie - About me

I appreciate all the suggestions guys! Keep em coming!

That said in response to what you have said so far, I have laptop with a two monitor dock station that is being used for all of the tasks Phil listed (test taking, manuals, prep etc) is there any reason in particular you're recommending multiple machines for those tasks? I have been basically grinding through the training on kyocera and HP's websites as I do have login for both of them. Taking several of the courses multiple times just for the sake of reinforcing what I learned and to re-contextualize any new information I have gained from other courses. I also now have access to a TASKalfa 3551ci That I have disassembled and put back together a handful of times (this came after 2 months worth of classes.)

Don't worry, I absolutely value this site as a resource and fully intend to start a regular contribution. You'll see my badge in the next week or so, I can promise you that.

RE: multiple computers.

like I said I'm old school.. no docking station for my win95 lapper.. have plenty of desktops around tho.. i used to take old PC's and refurb them for kids that couldn't afford them...

you need to play the game the best way you know how to.

+1 to BillyC on the raise comment.. I haven't been in that situation since 1989 when i started .. oh how times have changed and the equipment also!

[M94]

Re: Newbie - About me

Haha he does pay me well (especially for the training portion) and it is pretty well implied that as soon as my department gets off the ground my compensation will increase. He also has some experience himself in the field but to be honest I think the reason he hired me for this position is because I have a reasonable amount of experience in management, and a lot of experience in hardware, different hardware for sure but I am very familiar and comfortable with pulling things apart and putting them back together (with as few extra parts as possible). I'm the head of a department here and he wants me to fill that role, he is more than accommodating with any resources I request for the position. Overall it's obviously a lot and I wish more than anything that I had an experienced tech to follow around, but the reality is there aren't any here except our competition, and I am expected to surpass them. He has faith in my ability and I have faith in his perception of the environment. I may be operating independently but I am not without support.

Plus now I've got all of you guys!

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Newbie - About me

RE: multiple computers.

like I said I'm old school.. no docking station for my win95 lapper.. have plenty of desktops around tho.. i used to take old PC's and refurb them for kids that couldn't afford them...

you need to play the game the best way you know how to.

+1 to BillyC on the raise comment.. I haven't been in that situation since 1989 when i started .. oh how times have changed and the equipment also!

I just can't imagine owning a copier company and hiring a copier tech with no experience as the only person to be in charge of service and telling them to "figure it out". It's one thing to fiddle around in the shop while learning but it's different when you're in the customer's office. They don't want to hear any damn excuses for why their machine is down.

I question the owner's decision making. No offense to anyone. I wouldn't do it.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Newbie - About me

Haha he does pay me well (especially for the training portion) and it is pretty well implied that as soon as my department gets off the ground my compensation will increase. He also has some experience himself in the field but to be honest I think the reason he hired me for this position is because I have a reasonable amount of experience in management, and a lot of experience in hardware, different hardware for sure but I am very familiar and comfortable with pulling things apart and putting them back together (with as few extra parts as possible). I'm the head of a department here and he wants me to fill that role, he is more than accommodating with any resources I request for the position. Overall it's obviously a lot and I wish more than anything that I had an experienced tech to follow around, but the reality is there aren't any here except our competition, and I am expected to surpass them. He has faith in my ability and I have faith in his perception of the environment. I may be operating independently but I am not without support.

Plus now I've got all of you guys!

I've already said this in another thread, but this site has been invaluable to me. While I just started posting, I used to search the database to help me find a solution. Most of the answers are already here if you seach the database. These guys have been there and done that.

With that being said, you have a great attitude but talk to me in about a year. You're about to be baptized by fire. You can do it.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Newbie - About me

I guess I have a few constructive suggestions:

Read lots of threads on models that you see. Months later you'll be working on something and think: "Hey! I saw something about that on CTN!"

Start your own database. After 30+ years of cramming useless information into my cranium, most of it just pours back out the other side. You'll save yourself a huge amount of time if you can keyword search your own history of fixes. Include a lot detail (jam codes, error codes, image quality descriptions, observations-even when they don't really make sense), and don't wait too long to update it. If I wait longer than a week I cannot retrieve much detail. If you're interested in the format that I've used for 20+ years, I'd be glad to share.

Read the manual. I hear from other techs that the manual is useless. The manual is not useless. It helps you understand how the systems work. IT IS NOT a magical source of golden nuggets of wisdom. It requires thought to extract what you need. When we help you, we expect you to know the basics, and this is how you get to know the basics.

I forgot the rest. Maybe it will come back to me. =^..^=

[M94]

Re: Newbie - About me

I've already said this in another thread, but this site has been invaluable to me. While I just started posting, I used to search the database to help me find a solution. Most of the answers are already here if you seach the database. These guys have been there and done that.

