That philosophy still holds up. The video quality doesnât.
â Avoid. Instead, sign up for Pluralsight (which absorbed TrainSignalâs library and style) or CBT Nuggets for a similar but modern experience.
Unlike university courses, TrainSignal was brutally practical. Each series (e.g., MCITP: Enterprise Administrator ) mapped directly to Microsoft/Cisco exam objectives. They taught you what to click, what command to type, and which trick questions appear on the test. trainsignal video tutorials
TrainSignal was excellent for MCSA/MCITP and CCNA . But for CCIE, advanced PowerShell, or DevOpsâthey didn't go deep enough.
Note: TrainSignal was acquired by Pluralsight in 2013. This review addresses the classic TrainSignal product (still found in legacy archives or referenced in forums) and its legacy compared to modern alternatives. Overall Rating: âââââ (4/5 â Excellent for its time, dated now ) The Short Verdict TrainSignal was the "gold standard" for hands-on IT certification prep (Cisco, Microsoft, VMware, CompTIA) from the mid-2000s to early 2010s. If you find old TrainSignal content today, itâs great for core concepts. However, modern learners should use Pluralsight (the successor) for up-to-date material. What TrainSignal Did Well (The Pros) 1. "Labbing Without Hardware" TrainSignal excelled at simulating real server rooms. An instructor would click through an actual Windows Server or router CLI while you watched, making abstract concepts (like VLANs or Group Policy) visual and tangible. That philosophy still holds up
You bought a physical DVD or a large download per course (e.g., $499 for a full series). No monthly subscription model until Pluralsight. Updates meant buying the course again.
Each course came with workbooks, topology diagrams, and often a discount for Transcender practice examsâa huge value for self-study. The Downsides (The Cons) 1. Dated Content (Critical Issue Today) The last TrainSignal-branded courses cover Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010, vSphere 5, and Cisco IOS 12.x. If youâre studying for Windows Server 2022 or CCNA 200-301 âthis is ancient history. They taught you what to click, what command
"Don't just memorize the answerâmemorize why the wrong answers are wrong. Thatâs how you pass."
They showed you labs, but you couldn't click along inside the video player (unlike modern platforms like A Cloud Guru or Pluralsightâs interactive diagrams). Who Should Use TrainSignal Today? | You might want TrainSignal (legacy) if... | You should NOT use it if... | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------| | You inherited an old 2008 R2 / 2012 server environment | You are studying for a 2023+ certification | | You find modern video training too slow or over-produced | You need hands-on cloud (AWS/Azure) training | | You bought a used DVD set for $10 on eBay just for core networking concepts | You expect 4K video or closed captions | Comparison to Modern Alternatives | Feature | TrainSignal (classic) | Pluralsight (modern) | CBT Nuggets | |-------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|------------------| | Monthly price | None (buy per course ~$300-500) | ~$29/mo | ~$59/mo | | Content age | 2010â2013 era | Updated weekly | Updated monthly | | Instructor style | Formal, to-the-point | Similar but broader | High-energy, quirky | | Labs | Paper diagrams only | In-browser sandboxes | Virtual labs (extra cost) | | Certifications covered | MCITP, CCNA, VCP5 | Everything (Azure, AWS, Security+) | Everything | Final Recommendation For nostalgia or legacy system support: ââââ (Get the old DVDs from eBayâstill solid for Server 2008/Cisco IOS basics).
Videos were typically 5â15 minutes per topic. No long intros, no PowerPoint slides for 20 minutes. The instructor would say, "Hereâs the problem, hereâs the fix, hereâs why it works."
Names like David Davis (virtualization), Mark Long (Exchange), and Brien Posey (storage) were rock stars in IT training. They spoke like senior engineersânot professors.