NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 1 of 7
Title
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications radio
frequency services
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
23
This unit standard covers basic underpinning knowledge for
people engaged in installation and maintenance of
telecommunications radio services including cellular radio.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate:
–
basic knowledge of alternating current theory;
–
basic knowledge of radio theory;
–
basic knowledge of digital multiplexing and hierarchies;
–
basic knowledge of cellular mobile telephony;
–
basic knowledge of radio systems and services;
–
basic knowledge of common cellular and radio support
services;
–
basic knowledge of radio installation and maintenance
practices; and
–
an awareness of emerging radio or cellular technologies.
Classification
Telecommunications > Telecommunications - Service Delivery
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
2
This unit standard is
The term basic knowledge is used to describe the underpinning knowledge required
expiring
by trainees to support the range
of practical installation and maintenance activities
This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment off-job.
assessed by Unit 17488, Install and maintain basic telecommunications radio
frequency plant and equipment. This knowledge is typically acquired during second
and third years of training of a 4 to 5 year training programme.
3
References
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity Regulations 1997;
NZS 2772.1:1999, Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3kHz to
300GHz;
Radiocommunications Act 1989;
Radiocommunications Regulations 2001;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
Telecommunications (Residual Provisions) Act 1987;
and their subsequent amendments and replacements.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 2 of 7
4
Definitions
AMPS – Advanced Mobile Phone Service.
CDMA – Code Division Multiple Access.
DAMPS – Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service.
MUX – multiplexing equipment.
OTDR – optical time division reflectometry.
PCM – pulse code modulation systems.
PDH – plesiochronous digital hierarchy.
SDH – synchronous digital hierarchy.
Skip MUX – skip multiplexing equipment.
TDMA – Time Division Multiple Access.
TDR – time domain reflectometry.
VMUX – virtual multiplexing equipment.
r.f. – radio frequency.
Emerging technology – any technology which is at the development stage, or in early
stages of production and commercial use overseas, but is not yet used commercially
in New Zealand.
GSM – Global System for Mobile communications.
Industry practice – those practices, which competent practitioners within the industry
recognise as current industry best practice.
5
Range
The phrase in accordance with current industry practice is implicit in all evidence
requirements in this unit standard.
6
The depth of knowledge of the subject matter is such as could typically be learnt
during a six week full-time course.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
This unit standard is
Evidence requirements
expiring
1.1
Reactance and impedance are defined, units stated, and calculated.
Demonstrate basic knowledge of alternating current theory.
Range
impedance calculations – at any given frequency for simple threeelement series and parallel circuits.
1.2
Vectors are used to show phase relationships of voltages and currents in series
and parallel circuits, and to calculate their resultants graphically.
1.3
Resonant frequencies for simple series and parallel circuits are calculated.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio theory.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 3 of 7
Evidence requirements
2.1
Basic concepts of frequency, r.f. spectrum, wavelength, and bandwidth are
explained. Conversions between frequency and wavelength and conversion of
units are made.
2.2
The basic principles of transmission lines and cables are outlined.
Range
transmission lines – primary constants, definition of transmission
loss, variation of loss with frequency, characteristic impedance,
reflections, standing waves, types of terminations;
cables – twisted pair, coaxial.
2.3
The principles of formation and propagation of radio waves are outlined
qualitatively.
2.4
The principles of antennae and feeders are explained qualitatively, with
reference to principles of operation and physical construction.
2.5
Waveguides are discussed qualitatively, with reference to how they conduct a
radio wave, physical construction, and terminations.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate basic knowledge of digital multiplexing and hierarchies.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The principles of digital multiplexing are outlined from speech to 64Kb/s channel
(time slot) to a single frame.
3.2
3.3
The principles of different types of digital multiplexing systems are outlined.
Range
3.4
analogue – digital conversion, sampling, time division multiplexing,
demultiplexing, digital-analogue conversion.
This unit standard is
The digital hierarchy is developed from lower order to higher order MUX.
expiring
Range
lower order – DS1 (1.55Mb/s) and/or E1 (2Mb/s).
Range
VMUX, Skip MUX, drop and insert MUX.
