Course Title: Conduct field tests of radio/wireless networks

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2010

Course Code: EEET6554C

Course Title: Conduct field tests of radio/wireless networks

School: 130T Vocational Engineering

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5175 - Diploma of Telecommunications Photonics

Course Contact: Raymond Meyer ? Program Coordinator

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4716

Course Contact Email: raymond,meyer@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Noor Sateh– Course Teacher

 noor.sateh@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course is designed to assist learner to gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to undertaking field tests of radio-wireless networks, includes understanding the fundamental structure of radio networks, the technique to conduct field test in radio-wireless network, the concept to plan and simulate a radio network over designated coverage area.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICTTC096C Conduct field tests of radio/wireless networks

Element:

Analyse test results

Performance Criteria:

1.1Test results are analysed against specified standards
1.2 Variations to standards are investigated and reasons identified
1.3 Faults are diagnosed and either repaired or escalated in accordance with enterprise policy
1.4 Design faults are documented and recommendations for change are submitted to the appropriate enterprise area

Element:

Conduct tests

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Tests specific to equipment, area and test purpose are conducted in accordance with specification
2.2 Sufficient test calls are made to achieve an adequate statistical sample
2.3 Validity of tests is ensured by comparison with current and previous data as required
2.4 Work is conducted in a manner which is safe to self, fellow workers and the public at large

Element:

Obtain tools

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Appropriate tools/test equipment are identified and obtained
3.2 Tools and test equipment are checked for accuracy and calibration organised where required
3.3 Checks are conducted to ensure that built in tests associated with particular test equipment have run and action taken in accordance with manufacturers specifications in the event of failure

Element:

Plan tests

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Need for tests and the particular types of tests to be undertaken are identified
4.2 Area to be tested is clearly identified
4.3 Location and number of tests are determined
4.4 A pre determined route is established
4.5 Current data is obtained from a print out from the switch(es)

Element:

Undertake administrative tasks

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Test results are recorded on the appropriate proforma and/or data base
5.2 Results are distributed in accordance with enterprise policy
5.3 Tools and test equipment is checked and returned for recalibration or stored in accordance with enterprise policy
5.4 Transporting of tools and test equipment in suitable protective casing is organised where appropriate


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Students are expected to
• meet only basic performance requirements of the competency (and its elements) at this level.
• show skills in designing, implementing and managing Wireless Networks particularly all facets of 802.11 technology.
• demonstrate Key Competencies within the practical activities and work performance simulations of designing, implementing and managing Local Area Network (LAN)
• administer and support Wireless Local Area Networks
• monitor Wireless LAN and troubleshoot networking problems.


Teaching Schedule

Week 1    

 - Course Outline, Assessment Criteria 
- Technology Overview, Wireless Standards & Standardization Body, 
- How Wireless Network Works, Where to Setup a Wireless Network, Security Issues


Week 2  

- Radio Frequency Fundamentals 
- Radio Frequency Characteristics: Wavelength, Amplitude, Frequency, Phase, Polarity, Keying Methods 
- Basic concepts of RF behaviour: Wave Propagation, Absorption, Reflection, Loss (Attenuation), interference, crosstalk 
               
Week 3           

-Spread Spectrum, Different uses for spread spectrum technologies

 -Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS). 
 -Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). 
 -Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM). 
 -Concepts relevant to the operation of spread spectrum technology.

 
Week 4         

- WLANs standards and standardization body: 802.11 
- Different 802.11 standards, its variances 
- Network Architecture of different 802.11 standards. 
- Operating frequency, data rate and range of different 802.11 standards. 
- Equipments used for different 802.11 standards.


Week 5 
- Week 6 Key Features of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) 
- Interference, Reliability, Bandwidth, Throughput, Security, Human safety, Mobility, Roaming 
- WLANs Service Sets. 

Week6           

-  Lab: Collect information about LAN installation equipments and cost.


Week 7         

- WMANs standards and their properties: 802.16 
- Planning of different 802.16 standards. 
- Working frequency, data rate and range of different 802.16 standards. 
- Equipments used for different 802.16 standards

- Lab: Identify RF site survey requirements.


Week 8            

- Key features of Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs) 
- Structural design of WMANs. 
- Single Base Station (BS) 
- Multiple fixed Subscriber Stations (SS) 

 Week 9         

- Lab: Perform RF site survey. 


Week 10           

- Key issues usually related with WMANs 
- Data Rate, Range, Line-of-Sight, Throughput, Quality of Service (QoS) 
- Applications of WMANs. 
                          
-Lab: Configure a Wireless LAN.

 
Week 11             

- Different WWANs standards and their properties: 802.20 
- Planning of different 802.20 standards. 
- Applications of various WWANs standards.


Week 12                   

- Key features of Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs)


Week 13                   

- RF Site Survey 

-  Importance of an RF site survey. 
- Important things in performing a site survey. 
- Necessary tasks of an RF site survey. 
- RF site survey reporting procedures


Week 14                    

- Configuration and setup of WLANs 
- WLANs based on RF site survey. 
- Configuration requirements to setup WLANs. 
- Configure a WLAN.

 
 Week 15         - Lab: Secure Wireless LAN using WEP.

Week 16                 

- WLAN Security , Strengths, weaknesses and appropriate uses of the WLAN security techniques. 
- Types of wireless LAN security attacks, and how to identify and prevent them.
                                

- Appropriate security solution from the available wireless LAN security solutions. 
- Uses of the corporate security policies and how they are used to secure a wireless LAN. 
- How and where the security precautions are used to secure a WLAN.


Week 17                Lab exam 
Week 18               Written Final Exam


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Coleman, DD and Westcott, DA, (2006)
Certified Wireless Network Administrator Study Guide
Wiley Publishing, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

The assessment is conducted in both theoretical and practical aspects of the course according to the criteria set in the National Training Package. The students are required to undertake summative assessments that bring together skills and knowledge as follows:

• Theoretical Written assessment.
• Work Simulation Projects.
• A Pass in schedule practical exercises


Assessment Tasks

Assignment           week 7              10%

lab Exam                week 17            40%

Lab journal            All weeks          10%

Written Exam        Week 18            40%         


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview