NZQA registered unit standard
27974 version 1
Page 1 of 7
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of telecommunications radio systems and
services
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
15
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:
–
regulations and standards impacting on radio equipment
installation;
–
cellular radio;
–
radio systems and services;
–
the use of TCP/IP and Ethernet in radio networks;
–
current network and element management and monitoring
systems for radio networks;
–
common cellular and radio support services;
–
safety considerations when installing radio frequency
equipment; and
–
awareness of an emerging or converging radio or cellular
technologies.
Classification
Telecommunications > Telecommunications - Service Delivery
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Evidence against this unit standard may be demonstrated through either knowledge
assessment or practical assessment. The use of diverse forms of evidence in
assessment against this unit standard is encouraged. Evidence must be in
accordance with industry practice and, where appropriate, must reflect environmental
considerations.
2
It is recommended Unit 27975, Perform installation and maintenance of
telecommunications radio systems and services is achieved before commencing this
unit standard.
3
The term basic knowledge is used to describe the underpinning knowledge required
by candidates to support the range of practical installation and maintenance activities
assessed by unit standard 27975.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27974 version 1
Page 2 of 7
4
References
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010;
NZS 2772.1:1999, Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3 kHz to 300
GHz;
ICNIRP Guidelines, published by International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection in Health Physics, April 1998, vol 74, number 4;
Best practice guidelines for working at height in New Zealand, 2012, published by the
Department of Labour;
Radiocommunications Act 1989;
Radiocommunications Regulations 2001;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Telecommunication
Facilities) Regulations 2008;
Search and Surveillance Act 2012;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
and all subsequent amendments and replacements.
5
Definitions
AM – Amplitude Modulation.
DCN – Data Communications Network.
Converging Technology – any existing technologies that are integrated to provide a
new service including convergence of any previously separately existing technologies
that now share resources and interact with each other.
EAS – Electrical Appliance Serviceperson Registration (EWRB).
EME – Electro Magnetic Emissions (non Ionising Radiation only) (See also EMR).
EMR – Electro Magnetic Radiation (see also EME).
EST – Electrical Service Technician Registration (EWRB).
ETOM – Enhanced Telecommunications Operations Map.
FM – Frequency Modulation.
FTP – File Transfer Protocol.
GIS – Geographical Information System.
GSM – Global System for Mobile communications.
IP – Internet Protocol.
ITU – International Telecommunications Union.
LTE – Long Term Evolution (4G).
operations and incident management).
TCP – Transmission Control Protocol.
UDP – User Datagram Protocol.
UMTS – Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol.
Wi-MAX – Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (IEEE 802.16).
6
Range
a
All evidence provided for assessment against this unit standard must be in
accordance with industry practice.
b
The use of mathematics is not required except where calculation is specifically
mentioned.
c
All evidence provided for assessment against this unit standard must reflect
environmental considerations.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27974 version 1
Page 3 of 7
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate basic knowledge of regulations and standards impacting on radio equipment
installation.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Identify legislation impacting on radio equipment installations.
Range
1.2
Identify company requirements and procedures impacting on radio equipment
installations to ensure compliance with regulation and standards and industry
practice.
Range
1.3
Electricity Act, Electricity Regulations, Resource Management Act,
Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for
Telecommunication Facilities) Regulations, NZS 2772.1:1999,
Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3 kHz to 300
GHz, Radiocommunications Act, Radiocommunications
Regulations, Telecommunications Act.
may include but is not limited to – site access procedures, arrival
procedures, permits to work, brown outs.
Define limits of work imposed by the Electricity Act.
Range
unregistered persons, candidate, EAS registered, EST registered.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate basic knowledge of cellular radio.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Explain, with the aid of a block diagram, the subsystems of a cellular network.
Range
2.2
Outline principles of managing cellular radio traffic.
Range
2.3
call setup, charging session management, radio resource
management, mobility management.
Explain the basic principles of an air interface.
Range
2.4
network may include but is not limited to – GSM, UMTS, LTE, WiMAX;
evidence of GSM and at least one other network is required.
frequency bands, channels, time slots, diversity.
Outline principles of radio frequency planning in relation to frequency allocation
and ownership, cell planning, frequency re-use, radio parameters, call testing.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.5
27974 version 1
Page 4 of 7
Outline the management of the network with reference to the management of
alarms, faults, and configurations.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio systems and services.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Explain different types of radio systems with the aid of block diagrams and
reference to all major components.