With that being said, you have a great attitude but talk to me in about a year. You're about to be baptized by fire. You can do it.

Baptized by fire is probably the right way to put it, but perhaps I could have been more clear in my description of my company and my role within it. We aren't a copy shop, we are a local IT provider for small businesses in the area and the owner is looking to expand our abilities and range. We are partnered with an actual print shop that services a small number of printers in the area but their physical location is about a 4 hour drive from here (or a 30m flight) which is where I'm getting a lot of my direction and credentials for HP and Kyocera. I have had the chance to spend a week with them and will likely spend more time up there and in actual classrooms before my department really gets going. I'm not disagreeing that it's a long rough road ahead. Just trying to make it clear that we are well aware of that and do not intend to underestimate those challenges. Even when I was offered the position he made it pretty clear that he wasn't planning on hiring for this position for another 6 months to a year but he wanted me on the team. On the flip side of that I'm left with quite a bit of time to become as prepared as I can and I intend to take full advantage of that!

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Newbie - About me

Baptized by fire is probably the right way to put it, but perhaps I could have been more clear in my description of my company and my role within it. We aren't a copy shop, we are a local IT provider for small businesses in the area and the owner is looking to expand our abilities and range. We are partnered with an actual print shop that services a small number of printers in the area but their physical location is about a 4 hour drive from here (or a 30m flight) which is where I'm getting a lot of my direction and credentials for HP and Kyocera. I have had the chance to spend a week with them and will likely spend more time up there and in actual classrooms before my department really gets going. I'm not disagreeing that it's a long rough road ahead. Just trying to make it clear that we are well aware of that and do not intend to underestimate those challenges. Even when I was offered the position he made it pretty clear that he wasn't planning on hiring for this position for another 6 months to a year but he wanted me on the team. On the flip side of that I'm left with quite a bit of time to become as prepared as I can and I intend to take full advantage of that!

Thanks for the clarification. I'm feeling much better about your job already.

[M94]

Re: Newbie - About me

I guide I have a few constructive suggestions:

Read lots of threads on models that you see. Months later you'll be working on something and think: "Hey! I saw something about that on CTN!"

Start your own database. After 30+ years of cramming useless information into my cranium, most of it just pours back out the other side. You'll save yourself a huge amount of time if you can keyword search your own history of fixes. Include a lot detail (jam codes, error codes, image quality descriptions, observations-even when they don't really make sense), and don't wait too long to update it. If I wait longer than a week I cannot retrieve much detail. If you're interested in the format that I've used for 20+ years, I'd be glad to share.

Read the manual. I hear from other techs that the manual is useless. The manual is not useless. It helps you understand how the systems work. IT IS NOT a magical source of golden nuggets of wisdom. It requires thought to extract what you need. When we help you, we expect you to know the basics, and this is how you get to know the basics.

I forgot the rest. Maybe it will come back to me. =^..^=

Thanks for additional suggestions, I would love to take a look at your format and incorporate it into my strategy. It really does make me happy that the suggestions you guys have seem to line up with the goals and ideas I have already come up with, must mean I'm on the right track. I'm happy to report that I already have a repository of my own information that I have been compiling for better access but would love suggestions on what I can be doing to keep that as fluid and applicable as possible. I am also happy to report that I have been following along with almost anything that pops up in the Kyocera forums and intend to continue doing so, every issue people have there is just another thing I might be able to reference later. You guys are all awesome and I fully intend to utilize this place as a resource and think it will more than worth the contribution badge (coming soon to my posts near you) Edit > Hey look there it is!

Thank you all so much for being as welcoming as you have been, I've already been on for a couple of weeks and every hour I spend here I feel is well worth it!

[blackcat4866]

Re: Newbie - About me

You'll have to extract the attached file. CTN doesn't accept straight un-zipped Excel files.

Typically I'll sort the data to separate worksheets based on manufacturer, and a worksheet for "Other".
=^..^=

[rspicer]

Re: Newbie - About me

Welcome to CTN and welcome to a fellow Alaskan (I'm 400 miles away from you in Fairbanks). I don't know much about the Kyocera boxes, so I can't help you much there. I do have some HP experience though, so I might be able to help you there if you need it.

[Phil B.]

Re: Newbie - About me

Welcome to CTN and welcome to a fellow Alaskan (I'm 400 miles away from you in Fairbanks). I don't know much about the Kyocera boxes, so I can't help you much there. I do have some HP experience though, so I might be able to help you there if you need it.

WELCOME

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