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Training Academy

MICTSETA Courses


Your Training Contact

Dorothea Schutte

Mobile: +27 (0)82 452 6453
Phone: +27 (0)11 958 5356
E-mail: DSchutte(at)LSofSA.co.za

Get the details about the content and outcomes of our training courses by clicking at the training title

Training Focus
Delegates who attend this course will learn how to predict interference between radio services on a wanted service between other transmissions of the same broadcast technology.

Course Outcomes
The course will address the following topics:

  • Determine parameters for wanted and unwanted sites and interference potential for different broadcast services
  • Perform and Analyse interference calculations
  • Determine interferences for service areas and make recommendations on how to mitigate interference

Prerequisites

  • Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification/B.Tech/S4 Electronic Engineering Diploma
  • Successfully completed the unit standard: Predict Broadcast Signal Coverage #115032

Audience

  • Delegates with an understanding of the fundamentals of FM;LF/MFand DVB-T2 broadcasting parameters
  • Delegates who is already competent in using radio network planning software
  • Delegates with an understanding of coverage and coverage overlap
  • Delegates experienced with wave propagation models
DayCourse Contents
Day 1Determine parameters for wanted and unwanted sites
  • Geneva Agreements governing frequency assignments/allotments
  • Planning guidelines and procedures for frequency additions and amendments
  • Field strength calculations for the applicable broadcast technologies.
  • Radio network planning and applicable transmission parameters.
  • Signal to noise and signal to interference ratios.
  • Radio network planning software.
Perform interference calculations
  • Determination of Channel frequencies/field strengths by multiplication methods
  • Propagation data for VHF broadcasting services
  • Analogue and digital signals and difference in minimum usable field strengths.
  • Interferences in a MFN and SFN
 
Day 2Analyse interference calculations
  • Propagation models to calculate interferences accurately
  • Co and adjacent channel protection ratio factors contributing to interferences
  • Antenna patterns/Antenna polarization discriminations
Determine interferences for service areas and make recommendations
  • Use of broadcast planning software tool (CHIRplus_BC) for area interference calculations
  • Analyses of interference calculations
  • Adjustment of transmission and modulation parameters to overcome interferences
 

Training Focus
The focus of this course is for the learner to be able to predict broadcast signal coverage for LF/MF, FM and DTT transmissions using the applicable transmission parameters in a manual and automated environment.

Course Outcomes
The course will focus on the following specific outcomes:

  • Determine parameters for wanted sites that will influence coverage for different broadcast services
  • Perform coverage calculations
  • Analyse coverage calculations
  • Calculate signal coverage and prepare reports

Prerequisites

  • Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification/B.Tech/S4 Electronic Engineering Diploma
  • Successfully completed the unit standard: Measure, analyse and report on broadcast field strength #115029

Audience

  • Delegates with an understanding of the fundamentals of components that affect signal coverage; options for coverage calculations; coverage contours; familiar with HF/FM and DVB_T2 coverage planning
  • Delegates who is already competent in:
    • Specific broadcast technology under investigation
    • Know the different components of a broadcast transmission system
    • Understand antenna patterns and polarisation
    • Understand frequency plans and assignments
    • Has some idea on wave propagation
DayCourse Contens
Day 1Determine parameters for wanted sites
  • ICASA Frequency plan
  • Broadcaster’s service area requirements
  • Optimum antenna heights/site heights for best coverage results
Perform coverage calculations
  • Coverage Using Propagation Prediction Curves
  • Propagation prediction method
  • Propagation curves
  • Calculation of coverage areas using CHIRplus_BC planning software tool
 
Day 2Analyse coverage calculations
  • Coverage thresholds for signal coverage predictions
  • Propagation models
  • LF/MF Coverage predictions
  • Calculation results
  • FM & DTT & DAB Coverage predictions
  • Field strength calculations
Predict signal coverage and prepare reports
  • Perform coverage predictions for LF/MF & FM broadcast stations & DVB-T2 television stations
  • Prepare reports within prescribed procedures
  • Predict interference zone for LF/MF broadcast station
 

Training Focus
The focus of this course is for the learner to be able to understand an assignment plan is and how a specific Broadcast assignment plan can be modified.

