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Please run a search through this site for mobile dynamics and other schools. You will note I do not say please often. This has been discussed in length and some of the other posts will answer the question you have with reasons and logic. IMO most schools are better suited for an installer who has some experience behind them.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

hey there, i am a grad of mobile dynamics i took the june 2004 class, i found it great, i attened only know car audio and i learned the alarms and starters while i was there (and still am learning them) i wouldn't recomend any school unless you have some knowledge behind you, i had a guy in my class that had not previous experiance and he passed 1 test... i learned many things plus you get people who know there stuff that are willing to help you and show you the proper way to do things...not the quickest and easyest to get the car out of there. i will admit...i'm having a little bit of a hard time finding work but i'm also on the east coast and i'd like to stay close to here. so it's partly my fault. the staff is great and they will work with ya to give ya the help you need. i'm not sure what there new school is like, but when i went. the only thing i would like to see happen is have more cars for alarms and starters. the only cars they had were the students doing work on ther own. but non-the-less, you get hands on work, with people who know there stuff with a good chance of getting a job when your done. 5 of the 14 students in my class had jobs befor they graduated 3 others already were working. and i'm not sure what happend to the rest. i know 2 failed and i'm out here..not bad ratios though.

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Tri County KustomZ
certified installer

didnt mobile dynamics help you find a job before you graduated? I am also curiouse, did you recieve any tools for the jobs and did they let you keep them? At least thats what they said on there website!

i came back here because a local shop told me i had a job when i finished, came back to fill it and it wasn't there. yes mobile did ofer to help me find a job. which i would prob have one if i stayed in toronto or somewhere's larger like that. for tools when i was there we got a DMM, but not i see in some of the pics on the homepage ooks like they give deicent tool kits.

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Tri County KustomZ
certified installer

when you were up there did they give you money to spend? and how much was it? Did they really let you work on your car or the students car?

money to spend...darn that would of been nice ....the only time i got money to spend on myself was when i showed up a day early because of a typo on there behalf and i had to sit and wait all day for my ride :P but they did let you work on other students cars for those that wanted....they give you a cut deal on alarms and things like that and then you can take the shop time once you've learned the alarm/starter section and put your new knowledge to good use

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Tri County KustomZ
certified installer

thats good, i think when i made out my loan i think i took out more than i needed so that i had spending money for food and what not. but thats cool that you can work on your own car while your up there.

Honestly. What good is getting MECP certified if you can't even put a simple cd player in. You'll make money to GO to your mobile dynamics if you just enter a store that is willing to teach you basics before you go. Let mobile dynamics prepare you for the next level of installation.. let someone PAY you to learn the beginning. even with no experience. your bb/cc type places pay upwards of about 10$ an hour. which is more than most people wanting to enter the installation world start out at bagging groceries or whatever they do first. and i've turned down a few new hires who went to these schools based on the fact i needed an experienced installer. someone who could do in and out jobs. not someone with a certificate who's still wet behind the ears. you'd still start out as an entry level installer trainee @ 10$ an hour or so. and the mecp basic would allow you an extra 75c an hour =) sounds almost worth the thousands you'll spend going to school =) eh?

I attended the first four weeks of Mobile Dynamics Az. and found that I Iearned what goes into making systems that appear in magazines. I would advocate anyone interested in this career field to go through some formal training(if they can afford it). A guy in my class, reminded me of Jack Black, worked at BB and they were reimbursing his training there. A couple of the instructors in Phx. helped to write the MECP exam and they are extremely generous with their time and patience. Now not wanting to sound like a mouthpiece for these guys I will relate to you why school trained installers are safer. When I bought my 96 4runner( in 96) I took it to BB to get a cd changer installed. Well the installer a guy no more than 22 or 23 gave me the brief about what he will do and how long it will take yada yada yada. No problem right, well a few years later while I was replacing my head unit I saw the horror that I was driving my family around in, a potential fire trap. This kid had simply skinned the power and ground wires from the wiring harness attached the changer and wrapped it with a "small" piece of electrical tape, which since it was close to the fire wall worked itself free. Luckily no sparks, he also installed the changer under the passenger seat by screwing through my vehicle's undercarriage. No silicone or sealant/antirust agent applied to the screws which are located in the spot most affected by rainwater and road scum. He did all of this unsupervised and with a cordless phone attached to his ear and obviously talking to the fairer sex judging by his conversation. MD taught me install, safety and etiquette when it comes to handling customers and their vehicles. Work smarter not harder is my motto and they give you the basics of what you need to become proficient but only experience will get you that proficiencyand you should never gain knowledge at the expense of a customer's "pride and joy".

