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As a Slot Tech –
you should search and take whatever training you can get and can afford. It
will always be a good investment.
Just because you
have a diploma from a High School – trade school, you may even have a
certificate of completion from some manufactures or other Technical
training; remember that doesn't mean the learning is over.
Regardless of what
profession you’re in - Believe me, the learning has just begun, it will
never end.
The Slot Tech field
is always changing. Slot Technician is one position that requires
specialized training. The growth of the gaming industry over the years has
created a great demand for trained Slot Technicians.
The gaming industry is worldwide.
Myself I have worked Las Vegas, Reno, Africa, Nicaragua and Savannah Ga. My
current boss and fellow co-worker have recently returned from China. The
possibilities are endless.
As a Slot Tech you
can be employed in casinos, on cruise ships and mega resorts in the United
States, Europe, South America or a tropical resort island; really, just
about anywhere.
Contrary to some
beliefs, this industry is for both male and female.
Many people have
talked about various definitions of job titles/job descriptions, as it will
vary between employers.
Myself, I have worked for a route
operation, manufacturer, cruise ship, and casinos. Basically, the jobs
were all the same.
Granted, they each
will have different employment requirements from the employer, State or
Country.
May also find the
employer, State or Country will have an effect on the procedures of how and
when the job will be done.
The job itself is
the same. It would be advisable to know all aspects of the job. Some
employers will have you do it all; others will designate different duties to
each Tech.
I have found some
casinos (employers) will flat out refuse to pay for any training for their
Slot Techs. I imagine they feel it’s the Tech’s responsibility to get their
own training. They do have a point.
On the other hand,
they fail to see that some Slot Techs just cannot afford the cost – and the
training would be beneficial to the Slot Tech as well as the Casino.
Many Slot Techs
will go to the class, and when they return to work will freely share the
information with other Slot Techs. It’s a win, win situation.
The
gaming industry has a rapid pace of technological change, training offers a
way of developing skills, enhancing productivity and quality of work, and
building loyalty between the employee and employer. Also improve all
employees’ morale.
Some of the major casinos and slot
manufacturers run their own training schools, and almost all provide some
form of in-house training (i.e.,
partner an experienced
employee with a lesser experienced one for a couple days.)
In addition, may
require certification. Years ago just having a High School diploma was
enough to get started on the Casino Floor – or a certificate from a gaming
school. More locations are looking for their techs to have an Associate’s
Degree.
They may hire you
providing you start going to a school to earn your Associate’s Degree and
may even cover the cost if you maintain a good GPA.
When the
manufacturer comes out to install new games on the casino floor, you may
want to make it a point to be there when they give there short class on the
games, and ask questions. They are the experts on that game as they work
with the same type of game every day.
No doubt that the
Slot Tech magazine is an excellent source for information on current
equipment and procedures. And would make a fantastic reference source;
something you can always turn to if you save the magazine.
Don't forget about
Randy Fromm's Casino School (Two-Week) slot tech school at your casino. I
have not been to one - But I'm sure it would be a great experience.
www.slot-techs.com
is a great reference;
many other
web sites like
www.SlotTechForum.com Hosted by Pete Bachran and
www.newlifegames.net are another source for information.
AESI & JCM have
given class on their products. Which I have attended.
I would suggest
regardless of your Tech ability, try to make it one of the classes, as they
are very good. They tend to explain the units more from experience and
day-to-day operations as they have seen it first hand. There is always
something to learn.
Betson & Ceronix =
They gave a class
on LCD monitors, and again I would have to say “Job well done.” It was very
informative. Have not heard any negative comments about this class.
Questions came up
on the Slot Tech forum a few years ago.
Let me know what
you get out of the Sencore class, please. I admit I have been skeptical. It
sounded to me like we were paying a high price to sit through a commercial
on how to use their test equipment
There were good and
bad reviews of the course, even the bad reviews. They admit that they did
learn something – so it was not a total waste for them.
I was not sure what
to expect. I thought they might have Price Tags on the equipment, etc. But
it was nothing like that.
Fact is, it was a very informative
and well-organized 3-day event and with very good and knowledgeable
Instructors Don Multerer & Ray Holdren
I'm sorry - I just
don't see how anyone can say it's half Sales pitch - In the class I took
they even said (you could use similar equipment if you have it in the
shop.)
About the only
thing I heard (That would be very Hard to consider a sales Pitch) was at the
beginning of the class. Where they introduced themselves and the Company, it
was short and then, the people in the class introduced themselves. Fact Is-
it’s a very good class - regardless of your technical ability!
Some said the
Instructor was easily side tracked? No, not really – they did tell a few
jokes from time to time but that was also a way to wake up some people and
it was a short break from the instructions.
