TCP/IP is the dominant protocol for communications, media distribution and control within the home technology industry. It is essential to understand both the theory and practice of IP networks in order to design and implement Smart Home systems reliably. In addition, with wireless being asked to handle more demanding applications, it’s also critical that these are designed and implemented in a robust and reliable fashion.
To meet these demands, CEDIA has created a whole suite of IP Networking courses to improve the understanding and skill set of technicians within the industry. In this training pathway, you will learn how to implement TCP/IP connected hardware in many of the situations encountered in the residential environment.
Supported by a CEDIA certified subject matter expert, students will gain a vast amount of both technical knowledge and practical skills. During the workshops attendees will be involved in several hands-on activities designed to practical experience of common ‘on-the-job’ tasks.
This training will give technicians with some existing experience the chance to learn about IP networks ‘properly’, starting from first principles. They will also gain the skills needed to properly install a robust, secure and increasingly complex network. After this course, students are well placed to move onto more advanced training, such as the Designing Ethernet and Wireless Networks course, and to pursue CEDIA's Networking Specialist Certification.
The learning points and practical exercises included in this course take the guess work out of network installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. Attendees leave with both a structured understanding of network communications and practical experience of network installation and testing.
By the end of this pathway students will be able to:
The course assumes no prior knowledge and uses the standards-based protocols found in networks from small domestic installations to the fabric of the Internet itself.
With most residential subsystems now depending on an IP network, this is arguably the most important topic for Smart Home technicians.
CEDIA’s Residential Networking course will provide attendees with the foundation for understanding IP (the Internet Protocol). Starting from the ground up, the course will increase attendees IP networking knowledge, and clarify the common network protocols such as TCP, IP, DHCP, DNS, and NAT. Attendees will also understand the functions of a consumer router in a wired environment and begin basic troubleshooting in a consumer level IP network.
During this course students will carry out hands-on exercises to both test and expand on what they have learned. This course will cover the basic IP Networking knowledge of required for the IST certification exam.
Wi-Fi connectivity is a key communication method for much of the personal technology we use today. The increasingly crowded Wi-Fi spectrum is busy delivering media, email, VoIP and other services to homeowners and their neighbours! It’s essential that technicians fully understand wireless technology to ensure fast, and reliable service to their customers.
This course goes back to basics to understand the fundamental technology behind RF (Radio Frequency) transmission used for wireless communications, and as a physical layer in the OSI model for networking. The course will compare wireless to other physical layer types and explores the behaviours of RF considering data speed, frequency and coverage. You will learn the benefits and methods for wireless security and explore how to maximise security in domestic networks. Students will also develop and understanding of the methods used to expand a wireless network to cover larger areas and more demanding traffic scenarios.
This course assumes a fundamental knowledge of IP networks. Candidates should come armed with a firm understanding of the wired network environment, having successfully completed CEDIA's Residential Networking Fundamentals course.
Once the basics of IP Networking are understood, there are many options to extend IP networks in the course of creating a truly integrated home environment.
This course builds on the Residential Networking Fundamentals course, exploring more in depth the skills and knowledge previously gained. Successful attendees will be leave being able to understand and confidentially install a robust, secure and more complex network.
The course features a mix of classroom and practical exercises using a variety of networking equipment. There will be plenty of time for attendees to ask questions and discuss practical scenarios and enhance individual knowledge.
With over 30 years of experience in AV, Geoff is one of the most skilled instructors in the industry. He holds all CEDIA certifications, ISF, HAA and Microsoft accreditations and is a specialist in Audio / Video and IP networking. He’s been teaching in AV for nearly twenty years, in both the UK and overseas. To date, he has led classes on six continents.
Geoff’s expertise is called upon for CEDIA awards judging, where he has served as Technical Judge for the last thirteen years, and as Chairman of the awards judging committee for the last seven.
Having started as a technical marketing apprentice with Dutch giant Philips, he went on to work in recording studios as an engineer before landing at AV manufacturer Arcam in the mid 1990s. While there he worked in technical training, brand management and export sales. He managed the US and Canadian markets at the time of the home cinema market’s birth and contributed heavily to Arcam’s product strategy.
In the mid 2000’s he decided to further his knowledge and embarked on a diploma in website development. Completing this in 2009 he started a website development business (prestoav.com) building websites and web-based applications, predominantly for AV and smart home companies. Today, Presto is a successful website builder, with clients such as Monitor Audio, Trinnov, Grahams and Visualization.