I Find this kind of humorous. people bash retail installers and say "how horrible" their work is. Granted. your one experience wasn't that great. but the guy is no different than what you would find in a custom shop. Some people are good. Some people suck. PERIOD. Know your installer. And as for the school I'm going to vote with what was said earlier, get some training first. if you decide you want to build show quality and winning cars. hit mobile dynamics, or RITOP. Or whatever you choose. best buy has a few VERY Good installers. If you read up in the db drags you'll see a few of them. Same with circuit, TWeeters, and whatever national chain you have around you. granted. even the shop is only as good as it's worst installer....... know who is working on your car... peace.

I did not say anything negative about BB just told of an experience with one individual and not a negative word in the post. I agree know who is working on your car but will the average consumer even know what to ask? Probably not bottom line do with your future that which will benefit you and your customer.

im enrolled for the 8 week program in phoenix/tempe starting Aug 29th looking forward to it. i went out and talked to a few box shops and custom shops and they all said they would give me a chance with this shool on my resume.
if anyone else is planning on attending this session let me know

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If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

bazzgazm wrote:

Honestly. What good is getting MECP certified if you can't even put a simple cd player in. You'll make money to GO to your mobile dynamics if you just enter a store that is willing to teach you basics before you go. Let mobile dynamics prepare you for the next level of installation.. let someone PAY you to learn the beginning. even with no experience. your bb/cc type places pay upwards of about 10$ an hour. which is more than most people wanting to enter the installation world start out at bagging groceries or whatever they do first. and i've turned down a few new hires who went to these schools based on the fact i needed an experienced installer. someone who could do in and out jobs. not someone with a certificate who's still wet behind the ears. you'd still start out as an entry level installer trainee @ 10$ an hour or so. and the mecp basic would allow you an extra 75c an hour =) sounds almost worth the thousands you'll spend going to school =) eh?

I whole heartedly agree. As with ASE certification for automotive work. I think for any tests to be valid the testee should already be working in the industry. In my book NOTHING replaces real world experiance. BB and CC have corporate standards when it comes to installations. This provides a better base of knowledge than any school will make you think they can give. But anyhow good luck to you school attendees.

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Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

Sflavoredice wrote:

I attended the first four weeks of Mobile Dynamics Az. and found that I Iearned what goes into making systems that appear in magazines. I would advocate anyone interested in this career field to go through some formal training(if they can afford it). A guy in my class, reminded me of Jack Black, worked at BB and they were reimbursing his training there. A couple of the instructors in Phx. helped to write the MECP exam and they are extremely generous with their time and patience. Now not wanting to sound like a mouthpiece for these guys I will relate to you why school trained installers are safer. When I bought my 96 4runner( in 96) I took it to BB to get a cd changer installed. Well the installer a guy no more than 22 or 23 gave me the brief about what he will do and how long it will take yada yada yada. No problem right, well a few years later while I was replacing my head unit I saw the horror that I was driving my family around in, a potential fire trap. This kid had simply skinned the power and ground wires from the wiring harness attached the changer and wrapped it with a "small" piece of electrical tape, which since it was close to the fire wall worked itself free. Luckily no sparks, he also installed the changer under the passenger seat by screwing through my vehicle's undercarriage. No silicone or sealant/antirust agent applied to the screws which are located in the spot most affected by rainwater and road scum. He did all of this unsupervised and with a cordless phone attached to his ear and obviously talking to the fairer sex judging by his conversation. MD taught me install, safety and etiquette when it comes to handling customers and their vehicles. Work smarter not harder is my motto and they give you the basics of what you need to become proficient but only experience will get you that proficiencyand you should never gain knowledge at the expense of a customer's "pride and joy".

