Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Measurements may relate to:
antenna
bandwidth
beamwidth
impedance
radiation pattern
return loss
bit error rate (BER) as a function of received signal level (RSL)
carrier to noise ratio
electric field strength
electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) measurements:
conducted
radiated
impedance
modulation error rate (MER)
receiver:
20 dB quieting
blocking
cross modulation
image frequency
intermodulation
sensitivity
SINAD
total harmonic distortion
RF amplifier:
gain
stability of RF amplifier when
operating at 10% higher or lower supply voltage
operating at extreme humidity
operating at extreme temperatures
operating into a complex load impedance noise figure
RF hazard measurements:
non-occupational worker
occupational worker
RF measurements on passive devices:
return loss
S parameters
transmission loss
spectrum surveillance
sweep measurements
transmission line measurements
transmitter:
adjacent channel power
carrier frequency
carrier frequency stability
carrier power level
deviation limiting
frequency deviation
harmonic power level
modulation depth
modulation response
occupied bandwidth
out of band spurious emissions
phase deviation
phase noise
spectrum mask
transient frequency behaviour
two-tone intermodulation distortion
unwanted spurious emissions.
Industry environment may include:
aeronautical
aerospace
broadcasting:
AM in MW band
analog
cable
digital DAB+
digital DRM
digital DVB
FM stereo in VHF band
global positioning system (GPS)
short wave (HF)
low power open narrowcasting (LPON)
radio
satellite
television
Bluetooth
cellular mobile telephony
fixed service
industrial and scientific
land mobile
licence-free ISM
marine
medical
microwave point to point
radio paging systems
RFID
WiMAX IEEE 802.16
WiFi IEEE 802.11
ZigBee IEEE 802.15.4-2003.
Appropriate person may include:
ACMA representative
consultant
engineer
supervisor.
Measurement data may include:
date
time
location
test configuration
measurement results
test equipment:
manufacturer
model
serial number.
Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standards
Australian Radiation Protections and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA (EMR) standard
AS/NZS 4268:2008
AS/NZS 4295:2004
AS/NZS 4415.1:2003
AS/NZS 4582:1999
AS/NZS 4583:1999
AS/NZS 4769.1:2000
AS/NZS 4770:2000
Australian building codes and regulations
Australian standards
enterprise standards
environmental protection
equipment standards
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) EN 300 220-1 Year?
ETSI EN 301 406 Year?
fire regulations
heritage legislation
international standards
intrinsically safe lightning protection
local government
OHS
Radcoms Act
RSS-119
site engineering standards
spectrum planning reports
Telecommunications Act
Telecommunications Industry Alliance and Electronic Industries Alliance (TIA/EIA) standards.
Test equipment may include:
antenna analyser
BER tester
cellular radio test set
constellation analysers
digital signal level meter
digital transmission analyser
directional RF power meter
dummy load
termination
EMI test receiver
frequency counter
multimeter
noise and distortion meter
oscilloscope
RF connectors and adaptors
RF test cables
return loss measuring equipment
RF power meter
RF radiation meter
RF scalar network analyser
RF termination
RF vector network analyser
spectrum analyser
switched or variable attenuator.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 conduct RF test using RF test equipment and instruments
measure, record and interpret test results
monitor work to meet related OHS requirements and work practices.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
site for RF measurements
a range of test equipment and items to test
relevant regulatory and equipment documentation that impact on work 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 setting up equipment and performing RF measurements
review report of RF measurements prepared by candidate
oral or written questioning of the candidate to support the above measurement results
candidate report on findings and making recommendations.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
ICTRFN4158A Select an antenna system for radio communications
ICTRFN4159A Identify and test cellular network equipment
ICTRFN4174A Undertake radio communications signals monitoring
ICTRFN4177A Install radio communications base station equipment
ICTRFN4178A Maintain hybrid fibre coaxial broadband cable network
ICTTEN4202A Install and test an radio frequency identification system
ICTRFN3175A Operate and maintain radio communications technical instruments and field equipment
ICTCMP5176A Undertake radio communications site audit.

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.