education Improve Your Efficiency by Boosting
Your Knowledge By Kris Bulla
All 2013 Volvo models, as well as other new vehicle brands, include MOST vehicle-specific networking technology. W
hether you’re at Knowledgefest or at the shop, a new or veteran installation technician, it’s a good time to brush up on your skills set by un- derstanding new products in vehicles today.
Even the most basic aftermarket integration pieces have a computer chip inside controlling the output or making a product function a certain way in a particular environment. This could be charging states, turn-on and turn-off functions, and even sound processing functions. Learning how a chip can control these things, and even how to program a chip, will give you a better understanding of the cost of these items, how to trouble- shoot them and why they are needed in a vehicle. Learn basic computer networking and networking terminol-
ogy. Don’t do this so you can branch off into running technical support for all of your co-workers and families, but so you can un- derstand how devices communicate across a network, and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of networks. Every car produced today has some form of data network
incorporated to allow for more reliable and efficient commu- nication between devices. Networking skills will give you the ability to know why removing a device on some networks can make the vehicle work improperly or why it must be “reset” when a new device is introduced. Furthermore, become well versed in vehicle-specific networking terminology such as CAN (Controller Area Network) and MOST (Media Oriented Systems
64 Mobile Electronics August 2012
Transport), as it will allow you to understand what may be pos- sible in certain types of vehicles. This will enhance your ability to speak knowledgeably on these subjects with consumers. If you do not have a handheld oscilloscope in the shop yet, get one. There are many handheld units available now, and cost is not as big a deal as it was in the past. Additionally, most models have similar controls and functionality as the digital multimeters we have been using for years — this makes it more familiar and easier to learn. But make sure it does not become a paperweight after your purchase. You can learn how to use one from different industry trainers, or access online resources from high-end tool manufacturers. Like any other tool in your assortment, the more you use it, the better you will be able to use it. Don’t get trapped by becoming a plug-n-play installer. It’s very discouraging to customers to witness a salesman or an install- er shrug his shoulders because he doesn’t have some sort of module to make something work in a vehicle. While it may actu- ally be the case in some vehicles, don’t forget that although the information is communicated differently on networks, many of the devices themselves have not changed. The wires and sig- nals you have always been familiar with are still there in most cases, just in a different part of the car. Speed Sense and Tach wires are common frustrating points for an installer, especially on cars where these signals are passed throughout via a network to the speedometer, radio
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