Application
Technical staff who work with radio communications equipment in radio communications apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. This may include field officers from regulatory authorities or other private and public organisations. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for use of instruments and field equipment | 1.1. Plan and prepare work according to site procedures, operating environment and relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards 1.2. Select measurements required to meet performance outcomes 1.3. Read, interpret and use equipment and system manuals, specifications and relevant organisation policy to determine work requirements 1.4. Select and ensure equipment for work activities is ready for operation 1.5. Determine, address and report potential risks and hazards and environmental issues 1.6. Adhere to relevant emergency procedures, policy guidelines and OHS procedures to ensure safety of personnel and plant |
2. Test the instruments and field equipment | 2.1. Perform safety checks according to instrument and equipment manual and organisational procedures 2.2. Confirm equipment is calibrated and calibration label is within approved timeframes 2.3. Select appropriate traceable calibrated equipment where measurements are required to be traceable to the National Measurements Act 2.4. Label and report damaged or unsafe instruments and field equipment and send for service 2.5. Update operational log books |
3. Operate instruments and field equipment | 3.1. Optimise instrument and equipment settings for the particular measurement or analysis 3.2. Perform measurements with the optimum precision given field and technical constraints 3.3. Assess data for accuracy and precision against quality control information, known standards and references within measurement uncertainty |
4. Maintain instruments and field equipment | 4.1. Use fault finding techniques to verify and rectify faults 4.2. Perform preventative maintenance within limits of authorisation and report equipment wear and faults 4.3. Replace defective parts and make adjustments according to equipment specifications 4.4. Seek expert help from appropriate colleagues where problems are encountered 4.5. Update maintenance and calibration records according to organisation procedures |
5. Commission new instruments and equipment | 5.1. Arrange commissioning procedures with manufacturer's agent 5.2. Unpack, check and assemble instruments and equipment according to manufacturer's warranty requirements 5.3. Check instrument and equipment performance against specifications prior to acceptance of item 5.4. Prepare operating instructions and make available to relevant personnel |
Required Skills
Required skills |
analytical skills to analyse test results communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and legal site matters literacy skills to interpret technical documentation, such as equipment manuals and specifications numeracy skills to: check that equipment is calibrated evaluate technical data interpret results take radio frequency (RF) measurements planning and organisational skills to organise and maintain a range of instruments and equipment problem solving skills to find simple equipment and instrument faults task management skills to work systematically with required attention to detail and adherence to safety requirements technical skills to: operate radio communications test and diagnostic equipment perform diagnostic and fault-finding procedures use hand and power tools |
Required knowledge |
features and operating requirements of calibrated equipment and test equipment: digital radio communications measuring equipment RF termination spectrum analyser power meter modulation analyser features of instrument and equipment test methods and performance requirements legislation, codes of practice and other formal agreements that directly impact on operation and testing of radio communications instruments and equipment manufacturer's requirements for operation and testing of radio communications equipment and calibrated equipment measurements according to test specifications radio communications instruments and equipment specific OHS requirements that impact on the use and testing of radio communications instruments and equipment typical issues and challenges that occur with radio communications instruments and field equipment |
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: prepare, operate and maintain a range of instruments and field equipment appropriate to a radio communications environment comply with site risk control, OHS, environmental, quality and communication requirements apply knowledge of technical procedures and requirements for different types of equipment. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: sites on which instruments and field equipment can be operated use of field measurement equipment currently used in industry relevant instrument and equipment manuals and other procedural 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: direct observation of the candidate operating and maintaining radio communications equipment evaluation of measurement results and reports produced by the candidate evaluation of the candidate's oral or written reports on findings with recommendations. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTRFN4095A Conduct radio frequency measurements. 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. | |
Operating environment may include: | day or night dry or wet field environment heights or on roof tops laboratory old underground workings and voids stable or broken ground various natural landscapes. |
Legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include: | Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): assignment guidelines Business Operating Procedures (BOPs) CIs Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction (RALIs) spectrum planning reports technical standards WI's Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) EMR standard Australian building codes and regulations Australian standards enterprise standards environmental protection equipment standards fire regulations heritage legislation international standards intrinsically safe lightning protection local government OHS Radcoms Act site engineering standard Telecoms Act. |
Measurements may include: | bandwidth blocking carrier frequency cross modulation electric field strength (E field) forward RF power frequency deviation harmonic and spurious levels intermodulation distortion products (IMD) intermodulation magnetic field strength (H field) 'mask' modulation noise level occupied spectrum receiver sensitivity reflected RF power return loss RF power VSWR. |
Equipment may include: | bit error rate tester (BERT) constellation analyser data logger field strength meter generators gravity meter internet protocol (IP) transmitter and receiver memory magnetometer mobile communications modulation analyser motors personal protective equipment for RF portable PC with testing and diagnostic software return loss measurement set RF power meter satellite navigation system spectrum analyser transient electromagnetic (TEM) transmitter and receiver theodolite two-way radios. |
Potential risks and hazards may include: | adverse weather conditions: electrical storms extreme heat fires floods earth potential rise (EPR) EMR elevated plant emissions hazardous chemicals hazardous gases laser output underground plant. |
Environmental issues may include: | dust flora and fauna materials noise run-off spills waste management and disposal water quality. |
Measurement uncertainty may include: | intermittent faults power supply fluctuations temperature variations uncalibrated equipment. |
Maintenance may include: | calibration of equipment cleaning and storing completing usage records replacing 'remove and replace' components working adjustments to tolerances. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Radio frequency networks |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor