Required skills

analytical skills to evaluate impact of maintenance on customers and network

communication skills to provide advice and guidance to others and to liaise with other technical staff on operational matters

initiative and enterprise skills to identify improvements to maintenance procedures

literacy skills to read technical data and interpret technical and nontechnical information from a range of sources and write reports

PC skills to upgrade installed software

planning and organisational skills to plan for outage

technical skills to

identify noise and ingress

set up operate and interpret results on complex test instruments

optical instruments optical time domain reflectometer OTDR optical power meter

RF instruments digital signal level meter RF sweep equipment spectrum analyser

use hand and power tools to assemble and disassemble equipment in pits and in elevated situated situations

Required knowledge

QAM

QAM

QAM

overview of AC and DC theory

amplifier types and placement

awareness of forward error correction FEC and ReedSolomon Code

bidirectional RF amplifier and unidirectional RF amplifier

bit error ratio BER and acceptable values

calculation of overall gain or loss when given signal levels in dBmv

coaxial transmission line characteristics including cable tilt or slope

constellation diagram interpretation

digital modulation techniques

DOCSIS cable modem characteristics

eye diagram interpretation

forward path from head end to subscriber showing expected signal levels at key points

frequency spectrum and RF frequency plan HFC broadband cable network

future BCN and migration to alloptical cable networks

HFC broadband cable network principles architecture and associated equipment

measurement of optical power

minimum standards allowable in the return path for ingress

modulation error ratio MER and acceptable values

optical fibre characteristics

passive devices including filter attenuator power inserter coaxial splitter coupler multitap equaliser

power supply requirements in a HFC broadband cable network

quadrature phase shift keying QPSK

return path from subscriber to head end showing expected signal levels at key points

RF amplifier characteristics including gain and tilt adjustment equalisation overload

services carried on HFC broadband cable network

spectrum utilisation of the return path showing location of telephony and data channels and signalling and test frequencies

forms of ingress and where they may fall in the return path

video stream transport formats

DVBASI

HDSDI

MPEG

SDSDI

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 conduct and record HFC maintenance activities procedures and techniques

comply with site risk control OHS environmental quality and communication requirements

perform RF and optical measurements

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure

sites on which HFC maintenance may be conducted

use of maintenance tools and test instruments currently used in industry

relevant regulatory enterprise and equipment documentation that impact on maintenance activities

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 carrying out HFC maintenance activities

review of maintenance reports completed by the candidate for different sites and equipment within the HFC network

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of maintenance procedures

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTTENA Monitor analyse and action telecommunications network alarms

ICTTEN4085A Monitor, analyse and action telecommunications network alarms

ICTTENA Undertake routine maintenance of the telecommunications network

ICTTEN4086A Undertake routine maintenance of the telecommunications network.

Aboriginal people and other people from a nonEnglish 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

Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:

HFC network elements may include:

Maintenance may include:

Network Operations Centre may include:

Maintenance schedule may be:

Potential impact may include:

Outage may include:

Tools may include:

Resources may include:

Test equipment may include:

Network stability may include:

Routine maintenance tasks may include:

OHS and environmental requirements may relate to:

Performance measurements may include: