Eliab Milwaukee tour in May!

[teneightyeye]

I'm new to the forum here (first post) so I might be posting old news but I wanted to let you guys know that I just received an e-mail from Eliab confirming a Milwaukee area calibration tour sometime in May. I'm in Racine and he said it was within his traveling distance. His e-mail said he would be calling me in the next few days to make the arrangements. When he does I'll post whatever information I get!

[RickNeff]

I'm also in the process of getting information from Eliab for that tour.  I've been corresponding via e-mail since I've wanted to get him here the past 2 times a tour of Milwaukee was mentioned at the Spot!

I'll be sure to include any information I get as well.  I'll probably be talking to him on the phone Tues. of next week.

Certainly a very highly recommended calibrator at the Home Theater Spot! Web site and for those of us who don't have Mits sets and can't take advantage of the Craig M tour.

For anyone else who's interested, you can visit the Avical Web site: http://www.avical.com/default.htm

[mcq]

I wonder what the cost would be... They seem reasonable, but travel would be huge!?

Isn't there anyone local that is good and reasonable?

[jeffbyk]

Depending on the overall cost, I might be interested in having Eliab calibrate my Pioneer Pro510.  I have heard that Flanners has ISF certified technicians for Pioneer RPTVs, but they were just trained last year which makes me kind of nervous about using them.

Anyone know what the approximate cost would be with travel to calibrate both component video inputs?

[Gregg Lengling]

Being an engineer and spending over 10 years as a technician before coming an engineer....I think that you shouldn't be afraid of someone newly trained.  Actually newly trained persons actually take longer to do jobs and are more meticulous at their job as they learn all the short cuts.  I wouldn't be afraid of anyone who is certified and has a good track record and background...otherwise where will the experienced ones come from?

[jeffbyk]

Gregg,

I can appreciate your comments and the reasoning behind them, however, I too have spent 13 years as an engineer and engineering manager and have seen many different levels of capability for engineers and technicians even though their resume's had equivalent certifications and education.  With some exceptions, the good technicians became experts through experience, especially if they gained that experience while being supervised by someone who can guide them effectively.  

Based on the expertise you have accumulated and demonstrated with your posts, I would be willing to bet that you are a likely exception to this rule.  The exceptions make it because they are self motivated and dedicated to being the best at what they do and they quickly learn from their mistakes.  

Since ISF calibration is a new service that Flanner's offers (their techs were certified just last year), I seriously doubt that their technicians are being mentored by someone with significant experience.  The techs at Flanners may well be the exceptions too, but I am reluctant - not unwilling, just reluctant - to take the chance that they are not.  

I am sure that Flanners' techs have been well trained, but have you heard if they do have a good track record at ISF calibration so far?    I didn't see anyone respond to that post with the experience of having used them for calibration.  

If the price is in the same range for Eliab, who is nationally recognized by those who have used his services and has 6 years of experience, I guess I feel that I would be foolish not to use Eliab instead.

Jeff