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Title / Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications radio technologies
Level / 3 / Credits / 15
Purpose / This unit standard covers basic underpinning knowledge for people engaged in installation and maintenance of telecommunications radio services including cellular radio.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate basic knowledge of:
–radio frequency theory;
–radio transmission theory;
–fibre optic cables;
–digital multiplexing and hierarchies;
–TDM networks; and
–testing and commissioning of radio frequency services.
Classification / Telecommunications > Telecommunications - Service Delivery
Available grade / Achieved
Guidance Information
1Unit 27975, Perform installation and maintenance of telecommunications radio systems and services is recommended for entry.
2Evidence against this unit standard may be demonstrated through either knowledge assessment or practical assessment. The use of diverse forms of evidence in assessment against this unit standard is encouraged. Evidence must be in accordance with industry practice and, where appropriate, must reflect environmental considerations.
3The term telecommunications radio technologies includes radio, wireless, and cellular technologies.
4The term basic knowledge is used to describe the underpinning knowledge required by candidates to support the range of practical installation and maintenance activities assessed by Unit 27975, Perform installation and maintenance of telecommunications radio systems and services.
5References
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010;
NZS 2772.1:1999, Radiofrequency fields – Maximum exposure levels – 3 kHz to 300 GHz;
Radiocommunications Act 1989;
Radiocommunications Regulations 2001;
Search and Surveillance Act 2012;
Telecommunications Act 2001;
and all subsequent amendments and replacements.
6Definitions
3G – Third Generation cellular services.
APC – Angled Physical Contact.
Cable – any or all of – copper cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable.
CDMA –Code Division Multiple Access.
DECT –Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications.
DMR –Digital Mobile Radio.
E(x) –refers to a frame descriptor. x= 1, 2, 3….6.
EDGE – Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution.
eDMR – Ethernet Digital Mobile Radio (IP Radio).
EVDO –Evolution Data Optimised.
FDD – Frequency Division Duplex.
FDMA –Frequency Division Multiple Access.
FTTN – Fibre To The Node.
GPRS –General Packet Radio Service.
GSM –Global System for Mobile communications.
HSPA –High Speed Packet Access.
Industry practice – those practices which competent practitioners within the industry recognise as current industry best practice.
IP –Internet Protocol.
LCR – any circuit containing combinations of inductive, capacitive and/or resistive components.
LTE – Long Term Evolution (4G Cellular Services).
MPLS – Multi-Protocol Label Switching.
MUX – Multiplexer.
OTDR – Optical Time Domain Reflectometer.
PC –Physical Contact.
PDH – Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy.
RF – Radio Frequency.
SDH – Synchronous Digital Hierarchy.
SIP – Session Initiation protocol.
SONET – Synchronous Optical Network.
TCP – Transmission Control Protocol.
TDD – Time Division Duplex.
TDM – Time Divisions Multiplex.
TDMA – Time Division Multiple Access.
UDP – User Datagram Protocol.
UMTS – Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
xPON – various (x) Passive Optical Networking systems.
Outcomes and performance criteria
Outcome 1
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio frequency theory.
Performance criteria
1.1Define, calculate, and state the units of measurement for reactance and impedance of RF Circuits.
Rangeimpedance calculations – at any given frequency for simple three-element series and parallel circuits.
1.2Use vectors to show phase relationships of voltages and currents in series and parallel circuits and calculate their resultants.
1.3Calculate resonant frequencies for simple series and parallel circuits.
1.4Explain the operation of simple LCR filters in non-mathematical terms.
Rangehighpass, lowpass, bandpass, bandstop, duplexers, diplexers.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate basic knowledge of radio transmission theory.
Performance criteria
2.1Explain basic concepts of frequency, RF spectrum, wavelength, and bandwidth and make conversions between frequency and wavelength, and units of measurement.
2.2Explain the principles of modulation with the aid of waveform sketches.
Rangeamplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation. analogue modulation, digital modulation, harmonics, single side band.
2.3Outline the basic operation of transmission lines and cables at radio frequency.
