Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to install and test receiving  antenna equipment on dwellings, buildings, masts and other structures to receive terrestrial signals.

Depending on the particular installation, organisational requirements, and state or territory legislation, specific licences may be required in areas, such as:

• working on roofs
• working at heights
• structure climbing
• tower rescue
• hoisting and mounting antennas
• installing feedlines
• electromagnetic energy (EME) awareness.

Users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Application of the unit 

Technical staff who install or replace receiving antennas on single and multiple dwellings, commercial buildings and telecommunications structures apply the skills and knowledge in this unit.

This unit may apply to installations for digital radio and digital TV reception applications. Installations may be new or existing, standalone or part of a site with multiple antennas.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for work on a terrestrial antenna

1.1. Prepare for installation applying all relevant legislation , codes , regulations and standards  and identify any safety issues 

1.2. Organise resources to be available on site

1.3. Notify customer to arrange access to the site and possible outage

1.4. Organise tools and equipment  and ensure they are in safe working order and adjusted to manufacturer's specifications

2. Assemble and mount antenna and coaxial cable

2.1. Assemble antenna on site according to plans, specifications and enterprise guidelines using safe industry practice

2.2. Connect coaxial cable  to antenna and install lightning protection devices

2.3. Mount antenna to structure and set polarisation  and initial antenna azimuth and elevation 

3. Test and align antenna system

3.1. Connect installed antenna system to appropriate test equipment  and pan antenna to optimise the signal  across all specified channel frequencies

3.2. Conduct performance tests  according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise guidelines

3.3. Interpret test results and compare with manufacturer's design specifications and make adjustments

4. Complete administrative duties

4.1. Record test results and complete appropriate records

4.2. Secure and clean up site to original condition in an environmentally safe manner

4.3. Notify customer of work completion and obtain sign off

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills to liaise with customer on operational and site matters
• literacy skills to interpret technical documentation, including antenna specifications and test equipment manuals
• numeracy skills to:

• evaluate different types of technical data
• interpret results
• take radio frequency (RF) measurements

• planning and organisation skills to arrange site access
• safety awareness skills to:

• apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities
• select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and occupational health and safety (OHS) standards
• work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

• technical skills to:

• assemble antenna according to plans
• physically align antenna
• strip, prepare and terminate single, dual, triple and quad shield coaxial cable
• use hand and power tools and operate test equipment
• use multimeter to test coaxial cable
• use signal level meter or spectrum analyser

Required knowledge 

• antenna:

• directivity
• front to back ratio
• optimum placement
• pattern
• polarisation

• bit error ratio (BER)
• coaxial cable types and properties
• electromagnetic waves:

• absorption by trees and buildings
• awareness of exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
• reflection

• legislation, codes of practice and other formal agreements that directly impact on antenna installation
• modulation:

• bandwidth
• individual spectrum shape of analog and digital television signals and DAB+ digital radio signals

• modulation error ratio (MER)
• RF spectrum:

• Australian DAB+ digital radio channel frequencies
• Australian television UHF and VHF channel plan (digital and analog)
• terminology related to bands used for broadcasting (Bands I , II, III, IV and V)

• signal level expressed in dBuV units
• specific OHS requirements that impact on the installation of terrestrial antenna equipment
• television antenna product knowledge

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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:

• assemble, install, align and test a terrestrial antenna according to plans and specifications, and site specific safety requirements
• conduct performance tests according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise guidelines.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• site for antenna installation
• range of antennas and coaxial cables currently used in industry
• range of general and test equipment required for antenna installation and testing.

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 installing a directional receiving antenna with a given direction of polarisation
• direct observation of the candidate preparing, securing and connecting a coaxial cable to the antenna
• direct observation of appropriate signal performance measurement and adjustment of azimuth alignment
• 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:

• ICTRFN2163A Install a satellite antenna
• ICTDRE3156A Install digital reception equipment.

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.

RANGE STATEMENT 

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 Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
• Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) technical standards
• AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) Volume 1
• Australian building codes and regulations
• AS/NZS 1367:2007
• AS/NZS 1768:2007
• AS 1417.1:1987
• enterprise standards
• environmental protection
• fire regulations
• heritage legislation
• industrial relations agreements including awards and enterprise
• international standards
• local government
• manufacturer's enterprise operating policy and procedures
• national code
• OHS Act
• other services and utilities codes of practice and standards:

• electricity
• gas
• water

• power company requirements
• Privacy Act
• spectrum management authority
• statutory requirements
• Trade Practices Act
• traditional land owners.

Safety issues  may refer to:

• devices to support construction personnel at heights:

• elevated personnel vehicles
• non-metallic ladders
• platforms

• external factors affecting works:

• concentration of other services
• terrain
• weather conditions

• precautions for unsafe weather conditions to undertake works:

• heavy rains
• high winds
• severe cold
• severe heat
• thunderstorms

• preparing for work at a telecommunications site with potential EMR hazards
• safety issues in:

• fall arrest
• fall guarding
• roof work

• working safely on telecommunications radio structures.

Tools and equipment  may include:

• fall arrest systems required on structure where no ladder cages installed
• general equipment:

• elevated platform
• hand and power tools
• ladder
• winch

• magnetic compass
• personal protective equipment:

• earmuffs
• eye protection
• dust protection
• gloves
• hard hats
• personal reflecting jackets
• safety boots

• safety equipment:

• aerial safety belts and lines
• helmets
• safety cages
• traffic signs
• warning signs and tapes
• witches hats.

Coaxial cable  may include:

• coaxial cable with flooded polyethylene (PE) jacket for underground applications
• RG11 quad shielded coaxial cable
• RG6 quad shielded coaxial cable.

Polarisation  may include:

• circular
• horizontal
• vertical.

Initial antenna azimuth and elevation  may be set according to:

• best estimate of transmitter direction
• compass bearing provided by plans
• portable measuring instrument.

Test equipment  may include:

• antenna analyser
• digital video broadcasting - Terrestrial (DVB-T) digital terrestrial meter
• field strength meter
• multimeter
• signal level meter
• spectrum analyser.

Optimise the signal  may refer to:

• achieving uniform performance across multiple channels
• carrier to noise ratio (C/N)
• BER pre forward error correction (FEC)
• MER
• signal strength in dBuV.

Performance tests  may include:

• signal quality across all terrestrial digital channels
• signal strength of analog television channels
• signal strength of digital television channels.

Unit sector 

Telecommunications

Co-requisite units 

Competency field 

Radio frequency networks