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: 

Maintain broadcast head-end equipment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115048  Maintain broadcast head-end equipment 
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  9 
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:
  • Plan broadcast head-end equipment maintenance
  • Maintain broadcast head-end equipment
  • Apply health and safety techniques when maintaining equipment
  • Solve head-end maintenance problems 
    		•

    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:
  • Computer hardware and software
  • Data (multimedia) principles
  • Computer Network principles
  • Faultfinding and recovery of broadcast head-end faults 
    		•

    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 
    Plan broadcast head-end equipment maintenance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Approval of maintenance is obtained from relevant authorities in accordance with worksite procedures 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Processes and back-out plans approval are obtained from relevant authorities 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Special equipment, where needed, is obtained before maintenance schedules are implemented 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Materials, test equipment, broadcast equipment and tools needed for the maintenance activities are obtained in accordance with worksite procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The reasons for selecting specific tools and equipment are explained and justified in terms of their effectiveness for the maintenance 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Maintenance activities are planned to cause minimum disruption to the workflow and are planned around important events 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Maintain broadcast head-end equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Equipment performance is verified and measured using diagnostic software 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The functionality of electronic boards are verified as acceptable 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Equipment is cleaned in accordance with the worksite procedures 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Solutions selected to maintain performance is successfully implemented 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Tests confirm the performance of system / equipment against manufacturer's data/specifications, company specific performance criteria or relevant industry standards 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The settings and adjustments to the components / files ensure optimal functioning 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Housekeeping is done in accordance with the worksite practice 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Cleanliness, cable numbering, input for drawings and input to update the Standard Operating Procedures
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Status reports reflect the test or outcome of the maintenance, is clear, accurate and in accordance with the worksite practice 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Comply with workplace health and safety requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Required health and safety practices are known and adhered to at all times 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Precautions are taken to avoid damage to components, tools and equipment 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Waste and debris are removed from work sites and disposed of in accordance with environmental requirements 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Consumables are safely stored in accordance with worksite practices 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Tools and equipment are cared for and stored as per worksite practice 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Potential health hazards are correctly identified and action appropriate for the context is taken 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Action can include removal, reduction and/or reporting
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Solve head-end maintenance problems. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Technical, work related, tangible or conceptual problems 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Potential head-end maintenance problems are identified and evaluated for impact 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate responses are formulated to deal with potential head-end maintenance problems effectively 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Technical head-end maintenance problems are identified, diagnosed and solutions formulated that are appropriate and effective 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Tangible and conceptual problems within own area of responsibility, standard or non-standard procedures
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Problems that cannot be resolved are reported to relevant persons 


    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:
    2.1 Safety precautions and safe working practices in the broadcast environment
    2.2 Own responsibilities and accountabilities in the workplace
    2.3 Maintenance standards and procedures of the organisation
    2.4 Communication techniques when dealing with clients and colleagues
    2.5 Quality assurance of product and service delivery
    2.6 Documentation requirements and procedures
    2.7 Operating Broadcast head-end equipment
    2.8 Head-end system architecture and configurations
    2.9 Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) as applied in Conditional Access 

    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 equipment performance information and critically evaluate the effect of it on equipment 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 (computer network equipment and systems) 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 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
    3.1 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.
    3.2 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.
    3.3 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.
    3.4 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.
    3.5 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.
    3.6 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.