Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ICTRFN7182B Mapping and Delivery Guide
Produce a radio link budget

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ICTRFN7182B - Produce a radio link budget
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to analyse the technical performance of fixed and mobile radio systems and to plan and calculate link budgets.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application Telecommunications engineers apply the skills and knowledge in this unit as part of their work with radio systems for a telecommunications service provider.The job role includes responsibility for establishing the layout of the digital radio system to minimise transmission loss and optimise the system performance.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Analyse suitability of radio systems
  • Analyse the spectral efficiency of functional elements of mobile radio systems for determining optimal frequency utilisation
  • Analyse the features of radio systems to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular application
  • Compare the features and specifications of antennas used in radio systems to assist with radio link budget
  • Report on the suitability of radio systems, including recommendations to improve network performance
       
Element: Calculate a radio link budget
  • Calculate path loss using variables in appropriate propagation models for a power link budget
  • Evaluate the power link budget against allowable power margins specifications
  • Evaluate modulation types and spectral efficiency
  • Confirm radio power link budget achieves specified reliability
       
Element: Complete evaluation and planning documentations
  • Complete an evaluation report on performance of radio systems with recommendations on improvements to the system
  • Document the processes carried out to determine the optimal power link budget for a radio system
       


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 the signal degradation characteristics of radio paths and calculate power budgets for various distances and antenna heights versus transmitted power

research the constraints imposed by mobile phone frequency allocations and simulate carrier to interference radiation patterns around a cell site

complete evaluation report on radio system performance and document processes used to determine power link budget.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

telecommunications operations site

mobile telephony devices and equipment

networked computers and relevant software.

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:

oral or written questioning to assess required knowledge

review of link budget reports completed by the candidate for different communication scenarios

direct observation of the candidate analysing radio systems and calculating link budgets.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTPMG7145B Underatke a telecommunications project

ICTTEN7193B Plan a transmission network.

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, assignment, 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 review complex information to make judgements

communication skills to work effectively within a group and present information

information technology skills for word processing and desktop research

literacy skills to prepare reports given a specific format

numeracy skills to:

calculate link budgets

gather and record data from measurements

research skills to gather data and information

technical skills to operate test equipment.

Required knowledge

HF, VHF, UHF and microwave receiving techniques

modulation methods:

AM

FM

digital formats

multiplexing systems

operation of transmitters and receivers

organisational policy and procedures

personal safety issues

propagation methods

radio communications systems

radio frequency (RF) losses

RF technologies

workplace and industry environment.

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.

Functional elements may include:

code division multiple access (CDMA)

frequency division multiple access (FDMA)

time division multiple access (TDMA)

wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA).

Radio systems may include:

3G

4G

CDMA

GPRS

Global system for mobiles (GSM)

trunked

WCDMA

worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX).

Path loss refers to:

received power to transmitted power ratio and may depend on:

antenna height

atmospheric absorption

distance

rain

reflection coefficient.

Variables may include:

clutter factor

Doppler effect on mobile transmission

frequency

Fresnel distance and absorption

K factor

point-to-multipoint

point-to-point

Raleigh fading and counter measures

reflection coefficient.

Modulation types may include:

FM

AM

orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM)

COFDM

quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK)

16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)

256 QAM.

Specified reliability may include:

drop outs

outage time

power margin

signal fading.

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
Analyse the spectral efficiency of functional elements of mobile radio systems for determining optimal frequency utilisation 
Analyse the features of radio systems to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular application 
Compare the features and specifications of antennas used in radio systems to assist with radio link budget 
Report on the suitability of radio systems, including recommendations to improve network performance 
Calculate path loss using variables in appropriate propagation models for a power link budget 
Evaluate the power link budget against allowable power margins specifications 
Evaluate modulation types and spectral efficiency 
Confirm radio power link budget achieves specified reliability 
Complete an evaluation report on performance of radio systems with recommendations on improvements to the system 
Document the processes carried out to determine the optimal power link budget for a radio system 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTRFN7182B - Produce a radio link budget
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

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

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICTRFN7182B - Produce a radio link budget

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

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: