Application
Technical staff from telecommunications carriers, service providers or other private and public organisations who have experience in optical transmission apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine this technical expertise with a range of analytical, research and planning skills to develop integration solutions for particular business needs. Relevant job roles include design and planning of networks using emerging technology. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare to test specialised optical devices | 1.1. Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards and follow occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements for the given work 1.2. Work safely according to relevant safety legislation and company work practices identifying hazards and using personal protective equipment 1.3. Determine the type of optical device using the design plan from appropriate person and obtain manufacturer's specifications for testing 1.4. Determine the test procedures and test equipment required to evaluate suitability of the optical device |
2. Test the specialised optical device | 2.1. Set up the test layout according to safe industry practice and connect the specialised optical device into the test set-up 2.2. Undertake a test regime to determine the performance characteristics of the specialised optical device 2.3. Analyse the test results to determine the suitability and compatibility of the optical device for integration into the network |
3. Document the performance of the specialised optical device | 3.1. Prepare an evaluation report with recommendations on the suitability of the specialised optical device 3.2. Present test results and evaluation report to appropriate person with copies filed for later reference according to organisation's policies |
Required Skills
Required skills |
analytical skills to interpret test results communication skills to: liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters relate to work associates, supervisors, team members and clients literacy skills to: interpret technical documentation, such as equipment manuals, specifications and service orders write reports using standard formats numeracy skills to interpret results and evaluate different types of technical data planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work and that of others problem solving and contingency management skills to: adapt testing procedures to requirements of particular situations modify activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments safety awareness skills to: apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities especially when dealing with infra-red laser light select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OHS standards work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment technical skills to: backup and restore clean optical fibre connector examine optical fibre connector for contamination and assess whether cleaning is required install software measure optical power using hand-held optical power meter measure DC and AC voltages select and use appropriate test equipment setup internet protocol (IP) addresses and subnet masks |
Required knowledge |
amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) attenuation characteristics of optical fibres dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) principles of operation features and operating requirements of test equipment including: hand-held optical power meter optical spectrum analyser transmission test set dispersion characteristics of various fibres dispersion compensation devices electrostatic discharge precaution functions of optical add drop multiplexer (OADM) and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) gain equalisation International Telecommunications Union (ITU) wavelength grid for DWDM measurement of dispersion optical amplifier operation optical fibre connector types and characteristics optical fibre types and characteristics optical return loss (ORL) path protection and protection switching polarisation dependent loss (PDL) protocols used on optical DWDM systems reflectance ring topologies and linear network topologies specific OHS requirements that impact on the safe inspection of optical connectors and the safe measurement of optical power from laser transmission systems tunable laser sources and their characteristics |
Evidence Required
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 and coordinate test activities and equipment test specialised optical devices and determine suitability for integration into a network analyse test results report and make recommendations on suitability for integration comply with all related OHS requirements and work practices. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: sites on which optical device testing may be conducted use of test equipment currently used in industry manufacturer's technical documentation, legislation, codes and standards. |
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 tests review of test documentation and reports completed by the candidate oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of testing procedures and required knowledge. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTOPN5118A Plan and configure dense wavelength division multiplexing systems ICTOPN5119A Perform acceptance and commissioning test on optical network ICTOPN5120A Plan for an optical system upgrade and cut over ICTOPN5123A Analyse and integrate specialised optical devices in the 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. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include: | Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) Australian building codes and regulations compliance with appropriate Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standard requirements for underground, aerial, Category 5 or Category 6, 6A, 7 or 7A, and unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) Environmental Protection Acts fire regulations Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards OHS relevant international standards technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006. |
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to: | decommissioning and isolating worksite and lines prior to commencement flashing lights gas and other hazard detection equipment identifying other services, including power and gas safety barriers safety equipment safe working practices such as the safe use and handling of: asbestos chemicals materials tools and equipment work platforms special access requirements suitable light and ventilation trench guards warning signs and tapes witches hats environmental considerations: clean-up protection stormwater protection waste management noise, dust and clean-up management. |
Hazards may include: | activating equipment without notifying other staff who may be working remotely on the network cleaning alcohol, epoxy resins and other solvents and chemicals may be carcinogenic, cause allergies or be dangerous to health in other ways environmental hazards: air pollution damage to natural or heritage precincts dangerous gases ground water contamination heavy or noxious metals pollution noise petrochemical spillage release of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) flammable cleaning chemicals fluids and solvents fibre offcut damage to eyes and skin health hazards: dangerous or harmful substances handling of optic fibres and lasers risk of infection risk of sustained injury from repetitive tasks inhalation of fibre offcuts and particles from vacuum cleaning of worksite laser damage to eyes. |
Personal protective equipment may include: | inspection microscope with integral laser safety filter safety glasses video microscope. |
Optical device may include: | Bragg grating coupler dispersion compensation device (DCD) DWDM multiplexer erbium doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) gain equaliser Raman amplifier ROADM. |
Appropriate person may include: | network engineer project engineer project manager. |
Specifications may include: | bandwidth insertion loss operating wavelength ORL ripple. |
Test equipment may include: | broadband amplified spontaneous emissions (ASE) source optical spectrum analyser PDL controller PDL meter power meter tunable laser source variable attenuator. |
Test regime may include: | bandwidth central wavelength and channel spacing channel uniformity insertion loss ORL PDL ripple. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Optical networks |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor