What type of work do voice-data-video technicians perform?
A voice-data-video technician installs the network of low voltage cabling used for video, voice and data or other low voltage signaling.
They work to route backbone voice and data cables between their entrance into a facility to equipment rooms and telephone rooms. Cables are then routed between telephone rooms or equipment rooms and individual workstations throughout the building.
Equipment rooms often contain energized equipment such as hubs, file servers or telephone switches. These devices are configured and connected to the communications network that serves the building, and must not be interrupted as a result of work performed.
The voice-data-video technician installs voice and data outlets at workstations and punch down blocks and cross connects in telephone rooms. They may be wall mounted or rack mounted, and must be grouped and identified according to specific installation standards.
Many of the work processes of the voice-data-video technician are listed below. Properly trained voice-data-video technician can work on a variety of types of systems, including systems for video, voice and data.
- Plan and initiate projects.
- Install underground voice or data circuit feeders to entrance facilities.
- Provide or connect to the grounding electrode system.
- Install pathways and spaces for installation of low voltage wiring.
- Install, terminate and test wires and cables, both copper and fiber-optic.
- Install, test, certify and troubleshoot local area network (LAN) cabling systems.
- Lay out, install and verify operation of security and access control systems.
- Install communications and sound distribution systems.
- Provide testing, analysis and repair of video, voice and data systems; including electronic devices such as gateways, routers, hubs, NIC cards, telephone switches, etc.
- Prefabricate systems, such as telecommunications racks, for field installation.
- Work on other sub-systems such as communications, entertainment, environmental, life safety, energy management and custom lighting.
Apprenticeship Training
There are five periods of apprenticeship. The first two periods consist of 2000 on-the-job training hours total and satisfactory completion of the first year of related classroom training. Successive periods will require 2000 hours of on-the-job training hours each and an additional year of related classroom training. The program is 8000 hours total.
