Assessor Resource

ICTTEN4050A
Install and configure a wireless mesh network

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Technicians and technical officers from private and public organisations who install and test wireless networking equipment or radio communications equipment apply the skills and knowledge in this unit.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to install and configure a wireless mesh network comprised of radio nodes organised in a mesh topology. Wireless mesh networks provide users with secure wireless roaming beyond traditional wireless local area network (LAN) boundaries and are readily deployed in areas that lack wired backhaul.

The mesh topology and ad-hoc routing give mesh networks stability, offer redundancy and have the ability to self form and self heal. Mesh networks enable local communities and those in remote areas to participate in a distributed shared network without the need for centralised management.

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.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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:

configure wireless mesh nodes

install wireless mesh nodes, access point nodes and gateway

test nodes for connectivity.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites on which configuring and installing wireless mesh network may be conducted

technical documentation.

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 configuring wireless mesh routers

direct observation of the candidate installing wireless mesh nodes, access point nodes and gateway

direct observation of the candidate testing nodes for connectivity

oral or written questioning to assess required knowledge.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTTEN5217A Plan a wireless mesh network

ICTRFN3055A Install a radio communications antenna and feedline.

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.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with vendors and installation personnel on technical and operational matters

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and write reports in required formats

numeracy skills to perform calculations, interpret results and evaluate different types of technical data

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work and that of others

problem solving and contingency management skills to:

adapt testing procedures to requirements of particular situations

modify activities depending on operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

technical skills to:

install software

select and specify appropriate performance tests and test equipment

set up IP addresses and subnet masks

use IT networking skills

Required knowledge

802.11 wireless protocols

allocation of IP addresses and subnet masks

antenna gain, polarisation

cable loss

calculation of effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP)

calculation of line of site radio range

decibels and related units

network topologies

radio frequency (RF) frequency bands

routing protocols

transmission control protocol (TCP)-IP protocols

wireless networking hardware, access points, wireless routers, gateway

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.

Appropriate person may include:

network engineer

project designer

project manager.

Upgrade firmware may include:

OpenWrt Linux based firmware

Freifunk firmware

MIT Roofnet.

Wireless routersettings may include:

LAN settings:

firewall usage

LAN IP address and subnet mask

LAN protocol

routing protocol:

optimised link state routing (OLSR)

system settings:

country

host name

wireless settings:

basic service set identifier (BSSID)

channel number/frequency

extended service set identifier (ESSID)

wireless LAN (WLAN) IP address

WLAN IP address and subnet mask

WLAN mode

WLAN protocol.

WiFi wireless access point settings may include:

settings:

DHCP settings:

maximum number of DHCP users

starting IP address

DHCP type

router IP address

router name

wireless settings:

wireless channel number or frequency

wireless network name (SSID).

Straight LAN cable may include:

Category 5

Category 5e

Category 6.

Gateway server may include:

connection to another network

connection to the internet

via asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL).

Services may include:

domain name system (DNS)

mail server

web proxy.

Configuration sheets may include:

host name

LAN settings

routing protocol

software or firmware version

WAN settings

wireless router details

wireless settings.

Align may include:

azimuth angle

elevation angle

set antenna polarisation:

horizontal

vertical.

Documentation records may include:

configuration details:

access point

gateway

router

IP Addresses

signal levels.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Determine internet protocol (IP) addressing schemes from design plan obtained from appropriate person 
Confirm compatibility of factory installed firmware in wireless routers with mesh routing requirements, otherwise install upgrade firmware 
Configure wireless routersettings and wireless fidelity (WiFi) wireless access pointsettings for inclusion in mesh network 
Connect mesh node and access node back-to-back via a straight LAN cable according to design plan 
Configure routing software on mesh and backbone nodes to enable mesh traffic to reach backbone 
Connect mesh node and backbone node back-to-back via a straight LAN cable 
Configure gateway server and gateway node and add required services to the network 
Assemble all wireless mesh routers with configuration sheets attached and power up the routers 
Connect PC to a wireless mesh router and confirm that an IP address is provided automatically by dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) 
Confirm connectivity to mesh nodes and the gateway by pinging individual IP addresses, and rectify faulty nodes if required 
Install mesh nodes according to design plan 
Install and align directional antennas on wireless backbone path according to installation instructions and occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures 
Confirm connectivity between mesh clusters at either end of wireless backbone 
Remove waste from work site, dispose of according to environmental requirements and restore work area to customer's satisfaction 
Update documentation records and make recommendations according to the enterprise policy 
Notify the customer of job completion and obtain sign off 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICTTEN4050A - Install and configure a wireless mesh network
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICTTEN4050A - Install and configure a wireless mesh network

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: