SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Measure, analyse and report on broadcast field strengths 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115029  Measure, analyse and report on broadcast field strengths 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Audio-visual Media Production 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be essential to technically-skilled people who work in the broadcasting environment and need to use sophisticated methods and equipment to install, set-up, operate and fault find professional microwave and satellite broadcasting equipment.

Learners are required to systematically analyse a range of problems and isolate and diagnose their causes. The problems emanate from the complexities and pressures of the broadcast environment in which immediate and appropriate responses are needed to solve technical problems.

People credited with this standard will be able to:
  • Establish measurement points
  • Plan coverage measurements
  • Measure VHF/UHF field strengths
  • Measure medium wave field strengths
  • Measure VHF/UHF coverage
  • Measure medium wave coverage
  • Reconcile VHF/UHF measurement results
  • Analyse coverage results and propose recommendations 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit value is based on the assumption that people starting to learn towards this unit standard already understand:
  • Radio and Television principles
  • Signal distribution principles
  • Modulation principles 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Establish measurement points. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate points to measure broadcast field strengths for reliable results are determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Free space conditions are determined accurately for VHF/UHF. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Effected Radiated Power.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Surface reflections are avoided when determining measurement points. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Earth and water.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Known building structure and power lines are avoided in determining measurement points for Medium Wave. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Up to five test points along a single azimuth.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Measurement points are outside the near field, but close enough to transmitting sites without ground conductivity playing a role in the measurements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare to conduct coverage measurements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Equipment suitable for the job is selected and is at hand. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Correct antennae range, suitable frequency range measuring equipment, appropriate interconnection cables, masts and generator, if required.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Vehicles are checked according to prescribed worksite procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All logistical arrangements are made in advance. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Local transmitter manager, town clerk, and accommodation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Technical issues are explained to people at coverage areas in a way likely that non-technical persons would understand the significance thereof. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    All cable losses, antennae gains and amplifier gains are accurately determined and the functionality of all connectors are confirmed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    All field strength measuring equipment has been calibrated accurately. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Measure VHF/UHF field strengths. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Exact locations of problem areas are established accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Representative samples of measurement points within problem areas are determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Vertical sounding methods are used to measure at least one null and one peak. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Surface reflections and reflections from buildings are avoided during the measurements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Correct antennae and correct polarization resulted in accurate measurements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Results are recorded accurately and completely. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Measure medium wave field strengths. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Exact locations of problem areas are established accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Representative samples of measurement points within problem areas are determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All loop antennae null depth measurements taken are greater then 12 dB. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Peak field strength values are obtained and record accurately. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Measure VHF/UHF coverage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Exact locations of problem areas are established accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Representative samples of measurement points within problem areas are determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Signal strengths are recorded accurately from 3-10 meters above ground level for each operating frequency. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The picture and sound quality reception and degree of multipath are determined accurately. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Measure medium wave coverage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Measurements at all test points in the problem area are performed in accordance with prescribed procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Measurement results are record accurately in accordance with the worksite procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Sound quality is determined accurately. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Preliminary analysis is done ensuring the integrity of measurements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 7 
    Reconcile VHF/UHF and coverage measurements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The field strength values are calculated accurately from measured signal strength results in accordance with prescribed procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Calculated field strength measurements are reconciled with Effected Radiated Power. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Field strength values for Medium Wave are reconciled with the EMRP. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 8 
    Analyse coverage results and propose recommendations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Coverage results are analysed for best signal performances. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The calculated values diagnosed are in accordance with prescribed values for satisfactory reception. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Recommendations are made based on all relevant information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Corrective action, if required, is recommended. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Reports are produced in the required worksite format, are complete and contain all relevant information. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.
    Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option: The moderation requirements of the relevant SETA's ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Safety precautions and safe working practices in the broadcast environment
  • Own responsibilities and accountabilities in the workplace
  • Standards and procedures of the organisation
  • Communication techniques when dealing with clients and colleagues
  • Quality assurance of product and service delivery
  • Documentation requirements and procedures
  • Field strength measuring equipment, methods and techniques
  • Fundamentals of propagation and antennae theory (Medium Wave, Short Wave, VHF/UHF, Microwave, Satellite) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking to take remedial action. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others (clients and colleagues) as a member of a team, group, organisation to achieve the required end-result. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves in the work areas and their activities responsibly and effectively to complete tasks within deadlines. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect and analyse signal information and critically evaluate the effect of this on work performance. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively (with clients and colleagues), using visual and/or language skills. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology (measuring equipment) effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment (work areas and venues) and health of others (clients and colleagues). 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding that the world or work is a set of related systems and that problem-solving does not exist in isolation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Notes to Assessors:

    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriate, fair, manageable, integrated into work or learning, valid, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48792   Certificate: Broadcast Engineering  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD 
    2. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    3. OPELONG BUSINESS INSTITUTE (PT 
    4. SUPREME ICT CONSULTANTS 
    5. Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.