The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

plan a frequency allocation for a cellular network

analyse techniques to increase system capacity for a fixed spectrum bandwidth

develop a plan for integration of emerging cellular technologies

analyse the interfaces between a mobile network and customers

research and report the interfacing of major subsystems to other network subsystems

produce an analytical report on cellular mobile convergence with a plan for cellular mobile system integration to existing networks.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites on which cellular network analysis, research and simulation may be conducted

use of test equipment currently used in industry

manufacturer's and enterprise technical documentation.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of reports prepared by the candidate

review of test documentation and reports completed by the candidate

oral questioning or written questioning to assess required.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTPMG8143A Manage a telecommunications project.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Required skills

communication skills to:

liaise with internal and external personnel on technical issues

work effectively within group

literacy skills to:

interpret technical documentation

prepare documents in agreed format

numeracy skills to:

take measurements

interpret results

PC skills to:

carry out desktop research

do word processing

use statistical data

planning and organisational skills to plan simulations to aid analysis

problem solving and contingency management skills to:

adapt testing procedures to requirements of particular sites

modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

research skills to:

evaluate different types of technical data and compare with theoretical values and approved specifications

gather and record data from measurements

gather data, observe and analyse interfacing issues

task management skills to:

adhere to all safety requirements

work systematically with required attention to detail

technical skills to:

enable 'login' into cellular network elements for tests and analysis

recognise and interrogate cellular network elements alarms

recognise different transmission techniques

record fault conditions

select and use appropriate test equipment and practices to suit different network applications

Required knowledge

allocations and bandwidth requirements of cellular systems

approved specifications

efficiency and system capacity given the spectrum allocation, number of channels required and Grade of Service

equipment subsystem diagnosis and repair procedures

features and differences between major frequency bands and their allocation of licenses

features and operating requirements of cellular test equipment

interworking with existing systems

key features of cellular mobile radio systems

major element functions of a mobile radio system

major frequency bands and their allocation of licenses

microcellular systems

minimising latency

network components and their functions

overview knowledge of transmission lines, transmitter and receiver architecture

radio spectrum in use, specifying restrictions and characteristics

radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic energy (EME) hazards

specific knowledge related to antenna performance and mobile components and their impact on mobile spectrum interference

spectrum efficiency

system configuration procedures

testing network components

the types of adjustments that need to be made when measuring cellular transmission

the types of networks that will influence the transmission either on the radio path and/or transmission line

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Interfaces may include:

A

Abis

Iu

Iur

Iub

Iu-CS (circuit switch)

Iu-PS (packet switch)

S1

Latest generation may include:

3G

high speed packet access (HSPA)

Emerging cellular technologies may include:

2 x 2 multiple input-multiple output (MIMO)

4 x 4 MIMO

4G

long term evolution (LTE)

SF-frequency division multiple access (FDMA)

Increase system capacity may include:

cellular re-use

orthogonal frequency division multiple access - multiple input-multiple output (OFDM - MIMO)

OFDMA

overlay

underlay.

Frequency allocation may include:

patterns:

7/21

4/12

3/9

1/1.

Carrier to interference radiation may include:

carrier interference:

carrier to adjacent (C/A)

carrier to interference (C/I)

carrier to reflection (C/R).

Subsystem functions may include:

cellular elements:

AUC

base station controller (BSC)

base transceiver station (BTS)

eNode B

node B

home location register (HLR)

HSS

mobile station (MS)

mobile services switching centre (MSC)

SAE

transcoder

visitor location register (VLR)

burst timing and content

logical channels

multiplexing

radio path

signal protocols.

Sub-systems components may include:

alarm gathering unit

charging unit

clocking unit

common channel signalling unit

gateway gprs support node (GGSN)

HSS

MME

operation and maintenance unit

SAE gateway

serving GPRS support node (SGSN)

statistical unit.

Interface to other network sub-systems may include:

application parts:

Base Station System Application Part (BSSAP)

integrated services user parts (ISUP)

managed application provider (MAP)

SYGTRAN.