Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Operational and production personnel may include:
editors
head of department
other specialist personnel
presentation personnel
presenters
station manager
supervisor
technical personnel
transmission operators
video operators.
Resources may include:
audio and video recorders
DVD/CD playback facilities
incoming feeds
outgoing feeds
playback machines
pre-recorded content, e.g. video, DAT
servers
test equipment.
Feeds may include:
analogue
audio/video replay machines
cable
data
digital
fibre optics
live-to-air broadcasts
outside broadcast input/output
pre-recorded material
sound
studio output/input
vision
vision and sound.
Equipment may include:
audio phase vector scope
control panels
digi-carts
down-links from satellite
fibre optics
headset/microphone combination
headsets
intercom
landlines
microwave links
noise and distortion meters
open speaker
oscilloscopes (scopes)
servers, e.g. transmission, archival
switchers
talkback and two-way communication devices
test tone generators
up-links to satellite
video/audio recorders
video/audio replay machines
VU and peak program meters
waveform and picture monitor
waveform monitors.
Documentation may be:
computer generated
contact numbers
equipment manuals
fault reports
in barcode format
manually written
network maps
production information
production schedules
timelines
traffic requirements
transmission schedules.
Signals may include:
broadcasts from studios
down-links from satellite
internal lines
landlines
live-to-air broadcasts
minimal multiple feeds
pre-recorded material
single feeds
telephone lines
up-links to satellite.
Conversion may include:
analogue
aspect ratios, e.g. 4:3, 16:9
AVI
compressed formats, e.g. MPEG2
DAB
digital
FM/AM
HDTV DVD/CD
MP3
NTSC
OGG
PAL
WMA.
Signal parameters may include:
ATSC - Advanced Television Systems Committee, U.S
audio signal, e.g.:
frequency spectrum
noise
dynamic gain
signal level
DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting, Europe
ISDB - Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting, Japan
PAL/NTSC/SECAM
video signal, e.g.:
digital
analogue
colour accuracy
differential gain/phase
distortion
colour bars
horizontal/vertical scans
frame rates
interlacing.
Breaks may include:
advertisements
community announcements
insertion of live transmissions
station promotions.
Production requirements may include:
events
landline links
live and pre-recorded radio broadcasts
live and pre-recorded television broadcasts
live feeds
outside broadcasts
satellite-linked interviews
studio productions
syndications
test viewings.
Transmission sources may include:
analogue tape
any digital media
audio sources
cameras
character generators
combination of vision and audio
computer hard drive
digital tape
remote sources
satellite feeds
still stores
tape machines, e.g. video and audio playback
vision.
Faults may include:
blocking/pixellation
cable faults
colour degradation
ghosting
image tears
impulsive noise
line breakdown
no audio
no image
picture distortion
picture freeze
picture out of synchronisation with sound
satellite occlusions, e.g. thunderstorms
signal interruptions
sound distortion.
Feed providers may include:
archives
businesses
internet
outside broadcasts
post-production suites
production houses
program distributors
radio stations
studios - radio and television
television stations.

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 following is essential, in either a television or radio context:
effective verbal communication with a range of individuals, including effective use of talkback/intercom communication devices
collaborative approach to work
attention to detail
ability to work to deadlines
television, e.g.:
effective quality checking of vision and audio feeds
ability to judge picture and sound distortion
radio, e.g.:
effective quality checking of audio feeds
ability to judge sound distortion.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
practical demonstration of skills through the monitoring of incoming and outgoing signals in a basic broadcast transmission facility on more than one occasion
access to material to be prepared for broadcast
access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required
use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

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 questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
evaluation of a range of material prepared for transmission by the candidate
observation of the candidate monitoring incoming and outgoing signals in a basic broadcast transmission facility
written or verbal questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.

Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
CUFBRD303A Prepare video material for television transmission
CUFPOS201A Perform basic vision and sound editing.