LOL This is an example of a non-installer judging a pro. Granted the install may not have been the prettiest. But give me a call when your boss has the time to supervise your changer installation and help you wiggle under the car to weather seal a screw. In the real world, either your gonna install by the seat of your pants with only your experiance as your guide; or your gonna be the joke of the shop known as "The Riddler" because your always asking the dumbest quesitons.

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Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

I keep seeing "experience experience" I've been trying to get in to a store/shop locally for nearing a year now, and I still can't get in. I have no experience, yet I can't really gain much experience. Sometimes it takes school to even get in the door. I've got minimal experience with a little more to come, and it slowly increases over time, but at this rate I will be WAY behind the curve when I get in the door.

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1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm

Master Asylum wrote:

I keep seeing "experience experience" I've been trying to get in to a store/shop locally for nearing a year now, and I still can't get in. I have no experience, yet I can't really gain much experience. Sometimes it takes school to even get in the door. I've got minimal experience with a little more to come, and it slowly increases over time, but at this rate I will be WAY behind the curve when I get in the door.

Bro sometimes people just don't need installers. Where have you been applying? And maybe there is something else keepin you from being hired. Who knows bro. But like anything else ya gots ta keep trying and maybe you should look to the next city for work too. I live in southern ca and I had a job where I drove 2 hours to work 1 direction. Pay your dues, be the biotch and one day you will find yourself at the top!

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Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

I'm spanning from Dayton OH to Cincy OH trying to find a spot. I'm not even TRYING the customs because the box stores won't even hire me without experience. That's like 1 hour north and south drive, nothing. One place I'm hoping will let me apprentice just to get some viable experience. And even when they are needing people, I keep losing to "experience". If I get a job before I go to school doing audio, I'll be amazed. I've applied at BB, CC, HHGregg, nothing. Kinda getting frustrated.

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1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm

Hey guys,

just replying back to my orginal post im glad there is a lot of people out there that have a lot to say about the mobile installers. As you know or dont know I have currently attending Mobile Dynamics in Toronto. Now I know that there is a lot of hipe about school and stuff, but i am telling you that the people are that are here are the most friendliest people i have met. Each instructor in willing to work with you one on one to help you get along and pass the course. I will be here for 8 weeks and so far i have learned a lot from this school. Even though the first week was boring, i even knew half this stuff but i did pick up and few tips on the way. I will be posting new post weekly as the course goes on, let me know if you guys need any further info about this school or any question. i will help you!

Well I hate to beat a dead horse, but I gotta throw in my 2 cents. I actually attended Mobile Dynamics back in 1996. I learned a very good amount of knowledge about working in the 12 volt industry. I passed all exams, and I got M.E.C.P certified while I was there. I had no previous experience (in shop) before I attended the school. After I got out I thought that I was going to be hired right away, I was as wrong as possible. Back then installers used to make really good money, and you would always find a shop full of guys with 7 or 8 years of experience, and nobody wanted to take time to train a new guy. I spent the next two months trying to find a job, and I got a break finally and got my foot in the door. I started out making $5.25/hour. I stuck to it and learned as much as I could from the install lead, four years later I was making $21/hour. I guess I would have to say that I really enjoyed going to Mobile Dynamics, and the stuff I learned was extremely valuable. Just be prepared to have a tough time getting your first job without experience.

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1 ohm

well back in 1996 there wasnt a big demand for 12volt installers like there is today. this industry will continue to grow and grow as technology evolves. More and more systems are becoming more complicated with new circuits being created my car companies and so on. As sat. radio continues to grow and the audio/video merge into the car, along the navigation and onstar, in becoming a very critical issue about have 12volt tech around, not just audio/video systems for car. everything to do with the car involve 12volts, engine management, ecu, and also audio/video. but keep in mind we are in need for 12volt installers.

Well im an in week four now, this week we learned about relays, security systems, remote starters and advance security. It was very interesting i installed a remote started on my own car and it was very simply and easy to do. i would of had it done alot quicker if i didnt have to check in with the instructors every time i wanted to do something. this was just purly safety issues because they didnt want you to blow up anything. At the end of the week im going to be taking the MECP test on saturday, im really excited about taking the exam. ill post another reply after the test this weekend that explains somethings on the test.

