Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct routine maintenance tasks, analysing results and initiating corrective action.
It applies to individuals working as field officers from telecommunications carriers, service providers and contractors. They combine a broad range of optical and radio frequency (RF) technical skills with organisational skills to maintain the hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) broadband cable network, generally with limited supervision and guidance.
Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. Refer to the ICT Implementation Guide Companion Volume or the relevant regulator for details of licensing, legislative or certification requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for routine maintenance of broadband cable network | 1.1 Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards for given work 1.2 Determine HFC network elements requiring maintenance and obtain maintenance details from various HFC manufacturer equipment manuals 1.3 Plan detailed routine maintenance schedule and discuss with all relevant personnel 1.4 Notify network operations centre (NOC) of proposed maintenance details and maintenance schedule 1.5 Assess potential impact of proposed maintenance on clients and network, and plan for minimal possible outage or deferral of maintenance 1.6 Obtain necessary tools and resources, and test equipment to undertake maintenance 1.7 Ascertain and record recent network stability and network performance |
2. Undertake routine HFC network maintenance tasks | 2.1 Conduct routine maintenance tasks according to documented enterprise instructions, following work health and safety (WHS) and environmental requirements, and record results 2.2 Protect network from excessive interference or degradation of service during maintenance routines 2.3 Monitor relevant alarms during running of maintenance tasks and report incidences to NOC 2.4 Escalate unresolved faults according to established enterprise procedure 2.5 Conduct performance measurements following routine maintenance schedule |
3. Analyse results and initiate corrective action | 3.1 Assess outcomes of performance measurements and maintenance routines to ensure they are according to specification 3.2 Analyse identified problems for likely impact and repair within capability, and initiate or escalate repair action where repair is beyond capability 3.3 Undertake outage if required in conjunction with NOC and according to prescribed enterprise outage plan 3.4 Record problems and incidences in maintenance log for future action as required by maintenance agreement 3.5 Verify alarms to ensure maintenance routines did not generate further problems |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
determine the performance of and maintenance requirements for the hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) broadband cable
prepare a maintenance schedule and planned activities, and arrange resources
carry out maintenance activities following appropriate procedures and techniques
perform radio frequency (RF) and optical measurements and analyse results
administer corrective measures where required, and verify and document actions
comply with site risk control, work health and safety (WHS), environmental, quality and communication requirements.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
define the following terms: 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM
explain the relevance of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electrical equipment in HFC broadband cable network
define forward error correction (FEC) and Reed-Solomon Code
explain bit error ratio (BER) and acceptable values
interpret constellation diagrams
describe digital modulation techniques
summarise Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) cable modem characteristics
discuss future broadband cable network (BCN) and migration to all-optical cable networks
outline HFC broadband cable network principles, architecture and associated equipment
outline the minimum standards allowable in the return path for ingress
summarise optical fibre characteristics
explain quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK)
summarise the services carried on the HFC broadband cable network
discuss spectrum utilisation of the return path showing location of telephony and data channels, and signalling and test frequencies
explain video stream transport formats including:
digital video broadcasting (DVB) - asynchronous serial interface (ASI)
high definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI)
motion picture experts group 2 (MPEG-2)
standard definition serial digital interface (SD-SDI)
modulation error ratio (MER) and acceptable values
describe the types of amplifier and placement in a HFC broadband cable network
summarise bi-directional RF amplifier and unidirectional RF amplifier
explain eye diagram interpretation
explain frequency spectrum and RF frequency plan HFC broadband cable network
describe the use of passive devices including filter, attenuator, power inserter, coaxial splitter, coupler, multitap and equaliser
outline the calculation of overall gain or loss when given signal levels in dBmv
summarise coaxial transmission line characteristics including cable tilt or slope
summarise forward path from head end to subscriber showing expected signal levels at key points
outline power supply requirements in a HFC broadband cable network
outline the return path from subscriber to head end showing expected signal levels at key points
discuss RF amplifier characteristics including gain and tilt adjustment, equalisation and overload
outline forms of ingress and where they may fall in the return path
describe the set up, operation and interpretation of test equipment for complex tests including:
optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)
optical power meter
digital signal level meter
RF sweep equipment
spectrum analyser
identify the hand and power tools required to assemble and disassemble equipment in pits and in elevated work situations.
Assessment Conditions
Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances should be typical of those experienced in the telecommunications – radio frequency networks field of work and include access to:
sites on which HFC maintenance may be conducted
maintenance tools and test instruments currently used in industry
relevant regulatory, enterprise and equipment documentation that impact on maintenance activities.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 1.2, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.3 | Recognises and interprets enterprise, regulatory and technical information from relevant sources to determine all specifications and frameworks |
Writing | 1.3, 1.4, 1.7, 2.1, 3.4 | Uses clear, specific and industry related terminology to complete and update workplace documentation and in written communications to relevant personnel |
Oral Communication | 1.3, 1.4 | Liaises with a diverse range of personnel to provide advice and guidance using relevant language Uses listening and questioning techniques to confirm understanding |
Numeracy | 2.5 | Interprets numerical information and applies basic calculations to conduct performance measurements |
Navigate the world of work | 2.1, 2.4 | Takes personal responsibility for adherence to legal and regulatory responsibilities relevant to own work, with specific reference to safety and environmental requirements Seeks advice from others when a situation becomes too complex to manage personally |
Get the work done | 1.1, 1.2, 1.5-1.7, 2.1-2.3, 3.1-3.5 | Determines job priorities, resources and equipment and works logically and systematically to undertake clearly defined and familiar tasks Implements actions according to a predetermined plan, making slight adjustments if necessary and addressing some unexpected issues Takes responsibility for routine decision making by selecting from a range of predetermined options in routine situations, identifying and taking situational factors into account Responds to typical problems in different situations and implements standard solutions Understands the purposes and specific functions of common digital systems and uses them effectively to complete routine tasks Uses experiences to evaluate and identify improvements for future work |
Sectors
Telecommunications – radio frequency networks