Looking for an opportunity as a AMX Control System Programmer
microchip78
Posts: 25
Hi Professionals,
I have recently finished two AMX online pre-requisite courses with 94% & 100% grade for AMX Certification. It cleared lots of my doubts about system and how it works. It seems really existing to work with AMX System.
I have recently interviewed by one of the company in Melbourne, Australia for AV Control System Programmer, but was not successfully just because I dont have experience working with AV system. I have almost 3.5+ years experience working in Embedded System and programming micro controllers and microprocessors. Can anyone guide me how do I start my career in AMX Control System Programming. I am currently working as Automotive Embedded System Programmer with handsome salary but I am willing to work on lower salary then I have right now just to start my career in AMX Control System. If anyone have any suggestions please reply to me.
Thanks in advance.
MC78
I have recently finished two AMX online pre-requisite courses with 94% & 100% grade for AMX Certification. It cleared lots of my doubts about system and how it works. It seems really existing to work with AMX System.
I have recently interviewed by one of the company in Melbourne, Australia for AV Control System Programmer, but was not successfully just because I dont have experience working with AV system. I have almost 3.5+ years experience working in Embedded System and programming micro controllers and microprocessors. Can anyone guide me how do I start my career in AMX Control System Programming. I am currently working as Automotive Embedded System Programmer with handsome salary but I am willing to work on lower salary then I have right now just to start my career in AMX Control System. If anyone have any suggestions please reply to me.
Thanks in advance.
MC78
0
Comments
From my talking with other programmers, most had audio-visual experience that led them to AMX control systems, myself included.
So much of what I do at my current job is beyond the pale of strict programming. I always say AMX programming would be a blast if we didn't have to integrate all the other manufacturer's gear.
Another thing that you probably should have under your belt is good graphics skills. Quite often I spend a good hunk of my time developing the user interface. This too, has little to do with programming. You should certainly be proficient in Photoshop and some kind of other graphics layout program. Web development skills would be a plus as well.
So, if you do not posess these skills, you might want to get some more education. If you already have some or all of them, you might want to reorganize your resume to reflect that.
If you current job affords it, you might want to invest in some AMX gear and try to integrate your own home first. Or perhaps do a friend/relative's house.
Airplane pilots always say, "Flight simulators are great, but there's nothing like air under your butt."
I do have some web programming skills and know how to work with photoshop to design some graphic but I am not expert like professional graphic designer. I am very much interested in graphics and for that I am willing to take even professional course on my own expenses but for that I do need some company saying that they are going to hire me for sure if i have so and so skills otherwise I spend for those expensive course and dont use that skill then I will lose them after sometimes.
I want some company to offer me the role to start with. Though I am having good salary in this job i am ready take new role with even less salary then what I am earning right now.
I'm not entirely sure how else you'd break in except from install, because you need to really understand all the signal flow and how everything works together to even pretend to be able to program well. Plus, most programmers (i think) tend to do a lot of engineering as well, not just programming.
J
Thanks
I started with only Windows & Linux programming in C, C++, Pascal, C#.
The hardest part has simply been determining how all of the hardware works together and how it is expected to work together by simply looking @ CADs.
I was hired with no AV experience, or interest in AV for that matter.
Simply looking for a different career, coding Windows Apps for oil and gas companies in Calgary became very boring.
AMX Device Modules are a time saver, but doing it yourself helps to better understand the equipment you are working with.
No matter what you do make sure to use SNAPI, especially for displays, that way swapping does not require much in the way of code changes.
I still wish I had experience with installing the equipment and even designing a functioning system; although I can probably do a pseudo CAD for a functional system - I would be missing things like extenders/converters...
I did find that the Programmer I & II courses, did not really help all that much. I learned a couple things, but that is all.
I am lucky enough to have a controller and TP at my disposal to test ideas I have. I have developed a generic system that I simply fill Structure Variables for the System, Sources, Displays, Audio, Switches, VideoConf and AudioConf. This has taken me the better part of the year; testing various ideas with multiple live systems and upgrading existing code that I did not write (the hardest and most frustrating thing to do in my mind).
