Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 2:06 PM AWST
22/07/2026 2:06 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Maintain hybrid fibre coaxial broadband cable network
Maintain hybrid fibre coaxial broadband cable network
Unit of competency
National Code
ICTRFN4178A
ICTRFN4178A
State Code
D3408
D3408
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
15/04/2014
Field of Education
031309 - Communications Equipment Installation And Maintenance
Original Release Date
15/04/2014
Nominal Hours
45
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to maintain a hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) broadband cable network. It involves routine maintenance tasks, analysing results and initiating corrective action.Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements apply to working at heights, confined spaces, crane operation, rigging, driving and other operations involved in this unit. Users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for routine maintenance of broadband cable network
- 1.1. Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards for the given work
- 1.2. Determine the HFC network elements requiring maintenance and obtain maintenance details from the various HFC manufacturer's equipment manuals
- 1.3. Plan a detailed routine maintenance schedule and discuss with all relevant personnel
- 1.4. Notify the network operations centre (NOC) of the proposed maintenance details and maintenance schedule
- 1.5. Assess the potential impact of the proposed maintenance on customers and network, and plan for minimal possible outage or deferral of maintenance
- 1.6. Obtain necessary tools and resources and test equipment to undertake the maintenance
- 1.7. Ascertain and record recent network stability and network performance
2. Undertake routine HFC network maintenance tasks
- 2.1. Conduct routine maintenance tasks according to documented enterprise instructions and following occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements and record results
- 2.2. Protect the network from excessive interference or degradation of service during maintenance routines
- 2.3. Monitor relevant alarms during the running of the maintenance tasks and report incidences to NOC
- 2.4. Escalate unresolved faults according to established enterprise procedure
- 2.5. Conduct performance measurements following routine maintenance schedule
3. Analyse results and initiate corrective action
- 3.1. Assess outcomes of performance measurements and maintenance routines to ensure they are according to specification
- 3.2. Analyse identified problems for likely impact and repair within capability and initiate or escalate repair action where repair is beyond capability
- 3.3. Undertake outage if required in conjunction with NOC and according to prescribed enterprise outage plan
- 3.4. Record problems and incidences in the maintenance log for future action as required by the maintenance agreement
- 3.5. Verify alarms to ensure maintenance routines did not generate further problems
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:
appropriate licences:
cable
electrical
elevated work platform (EWP)
rigger
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standards
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
site engineering standard
Telecommunications Act.
HFC network elements may include:
headend
optical network:
optical node
optical or RF hub
RF network:
customer tap
global network amplifier (GNA) with reverse path amplifier
isolator
line extender (LE) with reverse path amplifier
line power inserter
splitter.
Maintenance may include:
corrective maintenance
remote maintenance
routine maintenance.
Network Operations Centre may include:
coordination of repairs or changes to the network
escalation of faults
monitoring:
network alarms
optical fibre cuts
power failures
performing diagnostic tests
troubleshooting.
Maintenance schedule may be:
details from service level agreement (SLA)
frequency:
monthly
quarterly
procedures
responsibilities and commitment
timings.
Potential impact may include:
degradation of service to residential customers
disruption of service to residential customers
intermittent degradation of service to residential customers
intermittent performance
loss of service and revenue to enterprise customers
outage
total loss of service to residential customers.
Outage may include:
loss of service to customers due to a network fault or upgrade
planned in the case of network upgrades
unplanned in relation to faults.
Tools may include:
anti-static wrist strap
PC board or sub-rack removal tool
pliers
power drill
screwdrivers
sockets
soldering iron
spanners.
Resources may include:
elevated work platform hire
licensed cabler
licensed electrician
licensed rigger
optical fibre specialist
optical fibre splicer.
Test equipment may include:
network profiler - spectrum analyser and digital modulation analyser fitted with:
cable TV (CATV) module
dual path sweep module
sweep ingress analyser
integrated sweep transmitter
laptop computer
multimeter
optical fibre power meter
OTDR
oscilloscope.
Network stability may include:
reliability of the network:
over time
under varying load conditions
under varying traffic conditions.
Routine maintenance tasks may include:
adjusting pads and equalisers to obtain correct output signal levels in RF amplifiers
conducting:
basic AC DC voltage and resistance measurements using a multimeter
constellation measurement
MER measurement and BER measurement (pre and post FEC) using a digital analyser
multi channel tests across the whole band
system ingress measurement
digital channel power
measuring:
hum modulation
optical power levels at:
head end
hub
node
RF carrier levels at:
GNA
Hub
LE
tap
performing RF level and frequency measurements:
level
tilt
remotely monitoring and recording customer broadband cable modem levels to assist in pinpointing network problems
sweep testing the RF coaxial portion of the network:
forward sweep test:
high frequency short circuits
standing waves
frequency 'suck-out'
flatness - peak to valley
reverse sweep test
using a network profiler instrument to troubleshoot faults in the HFC network
verifying and confirming:
forward optical transmitter output power and optical loss budget
reverse optical transmitter output power and optical loss budget.
