ICTRFN2164A Install a terrestrial antenna

Release: 1

ICTRFN2164A Install a terrestrial antenna

Modification History

Not Applicable

Unit Descriptor

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

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.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not Applicable

Pre-Requisites

Prerequisite units

Employability Skills Information

Employability skills	This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

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.

Elements and Performance Criteria

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

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

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

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(s)

Unit sector	Telecommunications

Co-requisite units

Co-requisite units

Competency field

Competency field	Radio frequency networks