Course Outcomes
The course will focus on the following specific outcomes:

  • Determine requirement for frequency additions for applicable regional agreement and identify appropriate frequencies for coordination and plan modification
  • Determine co-ordination process with neighbouring countries
  • Determine notification process with ITU for specific Agreement for plan modification

Prerequisites

  • B.Tech/S4 Electronic Engineering Diploma
  • Successfully completed the unit standard:
    • Calculate Interferences For Broadcast Frequencies Unit Standard #115028
    • Measure, Analyse And Report On Broadcast Field Strenghts Unit Standard #115029
    • Predict Broadcast Signal Coverage Unit Standard #115032

Audience

  • Delegates with an understanding of the fundamentals of Spectrum management; Frequency Planning concepts; Coverage and Interference analysis
  • Delegates who is already competent in wave propagation; ITU and its role in spectrum management; familiar with broadcast radio planning software packages
DayCourse Contents
Day 1Determine regulatory provisions of applicable regional agreement
  • Geneva 75, Geneva 84 and Geneva 2006 agreements
  • Procedure for modification to plans
  • Procedure for coordination of other terrestrial services
  • Notification of frequency assignments
Determine co-ordination with neighbouring countries
  • GE 75 agreement – Coordination requirements per country
  • GE 84 agreement – Coordination calculation
  • GE 2006 agreement -
  • Limits and methodology for determining agreement with other administrations
  • Examination of conformity with the digital plan
Notify the ITU of frequency agreements
  • Geneva 75, Geneva 84 and Geneva 2006 agreements - Notification of frequency assignments
  • Article 9 and 11 of Radio Regulations
 

Training Focus
The five day training course will equip the learner with the necessary basic understanding of the conditional access system within the digital television head-end ecosystem as well as to explain the typical processes and procedures to be followed when adding or removing services from the channel line-up.

Course Outcomes
Delegates who attended this course will be able to:

  • Explain conditional access installation and configuration
  • Plan new services
  • Add new services to Conditional Access Systems
  • Solve problems when adding new services
  • Comply with workplace health and safety requirements during the adding of new services

Prerequisites

  • B.Tech or S4 Electronic Engineering Diploma with television as a subject
  • Completed the course: Introduction to Digital Video Broadcasting Head-ends

Audience

  • Delegates with an understanding of the fundamentals of television broadcasting
  • Delegates who is already competent in Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Basics and DVB Service Information (SI) Basics
DayCourse Contents
Day 1Explain Conditional Access Installation And Configuration
  • The installation and configuration of Conditional Access, Stand Alone Scramblers and Conditional Access Encrypter.
  • The Conditional Access Code Download tool configuration for Code Download services
  • Decoder qualification in terms of conditional access message handling and service information handling
  • Individual activity (#1)
Plan New Services
  • The assessment of business requirements for new services
  • Procedures pertaining to:
    • Electronic Programme Guide Information
    • Approval of additional services
    • Approval for processes and back-out plans
    • Materials, test equipment, broadcast equipment and tools needed for the addition of new service activities
    • Special equipment required for new services
  • Planning of new service activities
  • MPEG-2 related to digital video, digital audio, private data and modulation and transmission theory
  • Service Information (SI) specifications and Program Specific Information (PSI)
  • DVB Transport Stream Analyser equipment used for analysing DVB information
  • Individual activity (#2)
 
Day 2Add New Services To Conditional Access Systems
  • New services added correctly in the system and transport streams
  • Testing of systems/equipment for performance
  • The settings and adjustments to components
  • Group activity (#3)
Solve Problems When Adding New Services
  • Identification, evaluation and solutions to potential new service problems
  • Reporting of unresolved problems
  • Status reports on the outcome of new additions
  • Group activity (#4)
 
Day 3Comply With Workplace Health And Safety Requirements During The Adding of New Services
  • Adherence to health and safety practices
  • Precautions to avoid damage to components, tools and equipment
  • Removal of waste and debris in accordance with environmental requirements
  • Storage of tools and equipment
  • Identification and handling of potential health hazards
  • Individual activity (#5)
 
Day 4Practical Exercises
  • Exposure to the basic building blocks of a DVB head end
  • Viewing of typical CA configuration screens
  • Use of Transport Stream Analyzer for basic analysis
 
Day 5Practical Exercises (site visit)

Training Focus
This training course will equip the learner with the necessary basic knowledge and skill to use logical methods and equipment to fault-find/troubleshoot professional broadcast transmission equipment.

Course Outcomes
Delegates who attended this course will be able to:

  • Read and interpret schematic diagrams.
  • Compile block diagrams of operations and functions of equipment.
  • Relate information of the block diagrams to circuit boards.
  • Test electronic systems (using instrumentation).
  • Select electronic system fault location strategies.
  • Locate faults in electronic systems.

