TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN - TCM
CATEGORIES LIST
(A listing of the major areas required for courses, training or study in Telecommunications Electronics)
1.0 Cables and Cabling
10.0 Internet
2.0 Analog Telephony
11.0 Network Infrastructures
and Topologies
3.0 Equipment
12.0 Office Wiring
4.0 Telecom Safety
13.0 Test Equipment
5.0 Transmission Service
Providers
14.0 Troubleshooting
6.0 Distribution Methods
15.0 Transmission Protocols
7.0 Computer
16.0 Mathematics
8.0 Digital Telephony
17.0 Optical Wiring
9.0 Interfacing
18.0 Wireless Telephony
TCM Competency
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l
Telecommunications Electronics Technician Items Listing
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN - TCM
ITEMS LIST
(A listing of the major areas required for courses, training or study in Telecommunications Electronics)
1.0
Cables and Cabling
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
2.0
2.12
7.0
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
8.0
8.4
8.5
8.6
9.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
5.0
Safety procedures in the workplace
Safety procedures in homes and businesses
Safety procedures for outside equipment
OSHA requirements
Installer abilities required
ESD procedures in the workplace
9.2
9.3
5.2
5.3
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
LEC’s—Local Exchange Carriers
CLEC’s—Competitive Local Exchange
Carriers
Regional Operating Companies
RBOC’s—Regional Bell Operating
Companies
Independent telephone company
Network control points
In-band and Common Channel Signaling
(CCS) and Signaling System 7 (SS7)
T1 and T3 lines
Multiplexing
TCM Competency
Telephone equipment—consumer
electronics interconnection problems
Electrical power surge problems
EIA, CTIA and ITU protocols and standards
10.0 Internet
Transmission Service Providers
5.1
5.2
ISDN
DSL
Bundling and unbundling of telephone
services
Bytes, bits, packets and frames
Caller ID
Common Carrier
Interfacing
9.1
4.0 Telecom Safety
Interrelationship—computers and
communications technology
Modems
Worldwide numbering systems
Network control points
Databases
CTI—Computer Telephony Integration
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Digital Telephony
8.1
8.2
8.3
Telephone parts & components
Telephone set disassemble and reassemble
RS-232, RS-530, V.35 and USB interfaces
Plug and adapter wiring
Punch down blocks and tools—labeling
T carrier (DS1’s)
Repeaters
Channel Banks
Common Carrier
Patch panels
Ethernet and switch hubs
Routers
Computer
7.1
History of the telephone industry
Basic phone systems
POTS, DID, OPX, tie lines and WATS lines
Multiple phone lines
PBX and explain basic switching methods
Local loop
Key system units (KSU)
Central Office
Tones, loop start, ground start and wink start
CO, CPE.
Dedicated lines, metered and switched
services
Broadband DSL and ISDN
Equipment
3.1
3.2
3.3
Distribution Methods
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
Analog telephony
2.1.
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
3.0
6.0
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
RJ45/48 telephone connectors and fittings
CAT 5 & 5e wiring
10/100 base T
T568A / T568B standards
Cable TV wiring for data and voice
Coax types RG 58, RG 59 and RG 6
Grounding of electronics equipment
Single and multi-mode fiber optics
Connector types and terminations
Internet
TCP/IP duties and protocols
Security problems
ISP’s
11.0 Network Infrastructures and
Topologies
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
2
RS232 standard
Transmission protocols
LANs & WANs technology
Installation and troubleshooting networks
Sonet Ring
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l.
Telecommunications Electronics Technician Items Listing
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN - TCM
ITEMS LIST
(A listing of the major areas required for courses, training or study in Telecommunications Electronics)
12.0 Office Wiring
12.1
12.2
Building wiring standards
Pre-wiring—wiring methods
13.0 Test Equipment
13.1
13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
Certifying wired communications networks
Bit Error Rate (TBerd, etc.)
