Qualified Service Technician
Attending a Planar Clarity Display Service Training course provides you with an understanding of the technology behind the products, how to use and maintain them, and how to diagnose and repair problems. By taking a certification exam, students can demonstrate their knowledge of a Planar Clarity product. Attending hands-on Service Training and scoring at least 80% on certification exams earns the
Qualified Service Technician (QST) endorsement.
There are many benefits to becoming a QST. By passing the certification exams, you demonstrate your potential value in using and servicing Planar Clarity products. Customers often require trained technicians and your QST certificate is proof. Additionally, Planar provides flat-rate warranty labor reimbursement to Reseller Partners, but only for repairs made by a technician who is QST certified on that specific product.
Certification Process
To become a Clarity Qualified Service Technician (QST), you must do the following:
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First, participate in a Planar Clarity Display Service Training class . These classes are presented throughout the year in various locations around the world, usually once per quarter in the US. The schedule is on Planar’s Clarity’s website at: http://www.clarityvisual.com/login/resellers/service/trainingreg.asp
username = tech password = help
Custom training at your site is also available for $1500 per day plus airfare. This is often more cost effective than sending a group of trainees to a factory or regional training class.
Exams
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Second, pass one or more QST Exams .
There is a separate exam for each family of displays, and there will be more as new products are introduced.
The exams cover all aspects of installing, using, maintaining and servicing the products. These areas are covered on the exam:
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Installation
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Operating with the remote
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Operating with RS232 commands
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Troubleshooting
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LED indicators
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On-screen codes
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Maintenance
Big Picture (wall mode)
Module identification
Color balancing
Adjusting input levels
Safety
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Acceptable source types
The exams are administered through a web-based testing service. There are between 30 and 80 questions per exam. The questions are mostly multiple choice with some true-false and a very few fill-inthe-blank The questions are randomly drawn from pools of related questions, so the test you take will not be exactly the same as the test taken by someone else. If you take an exam a second time, it won’t be exactly the same as the first time.
You may use your notes and manuals, but you’re not allowed to have another person help you during the exam.
Planar Systems, Inc.
1195 NW Compton Drive
Beaverton, OR 97006
Main: 503.748.1100
Fax: 503.748.5532
Service:866.PLANAR1

Qualified Service Technician
The exams are timed, but there will be plenty of time to complete them. Each exam should take less than an hour to complete, but you must complete it within the exams specified time limit. While taking an exam you can can skip a question and go back to it later, flag a question for later review, review the questions you’ve answered and change any answer prior to submitting the exam. Once you submit the exam, it’s final.
The passing score for each exam is 80% of the questions answered correctly. If you fail an exam, you must wait at least 24 hours before you apply to take it again. If you fail a second time, you must wait at least 5 days before applying to take it again. If you fail the third time, you won’t be certified, until you attend another Service Training class.
There is no charge for taking the QST exams.
Certification
When you pass an exam, you will be sent a QST certificate that lists the products you are certified on. If you pass the Lion exam, and you’re not registred for another product’s exam, you will be sent a certificate that shows you’ve been certified on Lion. If two months later you pass the Margay exam, you’ll be sent a certificate that shows you’ve been certified on Lion and Margay.
Your training and certification records are kept in a database at Planar. If you loose your certificate, we will still have proof of your certification. Because you, an individual, are the one being certified, if you leave your current employer, you remain a QST. However, if you’re not employed by, or representing, a
Planar Clarity Reseller partner, you won’t be eligible for warranty labor reimbursement.
Preparation
Qualified Service Technicians are expected to know all about the products they are certified on. At some future time, you may need to know about RS232 commands and Big Picture even if you don’t use them now.
Since you only get 3 tries to pass each exam, it’s important to prepare for them. Be aware that the questions refer to the latest version of each product. If you have been working with Margays that are 2 years old and their firmware has not been updated, some of the menus may have changed. If you haven’t been to a Service Training class for a long time, read the manuals, both the User Guide and the
Service Manual, for the products you want to be certified on. If you don’t have these manuals, or you have older versions, go to Clarity’s website:
• http://www.clarityvisual.com/login/
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Click on the Consulatants & Designers login button
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User Name: tech
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Password: help
For information about becoming a QST or to register, email training@planar.com
Planar Systems, Inc.
1195 NW Compton Drive
Beaverton, OR 97006
Main: 503.748.1100
Fax: 503.748.5532
Service:866.PLANAR1