Prerequisites

  • Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification/B.Tech Diploma in Radio and Television Engineering
  • Completed the course: Fundamentals of Broadcast Engineering

Audience

  • Delegates with an understanding of the fundamentals of electronics, radio frequencies and wave transmission
  • Delegates who is already competent in the use of hand and power tools, basic soldering and wiring and familiar with test equipment
DayCourse Contents
Day 1Read and Interpret schematic programs
  • Identification of component symbols
  • Function of components
 
Day 2Compile block diagrams of operations and functions of equipment.
  • Block symbols and the function thereof in compiled block diagrams
  • Identification of block inputs and outputs signal points
  • Indication of waveform/levels on schematic diagrams
Relate information of the block diagrams to circuit boards
  • Identification and function of components associated with blocks
  • Identification and indications of block inputs and outputs test points on printed circuit boards.
Test electronic systems (using instrumentation)
  • Functions of common test instrumentation
  • Selection of test instrumentation for a given type of circuit.
  • Identification of test points on hardware
  • Evaluation of the operation/function of the circuit (Analogue/Digital)
 
Day 3Select electronic system fault location strategies
  • Selection of fault location methods for system types (Sequential/Non-Sequential)
  • Selection of Individual tests
  • Recording/procedural documentation
Locate faults in electronic systems
  • Execution of fault location strategy
  • Effective use of selected test equipment to locate faults
  • Accurate use of system documentation for board-level fault location
 
Day 4Practical Fault-finding

Training Focus
The purpose of this skills programme is to equip the learner with the necessary basic understanding of the satellite and digital television decoder (also known as Set Top Box – STB) operation and its role within the digital television signal delivery chain.
The course will consist of 2-day’s theoretical/practical training.

Course Outcomes
The specific outcomes to be achieved with this skills programme is to:

  • Understand the fundamental principles of satellite television signal transmission and reception;
  • Be able to identify and explain the signal processing performed in a satellite television decoder;
  • Understand the fundamental principles of digital television signal transmission and reception;
  • Be able to identify and explain the signal processing performed in a digital television decoder.

Prerequisites
Delegates should have a basic understanding of:

  • video and television systems
  • television receiver circuits

Audience
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 domestic and semi-professional digital satellite and terrestrial television receiving installations.

DayCourse Contents
Day 1The Fundamental Principles Of The Processes Required In The Transmission Of Satellite Television Sound And Vision Signals
  • Principles behind the transmission of satellite television sound and vision signals
  • Frequency bands and channel bandwidths relating to the satellites and terrestrial digital television
  • Principles of the processes required in the reception of satellite television sound and vision signals
  • Principles of the processes required in the transmission of digital terrestrial television sound and vision signals
 
Day 2Identify And Explain The Signal Processing Performed In Satellite And Digital Television Decoders
  • The signal processing stages in a satellite analogue decoder on board level
  • The functions of signal processing stages in a satellite decoder on component level
  • The functions of the signal processing stages in a digital terrestrial decoder on board level
  • The functions of the signal processing stages in a digital terrestrial decoder on component level
  • Practical exercises
 

Example: Course participants performing a DTT TV decoder installation 

Training Focus
The purpose of this course is to equip the learner with the necessary knowledge and skill to use sophisticated methods, functional and circuit diagrams, and diagnostic tools and other test equipment to locate and repair faults on broadcast equipment.

Course Outcomes
The course will focus on the following specific outcomes:

  • Planning fault finding activities
  • Diagnosing faults in broadcast equipment and systems
  • Repairing or replacing broadcast equipment
  • Comply with workplace health and safety requirements when repairing or replacing broadcast equipment
  • Reporting and feedback on repair or replacement activities
  • Solve problems related to repairing and replacing equipment

Prerequisites
Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification/B.Tech Diploma

Audience

  • Delegates that understand the fundamentals of Audio, video, and data principles; electronic principles and component identification
  • Delegates who is already competent in the use of hand and power tools; basic soldering and wiring; using test equipment and able to read and interpret electronic circuit diagrams
DayCourse Contents
Day 1Plan fault finding activities
  • Performance criteria
  • Diagnostic Tools and Aids
  • Digital IC Troubleshooters
  • Workshop Tools and Aids for Servicing and Maintenance
Diagnose faults in broadcast equipment
  • Trouble-shooting Techniques
  • Digital troubleshooting methods
Diagnose faults in broadcast system
  • Fault Diagnosing
  • Quick Fixes
  • Trouble-shooting with Flowcharts
  • Trouble-shooting process
  • Isolation of fault causes
  • Trouble-shooting methods
 
Day 2Repair or replace broadcast equipment
  • Repair and/or Replacement of Faulty Equipment Items
  • Conditions for repair
  • Specific items for repair
Health & safety requirements
  • Housekeeping
  • Ventilation
  • Fire prevention
  • First Aid
  • Administrative controls
  • Electrical Safety
Report and feedback on repair or replacement activities 
  • Maintenance reporting
  • Central maintenance and repair records.
  • Maintenance Schedule
Solve problems related to repairing and replacing equipment
  • Human factors affecting repairs of broadcast equipment
  • Protection against power surges and lightning
  • Planning and Budgeting for maintenance and repairs
 

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