OTDR
Micro-test
Toners
14.0 Troubleshooting
14.1
14.2
Telephone test equipment
Troubleshooting methods and loop testing
15.0 Transmission Protocols
15.1
Modulation schemes
16.0 Telecom Mathematics
16.1
Mathematics required for telecommunications
17.0 Optical Wiring
17.1
17.2
17.3
17.4
17.5
Fiber disposal—eye safety
Optical cable types
Conversion process—copper to fiber
SONET
DWDM, (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing)
18.0 Wireless Telephony
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5
18.6
18.7
18.8
Wired vs. Cellular networks
Cellular technology—architecture
Spread Spectrum techniques
TDMA and CDMA modulation
Paging Services technology
Telephone communications via satellites
Components of satellite uplink and downlink
Microwave transport
TCM Competency
3
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l.
Telecommunications Electronics Technician Competency Listing
Telecommunications Electronics Technician - TCM
Competency Requirements
Telecommunications electronics technicians are expected to obtain knowledge of wired and wireless
communications basic concepts which are then applicable to various types of voice, data and video
systems. Once the CET has acquired these skills, abilities and knowledge, he or she will be able to
enter employment in any part of the telecommunications field. With minimal training in areas unique to
specific products, the CET should become a profitable and efficient part of the electronicscommunications workforce.
Telecommunications Electronics Technicians must be knowledgeable and have abilities in the following technical areas:
1.0
Cables and Cabling
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.10
2.0
Analog telephony
2.1.
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
3.0
Describe the principle parts of a telephone and explain the functions of each
Disassemble and reassemble a telephone set
Describe the differences between RS-232, RS-530, V.35 and USB interfaces
Telecom Safety
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
5.0
Give a brief history of the telephone industry
Explain how basic phone systems work
Define POTS, DID, OPX, tie lines and WATS lines
Explain the benefits and usage of multiple phone lines
Define PBX and explain basic switching method
Sketch a local loop map
Define Key service units
Define Central Office and list it purposes
Explain the terms and usage of tones, loop start, ground start and wink start
Define CO, CPE.
Explain the differences between dedicated lines, metered and switched services
Describe broadband DSL and ISDN
Equipment
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
Describe unshielded twisted pair (UTP) - List common usage locations and capabilities
Demonstrate installation and troubleshooting of RJ45/48 telephone connectors and fittings
CAT 5 wiring—Explain the differences vs.: single twisted pair and where it is most used
10 base T-explain where it is commonly used and its frequency capabilities
Describe the T568A / T568B standards
Explain how Cable TV wiring is used for data and voice services
Explain the differences between coax types RG 58, RG 59 and RG 6
Describe required grounding of electronics equipment
Describe the differences in Single and Multi-mode fiber optics
Demonstrate and practice general safety procedures in the workplace
Demonstrate and practice safety procedures in homes and businesses
Demonstrate special safety procedures required for outside equipment
Explain OSHA requirements for distribution system workers, including working at heights
Demonstrate abilities required for distribution and installation technicians
Explain proper ESD safety procedures
Transmission Service Providers
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
Define and explain the purposes of LEC’s—Local Exchange Carriers
Explain the differences between LEC’s and Regional Operating Companies
Define independent telephone company
Define network control points and define NOC
Define In-band and Common Channel Signaling (CCS) and SS7, Signaling System 7
Explain the importance of T1 and T3 lines
Explain multiplexing and its importance to today’s communications systems
TCM Competency
4
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l.
Telecommunications Electronics Technician Competency Listing
6.0
Distribution Methods
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
7.0
Computer
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
8.0
Describe the interrelationship between computers and communications technology
Explain how a Modem interfaces with the computer and show differences in common modems
Describe worldwide numbering systems
Define network control points
Define database
Explain CTI—Computer Telephony Integration
Explain how Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is used and list benefits
Digital Telephony
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
9.0
Show ability to install and troubleshoot plug and adapter wiring
The punch block and tools-show ability to properly perform connections and labeling
Define T carrier (DS1’s)
Show why and how repeaters are used in telephone communications
Explain the usage of Channel Banks
Define Common Carrier
Define ISDN
Explain advantages and usage of DSL
Explain ‘bundling’ and ‘unbundling’ of telephone services
Describe the differences between bytes, packets and frames
Explain the principles of Caller ID
Interfacing
9.1
9.2
9.3
Describe the problems which are commonly encountered when interconnecting consumer electronics
and telephone equipment.
