Delivery: Online
College Credit: 4 credit hours
Estimated Length: 40 seat hours
Price: $810.00
Course Assessment/Equivalency Exam: $105.00
The NCTI Installer Technician course focuses on maintaining reliability in the installed drop system. The electronic theory provides the foundation for understanding decibels, signal leakage detection and troubleshooting techniques. A basic mathematics review helps the student with equations and formulas relating to basic electronic theory and signal level. Also covered are topics on how to detect and troubleshoot signal leakage in the VHF and UHF frequency bands including LTE frequencies. The course concludes with the basic characteristics and functions of line extender amplifiers and a discussion of government regulations and ways to comply with industry rules.
Completion Time:
The estimated completion time for this course is 40 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Benefits:
- correctly troubleshoot and maintain the installed drop system
- utilize mathematical equations and formulas related to installed cable systems
- identify, locate and repair common problems from premises to the tap
- use this course to help prepare for SCTE’s Broadband Premises Installer and Broadband Distribution Specialist certifications
- earn four hours of college credit
- receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
- receive credit toward NCTI Master Technician certification
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- understand and apply basic DC electronic theory, perform Ohm’s law calculations and discuss relevant broadband cable applications
- perform basic cable math calculations
- explain dB and dBmV fundamentals and broadband cable applications and perform gain and loss calculations
- recognize the impact of signal leakage and use a signal leakage detector to identify and troubleshoot signal leakage from the tap into the customer premises
- identify, locate and repair common problems from the customer premises equipment to the tap in both single dwellings and MDUs
- understand the theory of operation of line extender amplifiers and explain the functions of amplifier passives and actives
- identify the role of national and international organizations in establishing and implementing telecommunications standards
Outline:
Exploring Electrons and Electricity
Establishing electron characteristics, identifying element categories, understanding electron current flow, electric current, electrical force and using units of electrical measurement
Understanding Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Looking at the history and theory of magnetism and electromagnetism and exploring magnetic and electromagnetic applications
Using Positive and Negative Numbers, Decimals and Fractions
Reviewing positive and negative numbers and understanding common and decimal fractions
Examining Equations and Powers of Numbers
Examining equations and powers of numbers
Understanding Electrical Circuits
Understanding circuit essentials, differentiating current flow conditions, defining current types and understanding circuit graphics
Understanding Resistance
Understanding, changing and controlling resistance
Using Ohm’s Law for Power and Energy
Describing basic electrical characteristics, working with Ohm’s law, solving power equations and solving an energy equation
DC Series Circuits
Circuit requirements, characteristics and calculations
Understanding Decibels
Reviewing the history of decibels, making comparisons between two values, explaining the concept of bels and decibels and understanding power and voltage ratios
Using dB and dBmV
Working with dBmV and performing signal level calculations
Detecting Signal Leakage
Reviewing signal leakage basics, selecting and operating signal leakage detection equipment and eliminating signal leakage
Thinking Skills for Troubleshooting
Preparing your mental processes for troubleshooting and discussing how to think when troubleshooting a problem
Communication Skills for Troubleshooting
Identifying soft communication skills, understanding the importance of spoken and unspoken communications and learning how to listen
Troubleshooting Coaxial Cables and Connectors
Describing the drop and inside wire elements, understanding coaxial cable test equipment and explaining how to install connectors
Troubleshooting Fiber-Optic Cables and Connectors
Discussing characteristics of fiber-optic cable and examining how to troubleshoot problems and repair fiberoptic cable and components
Troubleshooting Drop Splitters, DCs and Drop Amps
Examining splitter and directional coupler problems and discussing basic troubleshooting techniques for drop amplifiers
Troubleshooting Ingress and Egress
Understanding ingress and egress, examining ways to isolate and diagnose the cause of ingress and examining UHF signal leakage and ingress
Troubleshooting Inside Wiring, Powering Elements and Bonding
Identifying insider wiring plugs and jacks, understanding how to troubleshoot inside wiring, power cables and connectors
Line Extender Amplifier Operation
Examining amplifier housing, line extender AC/DC powering systems, RF passives and controls and amplifier modules and discussing the classification of line extender specifications
Understanding Broadband Cable Regulatory Issues
Identifying government regulation, examining how technical performance is regulated and understanding how to comply with industry rules