Hello guys,

Well today I took the Basic Installer MECP Bronze Exam. All I have to tell you guys that are looking forward taking this exam is that if you study and take those practice exams you should do fine. If you can look into a school like Mobile Dynamics, they really helped people take the test. They didn't help them on taking the test but asisted people if they had questions about wording and they did tutoring for people that needed it. I'm not trying to dis Ritop or Installer Insitute but Mobile Dynamics helps you recieve your MECP Bronze, even if you are slow at learning or if you dont quite get the material. They will sit you down one on one and make sure you understand it all.

Anyways back to the exam, this exam consist of many parts relative to the material found in the Study Guide. You have Installtion Techniqe and Tools, Autosound, Navigation, Wireless, and a few others in there. Overall if you have studied or paid attention in class you should be able to pass realtivly easily. My goal was to acheive a 100% but I will be happy with a 90% or above, if I get a below a 90% I will be disapointed. Because when we took a practice I did very well, and the real test was really much different. Thats another thing about schools they will give you a practice test before the real one, at least Mobile Dyanmics did!

if you have any questions feel free to PM me and please post replies about you MECP test experiencies!

I just graduated MD in Phoenix/Tempe in late July. Passed all tests with over 90%. The only experience i had was with friends' vehicles and my own. After I graduated I had about 6 legitimate job offers (within the first month), not to mention the multiple calls a day i would receive from shops that couldn't offer what i wanted. I had already accepted a job at CCity the week before I graduated, but after the first month I had found a new job, which I just started this week making $17.50/hr. The school taught me how to and how not to go about installing. I have the know how, all that I need to be an excellent installer is the experience only time will give. At that CCity I went through a simple training course for a day and then I was in the shop working just days after my graduation. I was on my own by the third day doing basic deck installs, had my first alarm on a brand new 05 Titan after my first 6 days. Eventhough I left that job so soon after starting, the manager wants me back to help temorarily during the after X-mas installation peak. I admit I have a long ways to go, but I am planning on taking the gold level MECP certification exam in 3 or 4 years (when I have my EE degree from ASU).

well im glad for all your replies even after the hurricane katrina. well im down to the last two weeks of my course and i am maintaing above an 80% average and i tested a 96% on my MECP Bronze level exame. the directed of admissions is helping me find a job at best buy or ccity, but i dont really want to work at those places but will for awhile if need be. i am looking into purchasing a business down south and starting one in my home town or something to that affect. I am also taking the phase x course soon and it will a two day all hands on course that will be very benefitcial for down of custom projects. I am kind of excited about this course. The class that just came in has two girls and tons of new guys, there about 35-40 people in that class, this is huge.

but thanks for the replies and please help out the12volt this is very good place to get tons of information about 12 volt circuits.

You got a loan to attend? How is your credit if you don't mind me asking?

I've been thinking about going to md but I don't know if my credit is good enough to get a loan I have a decently established (1.5 yr) credit card which will be paid off this month but I still have a $2000 sallie mae student loan out

ok the thing with the loan is that i do have new load to attend. well since being so young i dont have a wide enough credit to get the full amount of tution and accomodations. but my grandmother was very helpful with my education so i was really greatful. i also had a $3000 loan from SM, u probally need to pay that off or talk to SM and you may be able to combine the two loans together and have one big one. that could be something to look into.

for the 8 week course the price will be around $5600US + Accomodations (around $1300 for doubles) keep in mind this is all US money. if you have any questions feel free to ask!!!

