Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:56 PM AWST
22/07/2026 5:56 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.
Test the performance of specialised optical devices
Test the performance of specialised optical devices
Unit of competency
National Code
ICTOPN5122A
ICTOPN5122A
State Code
D3376
D3376
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/01/2011
Field of Education
031307 - Communications Technologies
Original Release Date
06/01/2011
Nominal Hours
45
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to test the performance of specialised optical devices for integration into existing optical networks. The integration of specialised optical devices into existing networks may be required as part of an upgrade for higher bandwidths required by services and applications of Next Generation Networks (NGN). No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.
Notes
Elements and 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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWE20 | ICTOPN505 | Test the performance of specialised optical devices | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWD7 | ICT50415 | Diploma of Information Technology Networking | Qualification |
| D570 | ICA50411 | Diploma of Information Technology Networking | Qualification |
| W812 | ICT50110 | Diploma of Optical Networks | Qualification |