Even when something
major happened – 3 laptop computers stolen during lunch; there was not much
lost time – they recovered and moved on with the course. I would have to
recommend this Class to anyone that wants to learn.
(Regardless of your
technical abilities – you could not expect to jump right into
troubleshooting the LCD Monitors.) You may or may not have the same type of
test equipment in your shop. So you have an O-Scope in your shop, was it
the same Make and Model?
Everyone knows
regardless of what type of equipment you have, be it an O-Scope or a common
VCR machine, things change from model to model. So yes you have to take time
and learn how to use their test equipment.
Don’t want to smoke
anything!!!! So yes – Equipment Familiarization!
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LCD Color
Monitor Tech-Trainer
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Resistor
Dummy Load
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PR570
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SC3100
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PSL60
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VP401
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I have also heard
someone complain that they use Sencore equipment. Would anyone expect them
to buy some other equipment (Waste money) like that when they already make
test equipment?
The name of the
game is Safety – regardless if you’re working on a CRT or LCD Monitor. Yes
the LCD monitors use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL). Many Slot Techs
have been replacing some of the common bulbs on the Slot Machines with Cold
Cathode Fluorescent Lamps and if your lucky, you have not been (zapped) by
one yet (YET).
They will wake you
up……
The Course was
Familiarization – Theory – and Hands-on training -Troubleshooting. All
equally important.
Some have
complained it was not real world training. The Inverter board on the Trainer
was under this
(Yes, this did not
have real world test points) on this, In the real world you would be lucky
to have test points labeled, or have schematics.
That is where the
Familiarization & Theory was important.
If you understand
the theory and are a bit familiar with the board, you would not be totally
lost if you had to work on a board that was made by someone else.
You would know the
circuit, and know how to break it down to test the real world test points
(IC leg – Leg or solder joint of a cap, transistor Etc.)
They did go the
extra mile – we were given a board like the inverter board, and you broke it
down (Theory) and were able to test different section of the board using the
real world test points and used the Resistor Dummy Load.
Some complained
they used Trouble Switches.
Trouble Switches –
By flipping a switch you simulate a problem. Back in the days of Electro –
Mechanical Slots, the instructor would have you leave the room – and he
would cause a problem in the game. You had to find and fix the problem.
No difference – the
switches just make it faster.
You still have to
troubleshoot the problem. And sure some people work faster then others. They
did go over what everyone got; guess it was a way for the instructors to
know that everyone was on the same page.
We disassembled the
LCD display a lot further then I would ever do in the shop. This is good
information to know.
They gave out a lot of (Extra)
information on LCD’s. The book alone has so much information in it, and
they were always handing out more.
This Sencore class
is well worth the cost, and I would recommend the course to anyone that has
to work with or around the LCD Monitors, regardless of who made them.
TECH FEST 16
TechFest – I must
say I have never heard any thing negative, except many said they wish they
could have been sent to one.
“I wanted to go.
But my boss said they could only pay for one person to go.” Or “found out
too late”
I almost made it
last year. (Almost)
This Year I made it
to, TechFest
1) How Monitors Work - Part 1
Theory of Operation - Beginning level
Presented by Slot
Tech Magazine publisher Randy Fromm
I now know why I
have never heard any negative comments about Tech Fest. All I can say is
WOW.
Randy,
as funny, energetic, and has an enthusiastic
way of teaching that consistently kept the class alive, Just sitting down
and it felt like just minutes later we were taking a break, “Where did the
time go”.
He
made the class very enjoyable and
much easier to absorb the information. His enthusiasm is phenomenal.
2) MEI - BV
troubleshooting and repair
David Oldham
3) Future Logic
Printers
David Oldham
4) How Monitors Work - Part 2
Narrow down the Problem - Intermediate Level
5) Presentation on
CCFL Replacement Procedures
6) Choosing and Using
Sophisticated Test Equipment
Presented by Sencore
7) 3M Touchsystems
- Touchscreen Technology
8) Ceronix
Troy Nofziger
9) Transact
Technologies
Russ Wige
10) JCM Bill
Validators
Jack Geller
All of the
instructors were excellent, had
great tips and advice and was very knowledgeable.
Lectures were clear, loaded with information, and enthusiastically
presented.
I would like to thank Randy Fromm
for making this unbelievable training event available to Slot Technicians.
Bringing the best of the best, knowledgeable Instructors together to one
place.
In short this event was incredible
(Truly
excellent) –
This was one of the
best Lifelong Learning courses I've taken.
If you have not been to a TechFest
you should plan to attend the next one, if you have been, go again.
For myself a lot of
it was review, but I did learn a lot.
Thank you too all
of the instructors
Robert E. Sult AOS
Slot Technician / Bench Technician
www.myslotnotes.com
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