Assessor Resource

ICTRFN8181B
Analyse a satellite communications system

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Supervisors and engineers who analyse satellite communications systems apply the skills and knowledge in this unit when writing specifications, planning, designing and implementing satellite communications systems.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to analyse the performance of a satellite communications system.

The analysis may be required for a new installation project or an upgrade of capacity or technology in an existing network or as a result of convergence to Next Generation Networks (NGN).

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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:

analyse satellite communications system architecture

produce a satellite link budget and calculate link margin for a range of digital modulation types

calculate the look angles for a geostationary satellite from any receiving location

analyse and specify the major features of (VSAT) systems.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

site on which satellite analysis may be conducted

data, calculators and appropriate software tools.

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:

direct observation of the candidate performing analysis

review of link budget documentation completed by the candidate

review of look angle calculation reports

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of satellite communications systems.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTRFN7182B Produce a radio link budget.

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.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

analytical skills to solve complex problems by making informed judgements and assumptions

literacy skills to prepare reports following an analysis or evaluation

planning and organisational skills to develop systems and procedures in solving complex mathematical formulas

problem solving and contingency management skills to manage unforeseen issues

research skills to gather and record data from measurements

technical skills to visualise radio frequency (RF) systems on board operational satellite platforms.

Required knowledge

antenna calculations:

gain

beamwidth

polarisation

effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP)

BER

carrier/noise ratio

constellation and eye diagrams

decibels, dB, dBm, dBW

distance to satellite and typical delays

frequency spectrum (satellite bands)

G/T ratio

geostationary orbit

link budget calculation

look angle calculations

low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites

modulation types:

n-FSK:

2FSK

4FSK

n-PSK:

2PSK

4PSK

8PSK

16PSK

n-QAM:

16 QAM

256QAM

spread spectrum:

direct sequence

frequency hopping.

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.

Satellite applications may include:

broadcasting:

broadcast satellite service (BSS)

fixed service satellite (FSS)

defence

domestic communications

earth observation:

mapping

meteorology

international communications:

Intelsat

global positioning system (GPS)

navigational.

Orbit may include:

geostationary

inclined orbit

low earth orbiting (LEO):

polar

non-polar

Molniya highly elliptical orbit.

Multiple access techniques may include:

code division multiple access (CDMA)

frequency division multiple access (FDMA)

hybrid multiple access schemes:

FDMA/time division multiple access TDMA

polarisation division multiple access (PDMA)

space division multiple access (SDMA)

time division multiple access (TDMA).

Uplink and downlink criteria may include:

antenna gain

bandwidth

error correction bits

modulation type

path loss

transmitter power.

Specified modulation types may include:

m-PSK:

8PSK

OQPSK

QPSK

M-QAM:

16QAM

spread spectrum:

direct sequence

frequency hopping.

Look angles include:

azimuth

elevation.

Frequency re-use may include:

orthogonal polarisation

spatial discrimination directional beams.

Very small aperture terminal may include:

availability

latency

multicast

topology.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Research satellite applications with various orbit types for assessing their spatial positioning for specific purpose 
Analyse and report on the architecture, major subsystems and critical components in the communication systems of a recently launched commercial satellite 
Research and report on multiple access techniques and their typical applications 
Determine uplink and downlink criteria that impact on carrier to noise ratio 
Determine up/down link criteria that impact on baseband signal to noise ratio 
Determine the critical parameters of a satellite system 
Research common types of baseband signal processing, their spectral and noise improvement parameters for determining criteria for link budget evaluations 
Produce a satellite link budget and calculate link margin for a satellite system with specified modulation types 
Analyse the relationship between the bit error ratio (BER) for a given energy per bit per noise power density (Eb/No) and forward error correction (FEC) parameter for determining the operational performance of the link 
Calculate the look angles for a geostationary satellite from any receiving location 
Research and report on frequency re-use in conjunction with polarisation selection and the use of spot beams 
Analyse and specify the major features of very small aperture terminal (VSAT) systems, and calculate link reliability in high rainfall regions 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTRFN8181B - Analyse a satellite communications system
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

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Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessment Record Sheet

ICTRFN8181B - Analyse a satellite communications system

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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