How much do you think I should bring for tuition housing food gas and whatever projects they have (so I can buy a remote start and alarm for cost) i'd like a rough estimate if you could to better prepare myself and set a budget

much thanks, good luck to you!

well buddy thats really hard to determind that since because the price of everything is considerbly higher than the US. well if you take out a loan the lovely ladies from mobile dynamics will factor in the room costs and tuition. my whole thing was about $9000 all together and that should be plenty of enough to cover gas, tuition, food, hotel costs and other materials you may want to buy.

well just took the MECP Silver exam, lets see what do i think about this exam.....to me i thought it was pretty easy as long as you paid attention in class you should do fine. There was alot of questions about relays, wiring, color codes, and also there was alot of power and current questions. I flew the exam and then went over it one more time to make sure i got every question right and didnt miss any simple questions, and of course i did make the mistake of filling out the wrong one even though i already knew that question.....lol oppps. altough it was fairly easy and i never really touched the study guide, that big book we was suppose to ready, lol.

SO IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE THAT WANTS TO HIRE ME I AM MECP SILVER CERTIFIED!!!!

just to let anyone know!!!!

exdox77@gmail.com

well getting down to the last week of school here in canada, today was a boring day it was raining and it was a whole day of lecture :-( it was basically a tuner day for cars we learned about car internals and lighting and other stuff like that. I will be taking the phase x part of the program this weekend. i havnt slept in for a long time so maybe i will just go to sleep early tonight so i wont be late tomorrow. and of course i will tell you guys about the program and what we will be making and maybe post a few pictures.

last night i stayed late to do a trial run of program called Phase XXX, it was really interested it was adavance speaker testing, the stuff that we went through was interesting because the software told us all the parameters about the speaker being tested. the instructed stated that it might be next year before the program comes out and be available, it must be refined before everything!

i will be posting after i leave the school about my jobs and my shop if you want to access my shops site goto https://www.geocities.com/pingedtag this is only a temp. site so that i can work out all the bugs but one should be up and all part available before the years end.

today was our last day of phase x at mobile dynamics. well i have to say that i was a very cool 2 days. we learned new composite materials and how to make them, some of the materials i am not really allowed to say how to make them. but i will say that the material is twice as hard fiberglass materials and just as easy to sand as bondo. i think i was the most coolest composite that i have worked with, the picture is the project we all did, it consists of plexi glass, fiberglass, and variouse other materials. again i am not really allowed to say whats all in it since its for phase x graduates, sorry guys. maybe it will come up in an artical on my website so just keep checking. the photo doesnt really show much detail but you get the drift of it. if you haveto money i would take the phase its just weekend and its all hands on and u learn alot.
posted_image

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Mobile Archviers -
Ever Growing Vehicle Archive's

well guys, its been a few weeks since i have updated anything on the web, so bare with me. i havnt lost touch with any of you, i have been hard at work since i left mobile dynamics.

i had an interview with best buy but i couldnt comute 45 mins a day with the current gas prices :( so i set forth and created a business in Marion, Ohio called Extremes. For the past few weeks i have been obtaining business inforamtion and permits and scheduling appointments with retailers to get some of the best electronics to my shop. im trying to be uniqe and not offer everything under the sun and what anyone else offers. Right now i think it going to be Kenwood, MTX, and a secret retailer im working on. So check out the website temporaly at a free website but soon will be brought to a permanant one and will be update weekly by my team and will have articals for electronics and performance and autobody. so please check us out at https://www.geocities.com/pingedtag

thank you
Brandon Wilson

Again guys i cant stress enough how much Mobile Dynamics helped acheive what i have learned so far and what i have yet to begin to learn, i have a fulfilling and fun live ahead of me and i will never forget this school, some i hope to return and give thanks to this school and maybe give a guest appearance on my success but till then if you are really devoted to the mobile world of electronics Mobile Dynamics is definitly the place to be. they are more indepth than most people out there. again thank you for reading and i hope to here back from some graduates from Mobile Dynamics and tell me how your experience was.

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Mobile Archviers -
Ever Growing Vehicle Archive's

I hate to sound like the bearer of bad news, but how much other experience do you have installing? Just mobile dynamics? starting a car audio or even accessory business is not an easy task, making a successful one is much harder. The market of car audio is dying quickly and the manufacturers seem to be trying to seal the casket with design. So integration of stuff into FACTORY systems is a must now. i'm just imagining you'll need to hire a more experienced installer if i'm wrong. Things will be tight. Hopefully you can stick through them and feel out your market as to what sells, what doesn't. and what might. good luck to you in your endeavors none the less