Range
3.2
Describe the construction and properties of commonly used antennas.
Range
3.3
properties – voltage and current distribution, beam width, side
lobes, polarisation, gain; near field, far field, ¼ wave, ½ wave, full
wave, ground plane;
antennas – omni, co-linear, Yagi, paraboloid, panel, phased array.
Outline supervisory systems for point-to-point radio systems, with reference to
function and operation.
Range
3.4
point-to-point fixed links – point to multi-point, AM radio, FM radio,
TV, satellite, mobile radio, WiFi, landmobile and trunked radio,
simplex, duplex.
may include but is not limited to – DCN, alarm status reporter.
Explain the operation of customer premises equipment, with the aid of a block
diagram.
Range
evidence of one item of point-to-point, and one item of point to
multi-point radio system.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate basic knowledge of the use of TCP/IP and Ethernet in radio networks.
Range
may include but is not limited to – addressing, routing, switching, VoIP.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Identify TCP/IP and Ethernet protocols used in radio networks and give reasons
for their selection.
Range
4.2
may include but is not limited to – TCP, UDP, broadcast.
Identify hardware used in TCP/IP and Ethernet networks and explain their
function.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
4.3
Identify software used to configure radio systems hardware and explain the
relevant features.
Range
4.4
27974 version 1
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may include but is not limited to – craft terminal, FTP, web
interface.
Provide basic IP networking configuration data for three given situations.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate basic knowledge of current network and element management and
monitoring systems for radio networks.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Explain network operations centre and network administration activities with
reference to radio networks.
5.2
Explain the principles of operation of management networks and element
management devices.
Range
management devices may include but are not limited to – interface
management and data collection units, element managers,
monitoring systems, test and measurement environment.
5.3
Outline proactive, reactive, and condition based maintenance practices.
5.4
Identify the incident management escalation hierarchy, with particular reference
to the tiered structure.
Range
5.5
ITU or ETOM guidelines.
Explain network records and inventory systems and practices.
Range
may include but is not limited to – GIS database for network
inventory, logical network database for service inventory, fibre
optic grid plans.
Outcome 6
Demonstrate basic knowledge of common cellular and radio support services.
Evidence requirements
6.1
Outline typical power supply systems with reference to battery backup and
emergency generation.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
6.2
27974 version 1
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Outline security and fire protection systems with reference to purpose and
function.
Range
fire protection – gas suppression, sprinklers, smoke alarms;
security – alarms, access control.
6.3
Outline the function and operation of ventilation and/or air-conditioning systems
in relation to equipment rooms.
6.4
Outline the function and operation of seismic infrastructure in relation to
equipment rooms.
6.5
Outline the function and operation of telecommunications towers and masts,
and passive and active roadside cabinets in relation to equipment housing.
6.6
Outline cable distribution practices in a telecommunications distribution rooms.
Range
power distribution, earthing arrangements, cable management
practices for fibre and copper.
Outcome 7
Demonstrate basic knowledge of safety considerations when installing radio frequency
equipment.
Evidence requirements
7.1
State the New Zealand permissible public and occupational EMR exposure
limits in accordance with NZS 2772.1.
7.2
Explain the potential biological effects of overexposure to EMR in accordance
with NZS 2272.1.
7.3
Identify three strategies for eliminating, minimising, or isolating on-site EMR
hazards.
7.4
Identify safety considerations for working at heights in accordance with best
practice guidelines for working at height in New Zealand, published by the
Department of Labour.
7.5
Explain risk reduction strategies for working at heights in accordance with best
practice guidelines for working at height in New Zealand, published by the
Department of Labour.
Outcome 8
Demonstrate awareness of an emerging or converging technology in radio or cellular
technologies.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27974 version 1
Page 7 of 7
Evidence requirements
8.1
Describe an emerging or converging technology that may impact on existing
radio networks with reference to purpose, facilities offered, and how the
technology will impact and/or integrate with existing core technology facilities
and or services.
Range
selected technology should be one that is likely to be applied in
the New Zealand environment.
Planned review date
31 December 2017
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
18 July 2013
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0003
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.
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.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation reviewcomments@skills.org.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016