Rangetransmission lines – primary components of a line, definition of transmission loss, variation of loss with frequency, characteristic impedance, reflections, standing waves, effect of terminations;
cables – twisted pair, coaxial.
2.4Explain the principles of antenna and feeders with reference to operation, physical construction, and feeder to antenna matching in non-mathematical terms.
Rangeantenna – isotropic, ¼ Wave, ½ Wave, 5∕8 Wave, full Wave;
feeder – delta match, quarter wave transformer, LC network match, transformer match.
2.5Outline the principles of propagation of radio waves in free space in non-mathematical terms.
Rangeground wave, sky wave, space wave.
2.6Explain waveguides with reference to how they guide a radio wave, physical construction, and termination requirements.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate basic knowledge of fibre optic cables.
Performance criteria
3.1Explain method of fibre optic cable construction, principle of light transmission, application, and losses of fibre optic cables.
Rangefibre optic cables – single mode, multi-mode.
3.2Identify fibre patch cords and connectors used in radio applications in terms of colour coding and construction.
Rangepatch cords – multi-mode, laser optimised multi-mode, single mode;
connectors – LC, SC, ST, MPO;
types of polish – PC, APC, UPC.
3.3Explain the requirement for fibre hygiene and fibre inspection and cleaning procedures.
Rangerequirements – perfect core alignment, physical contact, pristine connector interface;
contamination effects – reflection, loss, equipment damage;
inspection – inspect before you connect, inspect after cleaning, connector inspection, bulkhead inspection, transceiver inspection;
cleaning procedures – connectors, bulkhead adaptors, transceivers.
3.4Explain basic fibre optical testing tools in terms of features, applications and limitations.
Rangeoptical testing tools include – visual fault locator, light source, power meter, OTDR, fibre identifier, launch and receive cables.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate basic knowledge of digital multiplexing and hierarchies.
Performance criteria
4.1Outline the principles of TDM multiplexing from speech to 64Kb/s channel time slot to a single E1 frame.
Rangeanalogue – digital conversion, sampling, demultiplexing, digital-analogue conversion, b channels, d channels, frame synchronisation, alarm transport.
4.2Develop the European PDH digital hierarchy from lower order to higher order MUX.
RangeEuropean PDH –E1 (2Mb/s), E2 (8Mb/s), E3, (34Mb/s), E4 (140Mb/s), E5 (565Mb/s).
4.3Outline and compare SDH and PDH hierarchies in terms of function, application, and features.
Rangeterminating MUX, drop and insert MUX, DS1, STM1, STM4, STM16, STM64.
4.4Explain the concepts of self-healing and hitless switching with reference to diversity routing.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – self healing, hitless switching.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate basic knowledge of TDM networks.
Performance criteria
5.1Explain concisely the function and associated features of radio networking technologies with reference to standards and protocols.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – MPLS, H.248, SIP, IP, TCP, UDP, Ethernet, ATM, xPON, FTTN, FDD, TDD,FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, SONET, PDH, SDH, DMR, eDMR, GSM, UMTS, GPRS, 3G, EVDO, DECT, EDGE, WiMAX, HSPA, LTE.
5.2Explain basic principles of signalling systems used across a radio network with reference to functions and features.
Rangeone in band signalling system, one out of band signalling system.
5.3Explain network synchronisation principles with respect to function and operation.
Outcome 6
Demonstrate basic knowledge of testing and commissioning of radio frequency services.
Performance criteria
6.1Explain test equipment used in the commissioning of radio frequency services in terms of features, operation, and protection of the equipment.
Rangepower meter, local craft terminal(s), spectrum analyser, RF sweep set;
may include but is not limited to – optical time domain reflectometer, modulation meter, passive intermodulation meter, built in test equipment.
6.2Identify the effect of incorrect termination impedance on RF systems and RF test equipment with reference to damage to test equipment and, erroneous readings.
6.3Identify typical units of measurement for radio frequency test equipment.
6.4Explain methods of performing antenna alignment and the test equipment required.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 18 July 2013 / N/A
Rollover and Revision / 2 / 23 November 2017 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0101
This CMR can be accessed at
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Infrastructure ITO if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Connexis Infrastructure ITOSSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019