Explain electrical surge potentials and ways to combat damage from them
Describe EIA, CTIA and ITU protocols and standards
10.0 Internet
10.1
10.2
10.3
Describe the Internet
Explain TCP/IP duties and protocols
Explain security problems with Internet service and list ways to improve security
11.0 Network Infrastructures and Topologies
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
Define RS232 and show how and where this standard is used
Describe common transmission protocols
Explain the difference between a LAN and a WAN
Show an ability to install a small business WAN system and to troubleshoot problems in it
12.0 Office Wiring
12.1
12.2
List building wiring standards as set by ANSI, EIA/TIA and NFPA (NEC)
Explain methods of pre-wiring and ways to wire existing buildings, including entry, attic and crawl
space precautions and methods of ‘fishing’ walls and routing wiring through false ceilings .
13.0 Test Equipment
13.1
13.2
13.3
Define the job of certifying wired communications networks
Describe Bit Error Rate test equipment (TBerd, etc.); toners and OTDRs
Demonstrate proficient use of an OTDR to troubleshoot cabling problems and to verify installed cable
14.0 Troubleshooting
14.1
14.2
Demonstrate proper usage of telephone test equipment as well as common DVM’s, signal tracers and
sources, oscilloscopes and loop and network testing equipment
Describe “Last Good, First Bad” troubleshooting methods and loop testing
15.0 Transmission Protocols
15.1
Define Modulation schemes
TCM Competency
5
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l.
Telecommunications Electronics Technician Competency Listing
16.0 Telecom Mathematics
16.1
Work math problems as required in telecommunications service and installation work
17.0 Optical Wiring
17.1
17.2
17.3
17.4
17.5
Safety-demonstrate the rules for disposal and eye safety when working with fiber optics equipment
List different parameters and reasons for choosing each type of optical cable
Describe the conversion process from copper to fiber signals
Define and explain the term SONET
Explain DWDM, Dense Wave Division Multiplexing
18.0 Wireless Telephony
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5
18.6
18.7
Give an overview of the differences between wired telecommunications and cellular networks.
Describe the concepts and architectures of cellular telephone systems
Define Spread Spectrum broadcasting techniques
Explain TDMA and CDMA modulation
Give a description of how Paging Services operate
Explain the principles of telephone communications via satellites
Describe the major components of satellite uplink and downlink systems
Suggested Texts:
Telecommunications and Data Communications Handbook; Ray Horak; Wiley; ISBN 978-0-470-04141-3
Communications Systems and Networks, 3rd edition; Ray Horak; Wiley; ISBN 0-7645-4899-9
Webster’s New World Telecom Dictionary; Ray Horak; Wiley; ISBN 978-0-471-77457-0
Voice and Data Communications Handbook, Regis Bates/Donald Gregory, McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07-006398-6
Newton’s Telecom Dictionary, 14th edition, Harry Newton, Flatiron Publishing, ISBN 1-57820-023-7
Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, multiple authors by BICSI, 8th ed. 800 242 7405
Essential Guide to Telecommunications; Annabel Z. Dodd
Cabling—The Complete Guide to Network Wiring; David Groth and Jim McVee; 2000; Sybex; ISBN 0-7821-26456; 820+ ppg; available at www.eta-i.org 800-288-3824 (ETA)
Committee Members for TELECOMMUNICATIONS CET:
Committee Chairman:
Tom R. Janca, CETsr
Technician: Cricket Communications, Pueblo, CO
trjanca@utilityethernetforum.org
jgarcaro@juno.com
JTHoward@netscape.net
stevedonalson@hotmail.com
TomJ@cricketcommunications.com
aprelwtz@swnebr.net
gpselec@juno.com
kwallace@charlesindustries.com
othammer@hotmail.com
ajyoung99@hotmail.com
eepar@aol.com
jgonzalez@capefear.cc.nc.us
TCM Competency
6
Electronics Technicians Association, Int’l.