Field officers, technicians or technical supervisors from carriers, contractors or other service providers apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to verify the compliance of new equipment or systems to Australian standards.

This unit applies to installation of both new, additional and replacement equipment. It may apply to switching, transmission, broadband, internet protocol (IP) networks, optical and radio networks.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Ensure conformity of international design to Australian standards

1.1. Assess original international design to verify compliance with Australian relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards

1.2. Reconfigure international design in consultation with customer

1.3. Rewrite design specifications to include configuration amendments

2. Plan and establish test regime

2.1. Plan type and number of tests to ensure full trial of new or enhanced design and greatest coverage for minimal tests

2.2. Plan and establish test environment to ensure total validity of chosen tests

2.3. Design test regime of proposed system to test impact on existing systems

2.4. Confirm test regime in consultation with planners and verify that test equipment meets required standards

3. Undertake tests

3.1. Conduct and document tests including live system tests in logical and sequential order to planned test regime

3.2. Negotiate problems experienced during the test with system experts or designers to plan contingency activity according to enterprise policy

3.3. Prepare and submit trouble reports according to enterprise policy

4. Analyse test results

4.1. Analyse test results against design specifications and planned outcomes

4.2. Prepare a report referring major deficiencies to designers with recommendations for design change

4.3. Analyse minor variances, plan solutions and document changes to specifications

5. Retest design changes

5.1. Implement design and specification changes and conduct further tests as required

5.2. Analyse test results to verify compliance with updated design specifications

5.3. Document results of tests according to enterprise policy

Required skills

analytical skills to:

assess compatibility and interoperability with existing system

interpret test equipment settings and readings

communication skills to liaise with internal personnel, technical staff, manufacturers and vendor engineers on technical, operational and business related matters

literacy skills to:

interpret technical specifications and related documentation

write reports and recommendations

numeracy skills to make calculations and necessary calibration changes

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work

technical skills to:

interpret engineering specifications

perform high level and complex testing

test and evaluate new technologies

Required knowledge

Australian standards applicable to system and equipment compliance

connections to carrier infrastructure or equipment

design criteria

network and equipment tests for compliance

network architectures

relevant international standards

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:

apply Australian standards to international designs

negotiate with equipment vendor and identify specific requirements

configure and set up test regimes

identify and conduct tests including live system tests and interpret and analyse results

approach problem diagnosis systematically, eliminating causes

retest design changes

prepare report, including deficiencies, analysis and recommendations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

test site where qualification testing of equipment and systems may be conducted

equipment currently used in industry

relevant Australian and international standards, codes, design specifications, manuals and reference materials.

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:

oral report and direct observation of the candidate establishing a test regime

direct observation of the candidate undertaking tests including live system test on equipment and systems

review of reports completed by the candidate for different equipment types, test results and situations, analysing results with recommendations and supporting reasons

oral or written questioning of the candidate to assess knowledge of qualification and testing procedures, types of systems and tests.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTNPL6046A Undertake network performance analysis.

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.

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.

Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards TS 14

Australian electrical standards

International Standards ISO 9000 and ISO 9001

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendations

occupational health and safety (OHS)

Telecommunications Act and associated codes.

Reconfigure international design may involve:

conforming to:

Australian regulation, codes and standards

international standards.

Tests may include:

network tests:

bandwidth

latency

packet loss rate

quality of service (QoS)

redundancy

uploads and downloads rate

switching tests:

blocking

call rate

congestion

drop out rate

functionality

QoS

recovery rate

transmission tests:

distortion

interference

optical transmission

radio transmission

signal to noise ratio

transmitted power measurements.

Test environment may involve:

laboratory situation with simulated test conditions

trialling in a model network with actual test conditions.

Test equipment may include:

communication system analysers

global system for mobiles (GSM) spectrum frequency synthesizer

laser source

microwave link analyser

modulator tester

network analyser

optical fibre power meters

optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)

pattern generators

power meters

protocol analyser

radio frequency (RF) band noise meter

RF microwave test sets

RF sweep tester

spectrum analysers

sweep test coaxial and wave guide antenna systems.

Contingency activity may refer to:

P1 blocking:

referred to experts or trouble report issued

submitted to designers

P2 customer perception problems:

test continues

trouble report sent to designers

P3 identifiable problem:

work around problem or make minor changes

P4 minor:

usually specification error

change and document.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.