Control4 Created its PCNA Training Program to Help Ensure Home Networks Are Always Reliable
March 14 2018 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
With over 1000 participants registered for
the network IP certification, dealers are quickly building a legion
of trained technicians.
Control4 Corporation (NASDAQ: CTRL), a leading global
provider of smart home solutions, announces that its Pakedge
Certified Network Administrator (PCNA) training program has
surpassed 1,000 registrants. More than a year ago, Control4
identified a major problem within the industry: a broad deficit of
network installation and configuration skills. Control4 found more
than 30 percent of dealer support problems were related solely to a
network issue – and not to hardware deficiencies. After working
with their global Control4® and Pakedge® dealer base, the
revelation was clear -- most dealers got into this industry through
AV and control systems, and they were intimidated by the concept of
the home network.
Control4’s solution was to launch its PCNA curriculum. Designed
to teach installers the skills and knowledge needed to – as the
first course puts it – “help make networks that don’t suck.” The
six-part curriculum combines interactive coursework, online
instructional office hours, and a proctored online certification
exam to ensure networking competency specifically designed to give
custom installers the tools, knowledge, and hands-on skills needed
to design, implement, and manage the network needs of today’s
connected home.
The PCNA certification program has been very well received by
integrators. Andy Bell, Managing Director of Trusted Technology in
the United Kingdom says, "When we heard about PCNA at the CEDIA
Expo we knew it was a great opportunity to ensure our engineers
remain amongst the best in the industry.” He continues, “Our
tagline is ‘Experience Amazing.’ Training and certification prove
we have the skills, and our clients can be confident that, by
choosing us to be their smart home provider, they will ‘Experience
Amazing’.”
PCNA training is not just for those installers who lack
experience. Having a team that operates from the same standardized
knowledge base can help efficiency by minimizing discrepancy. This
is why Bell decided that each of their technicians—no matter their
experience level—needed to become Pakedge Certified Network
Administrators.
Bell adds, “Getting back into binary code was really useful as
this isn’t something a lot of our guys have done since they were at
college and it really helps you understand the basics of a network.
The buzz around the office whilst our guys were going through the
PCNA course was infectious – Engineers love learning and to be
honest calls into our service team have dramatically reduced.”
Traditionally, most technicians have gained experience through
trial and error. This lack of best-practice knowledge, more than
defective or failed equipment, has been the root cause of network
failure, ultimately compromising the very foundation of smart home
connectivity.
The engaging and entertaining curriculum was designed to help
technicians design, install, configure, and manage networks that
simply work. Since the coursework includes Pakedge hardware -- RK-1
router, SX-8P managed POE switch, WK-1 wireless access point,
P2/P2E Power Distribution Unit, and the necessary Cat-6 cabling –
the tech will have built a small network using the equipment within
the first ten minutes of the first course. The six classes are
divided into: “Essentials - Build Your First Network,” “Switches,”
“Routers,” “Wireless Access Points,” “Remote Monitoring and
Management,” and “Network Design.” The PCNA curriculum is designed
to teach networking skills and fundamentals that are applicable
across various brands of hardware, but the course is specifically
geared toward the custom AV and home automation channel.
The new training program launched in the fall of 2017 at the
CEDIA Expo in San Diego and has since won two awards in the custom
electronic installation industry; the TechHome Mark of Excellence
for Best Education Program from the Consumer Technology Association
and the Top New Technology Award for Business Operations Programs
from Integrated Systems Europe.
For more information on Control4 visit www.control4.com.
About Control4Control4 [NASDAQ:
CTRL] is a leading global provider of automation and networking
systems for homes and businesses, offering personalized control of
lighting, music, video, comfort, security, communications, and more
into a unified smart home system that enhances the daily lives of
its consumers. Control4 unlocks the potential of connected devices,
making networks more robust, entertainment systems easier to use,
homes more comfortable and energy efficient, and provides families
more peace of mind. Today, every home and business needs automation
horsepower and a high-performance network to manage the increasing
number of connected devices. The Control4 platform interoperates
with over 11,000 third-party consumer electronics products,
ensuring an ever-expanding ecosystem of devices will work together.
Control4 is now available in 101 countries. Leveraging a
professional distribution channel that includes over 5,200 custom
integrators, retailers, and distributors authorized to sell the
full-line of Control4 products, Pakedge branded networking
solutions and Triad Speakers, Control4 is delivering intelligent
solutions for consumers, major consumer electronics companies,
hotels, and businesses around the world.
Copyright ©2018, Control4 Corporation. All
rights reserved. Control4, Pakedge and, the Control4 logo are
registered trademarks or trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. All other names and brands
may be claimed as the property of their respective owners. All
specifications subject to change without notice.
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Caster CommunicationsKimberly Lancaster,
401-792-7080control4@castercomm.com
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