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to:
decommissioning and isolating worksite and lines prior to commencement
safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of:
asbestos
chemicals
materials
tools and equipment
work platforms
safety barriers
safety equipment
warning signs and tapes
environmental considerations:
clean-up
noise and dust
stormwater protection
waste management.
Performance measurements may include:
Proof of performance tests on the:
forward path
return path
optical power levels and confirm correct operation
RF BER and MER measurements using network profiler.
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:
appropriate licences:
cable
electrical
elevated work platform (EWP)
rigger
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standards
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
site engineering standard
Telecommunications Act.
HFC network elements may include:
headend
optical network:
optical node
optical or RF hub
RF network:
customer tap
global network amplifier (GNA) with reverse path amplifier
isolator
line extender (LE) with reverse path amplifier
line power inserter
splitter.
Maintenance may include:
corrective maintenance
remote maintenance
routine maintenance.
Network Operations Centre may include:
coordination of repairs or changes to the network
escalation of faults
monitoring:
network alarms
optical fibre cuts
power failures
performing diagnostic tests
troubleshooting.
Maintenance schedule may be:
details from service level agreement (SLA)
frequency:
monthly
quarterly
procedures
responsibilities and commitment
timings.
Potential impact may include:
degradation of service to residential customers
disruption of service to residential customers
intermittent degradation of service to residential customers
intermittent performance
loss of service and revenue to enterprise customers
outage
total loss of service to residential customers.
Outage may include:
loss of service to customers due to a network fault or upgrade
planned in the case of network upgrades
unplanned in relation to faults.
Tools may include:
anti-static wrist strap
PC board or sub-rack removal tool
pliers
power drill
screwdrivers
sockets
soldering iron
spanners.
Resources may include:
elevated work platform hire
licensed cabler
licensed electrician
licensed rigger
optical fibre specialist
optical fibre splicer.
Test equipment may include:
network profiler - spectrum analyser and digital modulation analyser fitted with:
cable TV (CATV) module
dual path sweep module
sweep ingress analyser
integrated sweep transmitter
laptop computer
multimeter
optical fibre power meter
OTDR
oscilloscope.
Network stability may include:
reliability of the network:
over time
under varying load conditions
under varying traffic conditions.
Routine maintenance tasks may include:
adjusting pads and equalisers to obtain correct output signal levels in RF amplifiers
conducting:
basic AC DC voltage and resistance measurements using a multimeter
constellation measurement
MER measurement and BER measurement (pre and post FEC) using a digital analyser
multi channel tests across the whole band
system ingress measurement
digital channel power
measuring:
hum modulation
optical power levels at:
head end
hub
node
RF carrier levels at:
GNA
Hub
LE
tap
performing RF level and frequency measurements:
level
tilt
remotely monitoring and recording customer broadband cable modem levels to assist in pinpointing network problems
sweep testing the RF coaxial portion of the network:
forward sweep test:
high frequency short circuits
standing waves
frequency 'suck-out'
flatness - peak to valley
reverse sweep test
using a network profiler instrument to troubleshoot faults in the HFC network
verifying and confirming:
forward optical transmitter output power and optical loss budget
reverse optical transmitter output power and optical loss budget.
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to:
decommissioning and isolating worksite and lines prior to commencement
safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of:
asbestos
chemicals
materials
tools and equipment
work platforms
safety barriers
safety equipment
warning signs and tapes
environmental considerations:
clean-up
noise and dust
stormwater protection
waste management.
Performance measurements may include:
Proof of performance tests on the:
forward path
return path
optical power levels and confirm correct operation
RF BER and MER measurements using network profiler.
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, conduct and record HFC maintenance activities procedures and techniques
comply with site risk control, OHS, environmental, quality and communication requirements
perform RF and optical measurements
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
sites on which HFC maintenance may be conducted
use of maintenance tools and test instruments currently used in industry
relevant regulatory, enterprise and equipment documentation that impact on maintenance 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 carrying out HFC maintenance activities
review of maintenance reports completed by the candidate for different sites and equipment within the HFC network
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of maintenance procedures.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
ICTTEN4085A Monitor, analyse and action telecommunications network alarms
ICTTEN4086A Undertake routine maintenance of the telecommunications 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.
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, conduct and record HFC maintenance activities procedures and techniques
comply with site risk control, OHS, environmental, quality and communication requirements
perform RF and optical measurements
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
sites on which HFC maintenance may be conducted
use of maintenance tools and test instruments currently used in industry
relevant regulatory, enterprise and equipment documentation that impact on maintenance 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 carrying out HFC maintenance activities
review of maintenance reports completed by the candidate for different sites and equipment within the HFC network
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of maintenance procedures.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
ICTTEN4085A Monitor, analyse and action telecommunications network alarms
ICTTEN4086A Undertake routine maintenance of the telecommunications 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.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWD89 | ICTRFN406 | Maintain hybrid fibre coaxial broadband cable network | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J814 | ICT30113 | Certificate III in Broadband and Wireless Networks Technology | Qualification |
| J821 | ICT40713 | Certificate IV in Telecommunications Network Design | Qualification |