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.
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 standards
Broadcasting Services Act 1992
enterprise standards
fire regulations
manufacturer's enterprise operating policy and procedures
OHS Act
Privacy Act
Radiocommunications Act 1992
spectrum management regulations
statutory requirements.
Safety issues may relate to:
drilling metal and printed circuit boards
etching printed circuit board
folding metal
soldering
tapping
threading
using metalwork guillotine, notcher or bender.
Radio communications device may include:
amateur band transceiver
amateur band transverter
low noise converter
radio receiver:
AM broadcast receiver
FM stereo broadcast receiver
global positioning system (GPS) receiver
single side band (SSB) receiver
very high frequency (VHF) weather satellite receiver
radio transmitter:
amateur band transmitter
low power FM stereo transmitter.
Project specifications may include:
modulation type:
amplitude modulation:
amplitude shift keying (ASK)
double side band full carrier (DSBFC)
double side band suppressed carrier (DSBSC)
single side band suppressed carrier (SSBSC)
frequency modulation:
analog
frequency shift keying (FSK)
phase modulation:
analog
binary phase shift keying (BPSK)
spread spectrum:
direct sequence
frequency hopping
operating frequency band:
high frequency (HF)
low frequency (LF)
medium frequency (MF)
ultra-high frequency (UHF)
very high frequency (VHF)
very low frequency (VLF)
schematic diagram of radio device
supply voltage
type of radio communications device:
radio transmitter:
RF output power
radio receiver:
sensitivity
transceiver.
Component list may include:
component description:
inductor winding details
power or voltage rating
style
manufacturer
supplier details.
Block diagram may include:
functional blocks:
amplifiers:
audio frequency (AF)
intermediate frequency (IF)
RF
bandpass IF filter
demodulator
direct digital synthesizer (DDS)
low pass filter (LPF)
microcontroller
mixer
modulator
oscillator
power supply.
Method of construction may include:
dead bug
kitset
perforated matrix board
physical layout drawing of the device
printed circuit board
rats nest point-to-point wiring
veroboard.
Enclosure details may include:
die cast box
folded sheet metal
plastic box.
Test points may include:
ground 0 volts
mixer output
oscillator output
positive supply line.
Tools may include:
desoldering braid
drill bits
hand reamer
lead free solder
long nosed pliers
nibbling tool
power drill
safety glasses
screwdrivers
solder sucker
soldering fume extractor
soldering iron and stand
spring loaded side cutters.
Test equipment may include:
AC voltmeter
frequency counter
modulation meter
multimeter
noise and distortion meter
oscilloscope
RF power meter
RF probe
RF signal generator
spectrum analyser.
Performance may include:
receiver:
image frequency response
quieting
sensitivity
signal to noise ratio
SINAD
transmitter:
carrier frequency
harmonic levels
modulation depth
modulation quality
RF output power
spurious oscillations.

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:
plan and prepare for construction of a radio communications device
prepare wiring diagram and component list
construct radio communications device
test radio communications device.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
site where radio communications device may be constructed and tested
use of test instruments currently used in industry
relevant regulatory and equipment documentation that impact on work activities.
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 constructing and testing a radio communications device
oral or written questioning of required skills and knowledge
evaluation of report prepared by the candidate outlining construction, testing procedures, results and recommendations.
Guidance information for assessment


Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
ICTTEN2140A Use hand and power tools
ICTRFN3175A Operate and maintain radio communications technical instruments and field 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.