SDH and PDH hierarchies are outlined and compared in terms of what they are,
application, and configurations.
Range
outline to include function of drop and insert MUX.
3.5
The concept of diversity is described with reference to self healing rings and
hitless switching.
3.6
The principles of modulation are explained with the aid of waveform sketches.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
17494 version 7
Page 4 of 7
amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, digital modulation.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate basic knowledge of cellular mobile telephony.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Types of mobile systems are explained with the aid of block diagrams and
reference to all major components.
Range
4.2
Principles of cellular switching are outlined.
Range
4.3
reference to – software management, signalling systems,
switching parameters, dimensioning, hierarchy, trunking, diversity
and redundancy, routine testing, monitoring and management.
Principles of base stations are outlined.
Range
4.4
AMPS, DAMPS, GSM, TDMA, CDMA.
reference to – base station control, call handover and
management, network parameters, signalling, trunking, time slot
management.
Principles of radio frequency planning are outlined.
Range
reference to – frequency allocation and ownership, cell planning,
frequency re-use, planning tools, radio parameters, drive testing,
optimisation.
This unit standard is
Outcome 5
expiring
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio systems and services.
4.5
The management of the network is outlined, with particular reference to the
management of alarms, faults, and configurations.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Different types of radio systems are explained with the aid of block diagrams
and reference to all major components including typical antennae.
Range
5.2
point to point fixed wireless links; point to multi-point for AM radio,
FM radio, VHF and UHF TV, satellite; radio telephone; multi
access radio; personal communication system.
Supervisory systems are outlined with reference to purpose and function.
Outcome 6
Demonstrate basic knowledge of common cellular and radio support services.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 5 of 7
Evidence requirements
6.1
Typical power supply systems are described with reference to battery backup
and emergency generator.
6.2
The operation of security access and fire protection systems are outlined with
reference to purpose and function.
Range
6.3
fire protection – gas suppression, sprinklers, smoke alarms.
The purpose and function of air-conditioning systems is outlined in relation to
equipment rooms.
Outcome 7
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio installation and maintenance practices.
Evidence requirements
7.1
Safety precautions for working near antennae are stated.
7.2
The principles of earthing for safety and for minimisation of noise and
interference are explained.
7.3
Installation requirements for location, space, and support mechanisms are
outlined in relation to small and large radio installations.
7.4
The principles of common transmission measurements are outlined, and units
stated where appropriate.
This unit standard is
expiring
The use of common transmission measuring instruments is outlined or
Range
7.5
bit error rate (BER), loss v. frequency, psophometric noise,
attenuation, crosstalk, time division reflectometry (TDR), optical
time division reflectometry (OTDR), clocking and synchronisation
jitter and slipping.
demonstrated.
Range
frequency sweep set, transmission impairment measuring set
including measurements of psophometric noise and loss, data line
analyser, PCM line test set, bit error rate measuring set, crosstalk
measurement, time domain reflectometer.
7.6
The uses of high and low impedance terminations are explained in terms of
effects on the measurement and the network if wrongly used.
7.7
The principles of PCM fault location are outlined.
Range
7.8
loop back cards, standout jigs.
Principles of basic radio testing and first line maintenance are outlined.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 6 of 7
testing – signal strength, antennae testing, signal and carrier
measurement, spectrum analyser, site testing.
Range
Outcome 8
Demonstrate an awareness of emerging radio or cellular technologies.
Evidence requirements
8.1
Emerging technologies are briefly described with reference to purpose, facilities
offered, and how the technology will integrate with existing radio or cellular
facilities.
Range
any two emerging technologies which are currently of interest to
the industry.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
30 May 2000
31 December 2016
Revision
2
3 April 2001
31 December 2016
Rollover and
Revision
3
20 April 2006
Review
4
25 February 2008
31 December 2016
Review
5
18 July 2013
31 December 2016
31 December 2016
6
17
April 2014 standard
31 December
This
unit
is2016
Rollover
7
16 April 2015
31 December 2018
expiring
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0003
Rollover
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17494 version 7
Page 7 of 7
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
This unit standard is
expiring
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016