Is this because you were already well versed in C, C++, C#? I've done some programming in VB, JS, HTML, CSS, and powershell, but never done any classes on them or been formally trained. So I understand syntax and logic atleast to some degree. I'm hoping some of the formal training will help fill in the gaps.
Was this because you are already well versed in programming? I know the basics of a few different languages, but I haven't had a need to use any of the C languages which this is based off of. And my other experience is only hobby related. I'm hoping a gives me a stronger fundamental to build from.
These are my comments to those who are thinking of becoming an AMX Programmer.
I started Programming around 10 years ago, but before that I was an installer for at least 3 years. For most Integrator employers they want Programmers that not just do AMX Programming, but also DSP Programming and Fault finding of the installers handy work, (or poor work in most cases). I also found that doing a course in Tafe in electronics helps because you get a basic under standing of electronic principle, which helps with the Fault finding.
But in order to Program you need to understand the equipment that you are trying to integrate. You will need to understand Network Comms (TCP/IP, UDP), RS232/485 Comms and how they differ, IR Control, Relay control and I/O ports and how they work. DSP systems, Video Types and systems, the list goes on.
Another thing is the hours. Don't expect a 9-5 days. All projects run over, and your always expected to do 5 days work in 3 or less. Also deadlines means long hours to get the job done in less time than you might expect to have. So if you like to get home at a certain time everyday, then this is not the job for you. I have been an employee for 6 years and Free lance Programer for the last 6 years and I found the hours expected are the same.
I showed to my employer that i was capable of AMX programming by self teaching and Programming actual installed systems before they were willing to send me on the AMX courses (Axcent only back then !!).
So in short, get some AV Installation skills under your belt, make sure that you have an understanding of Electronic principles, expect long hours from time to time.
I now plenty of guys in the industry that have attempted to get into Programming, but most fail because they don't have the basic understanding of the things i mentioned above.
Best of luck.
If you love what you do, if you enjoy getting to spend every day working with amazing equipment and people and play a key part in creating experiences people are going to love then it doesn't matter how many hours you work - its not even going to register*.
[size=-2]* It might to your partner / friends / family / pot plant though - keep passion for them too.[/size]
Within a year of this, I had graduated with my BS in CS and looking for my new career in CS. Since the job market sucked I was sending out resumes to everywhere and happen to get a call from a defence company integrator who in the past had only contracted out the programming side, but did everything else; they took a chance getting a full time programmer. I was hired on due to my many other AV skills from being both an end user and understanding the clients needs as well as being the person designing and installing (pretty much a one man band)
I am now the number one of the leading engineers at my company not only doing AMX programming, but have been introduced to Cre$tron as well as other embedded realtime systems and working with other engineers developing hardware to be used for our mil and gov clients both in board rooms and on the battle field.
Pretty much what I'm getting at is, if you put the time and effort into learning it on your own, and you can show how you've gone from nothing to a comprehensive understanding, it lets your possible new employer know that you have the drive to learn and not so much that you are intereseted in making money from them, but they can make money off you; you have to sell yourself as an asset to them. In the end, if you arent making them money, theres no reason to keep you, let alone train you.
Another useful thing once you do get a job, (atleast in my area of work) having a "can-do" attitude will make any client LOVE you, which makes you company LOVE you more; nothing is impossible, it just may not be easy to achieve, but again if you're willing to figure out how to make things happen, you'll learn along the way. Now granted this is only helpful when you have clients that understand time and cost, which with some requests, both of these inherently sky rocket.
I hope this was helpful
Plus, you've already found your best resource here; I have found answers to most all of my questions, let alone posted plenty of questions that know I think I sounded like an idiot asking, but hey I learned from them!
As opposed to many other online communities, I find everyone here very friendly and always willing to help no matter how off the wall or weird a question may be. I definetly owe many thanks to the active users on this board!
-Paul
I completely agSQUIRREL!