Field officers from private or public organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine technical radio communications skills with organisational and administrative skills to install radio communications base station equipment in a range of commercial and community contexts.

Base station installation generally includes data and voice equipment and wiring, transmitter, receiver, feedline and multicoupling equipment

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare to install radio communications base station equipment

1.1. Assess available installation options against customer requirements and relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards

1.2. Arrange access to the site according to required procedure

1.3. Confirm equipment locations

1.4. Confirm base station equipment listings and manufacturer's and enterprise documents against the installation brief

1.5. Review installation briefs in consultation with the designers or manufacturers

1.6. Adjust tools and equipment to manufacturer's specification

2. Install equipment and terminate voice and data cables, power cables and radio frequency (RF) cables

2.1. Observe anti-static precautions when handling circuit cards and conduct all work in a manner which is safe to self, fellow workers and the public at large

2.2. Install racks, frames, and shelves as required for data and voice frequency (VF) interface equipment, transmitter and receiver

2.3. Position equipment and install according to manufacturer's specifications and design detail

2.4. Label equipment, distribution frames and blocks according to enterprise policy

2.5. Strip cables and terminate conductors according to manufacturer's specifications

2.6. Clean optical fibre connectors using appropriate cleaning techniques

2.7. Connect network termination unit (NTU) cables to data and VF interface unit via distribution frame

2.8. Connect data and VF cables to radio equipment

2.9. Connect digital and analog alarm inputs and outputs to supervisory, control and data acquisition (SCADA) controller

2.10. Connect power cables to rectifier, battery rack, circuit breakers, and equipment according to manufacturer's and enterprise documents

2.11. Use computer or handheld device to program internal software in the data and VF interface equipment, and transmitter and receiver

2.12. Interconnect multicouplingequipment to antenna feedline and transmitter and receiver units.

2.13. Mount lightning protection equipment and earth wire according to specification

3. Connect receiver and transmitter multicoupling equipment to antenna feedline

3.1. Perform distance to fault measurement on antenna feedline

3.2. Perform return loss measurement of overall antenna system at transmitter and receiver connector points

3.3. Record test results

4. Finalise installation and complete preliminary tests and administrative tasks

4.1. Complete preliminary tests to verify transmitter and receiver operation prior to commissioning

4.2. Complete installation report, test results and administrative tasks and forward to the appropriate person according to enterprise policy

4.3. Dispose of packaging according to accepted environmental conditions

4.4. Notify appropriate person that base station is ready for commissioning and integration

Required skills

communication skills to question, listen and respond to subject matter experts on technical and operational matters related to performance of telecommunications networks and fault-finding

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and incorporate technical language into written tasks and basic reports

numeracy skills to:

interpret technical data for specifications of telecommunications networks

use mathematical formulas to solve problems in AC circuits

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work and coordinate the work of others

problem solving skills to:

apply AC fault-finding techniques to different situations

apply network fault-finding techniques to fault find telecommunications network

research skills to interrogate databases and other sources to investigate performance and systematic and logical fault-finding techniques of telecommunication networks

safety awareness skills to:

apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and occupational health and safety (OHS) standards

work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

technical skills to:

fibre optic connector cleaning techniques

load software from computer to various devices

select and use appropriate test equipment to undertake performance and fault-finding techniques in telecommunications networks including:

distance to fault measurement

return loss measurement

terminate data and voice cable and RF cable

Required knowledge

detailed knowledge of:

anti-static precautions

RF radiation hazard awareness

network termination unit

radio transmitter system

radio receiver system

multicoupler

SCADA system inputs and outputs

operation and purpose of testing equipment and meaning of test results and network element and system specifications

overview of telecommunications networks

performance testing and fault finding techniques of telecommunications networks

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 following is essential:

install radio communications base station equipment

perform distance to fault measurement on feedline

perform return loss measurement on feedline

document and complete installation report.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites on which base station installation can be conducted

tools and equipment required for installation

technical specifications, organisational documentation and requirements for installation and testing.

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:

review of an oral and written report with completed documentation

direct observation of the candidate installing and connecting base station equipment

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of radio communications base station installation procedures.

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.

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) Volume 1

AS/NZS 3000:2007

AS/NZS 3080:2003

AS/NZS 3084:2003

AS/NZS 3085.1:2004

AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006

AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007

Australian building codes and regulations

cabling security codes and regulations

fire regulations

industry drafting codes of practice

mining legislation

noise abatement and heritage legislation

OHS

technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006.

Base station may include:

analog modulation

digital modulation

repeater

terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA).

Anti-static precautions may include:

avoiding contact with static materials, such as plastics

circuit cards transported in anti-static bags or cartons

electrically conducting floor mats

use of conducting wrist strap earthed via high resistance path.

Appropriate cleaning techniques may include:

alcohol swabs

dry type cleaning cassette for optical connectors

lint free dry wipes

microscope for examining optical connector face.

Alarm may include:

forward power

over temperature

over voltage

PLL unlock

rack door

radio hut door

reverse power

time out.

Multicoupling equipment may include:

cavity filter

ferrite isolator

hybrid multicoupler

receiver multicoupler

receiver preselect amplifier

transmitter multicoupler.

Appropriate person may include:

consultant

customer

project engineer

supervisor

team leader.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Radio frequency networks

This unit contains employability skills.