DOD Civilian COOL Snapshot - Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP)

The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:

The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:

	Federal Occupation	Related As
	2502 Telecommunications Mechanic	Some
	2602 Electronic Measurement Equipment Mechanic	Some
	2604 Electronics Mechanic	Some
	2606 Electronic Industrial Controls Mechanic	Some
	2610 Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic	Some
	2810 High Voltage Electrician	Some

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

Credential Prerequisite
Experience
Education
Training
Membership
Other
Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

Exam
Written Exam
Oral Exam
Practical Exam
Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 4 years

Continuing Education
Exam
Continuing Education OR Exam
Fee
Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I)

5 Depot Street
Greencastle, IN 46135

Phone: (800) 288-3824

Fax: (765) 653-4287
Email: eta@eta-i.org

Other REQUIREMENTS

The Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP) credential has the following other requirements:

Candidates must present documentation that he or she has completed one of the selected courses at an ETA approved training facility and has passed the Hands-On Skills Testing.

WRITTEN EXAM
EXAM PREP

Written Exam

History – Telephone Communications
- Generate a chronology of the major steps leading to modern telephone communications
- List major events in telephone history and their corresponding dates
- Diagram a PSTN system
- Name and describe major sections of a simple phone system
- Outline the power requirements for PSTN systems
- Name the hardware components required for a PSTN and a B-VoIP System
Basic PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks)
- Describe the power requirements for PSTN and compare full power with downtime levels
- Identify hardware components used in the Central Office, distribution plant and end user location
- List PSTN services currently offered by commercial telephone providers
Internet and World Wide Web
- Outline major events in the history of the Internet and World Wide Web
- Describe how the Internet and WWW operate
- Define IPv4 and explain its application
- Compare URL/IRL and describe their usage
- Explain HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and show where it is used
Digital Fundamentals – Switching Techniques
- Explain the purpose and location of the SSP (Service Switching Point)
- Describe Common Channel Signaling System 7
- Explain the purpose and location of the STP (Signal Transfer Point)
- Explain the purpose and location of the SCP (Service Control Point)
- Explain the reasons for Sampling, Quantizing, and Encrypting B-VoIP signals
- Define and compare Baud/Bit/Byte
- Compare a Datagram with common PSTN signals
- Contrast a Virtual Circuit with a discrete wired circuit
- Contrast the difference between Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR) of telephone signals
Codecs (Coder/Decoder)
- Summarize the purposes of each of the following standards and explain the need for each:
  Audio Standards
  Video Standards
  G.711a, u
  G.729
  G.726
  CLEP
  H.261
  H.263
  H.264
- Describe a codec hybrid
- CELP (Code Excited Linear Prediction)
- Describe how digital and analog converters accomplish their tasks and how analog to digital converters work
LANS – Local Area Networks
- Define the following and locate where in a phone circuit or network they are used:
  
  Bridges
  Gateways
  Routers
  Hubs
  Servers
- Summarize how Ethernet10/100Base-T are used in networks and compare with other types of cabling
- Describe what the TIA/EIA-568.B Commercial Building Standard codes are and their importance to telecom technicians
WANS – Wide Area Networks
- Define connection and connectionless network configurations
- Define a connection oriented network
- Compare topologies currently in use in computer networks
- Define telecom switches and demonstrate knowledge of PSTN and digital network switches
- Explain the need for network management
- Name common Classes of Service and show advantages of each
Network Interworking
- Define ‘IP’ and explain its need
- Define ‘Ethernet’ and explain how it differs from other interconnection systems
- Define ‘ATM’ (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and describe how it is used
- Explain the purpose of Frame Relay and describe its purpose and benefits
- Explain the purpose of MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) and show where it is used
- Explain Service Interworking
- List the seven (7) OSI layers and define their specific functions and features
Broadband A/V/D Schemes
- Summarize the purposes of broadband communication and explain advantages over narrowband communication
- Dramatize the current needs for wide bandwidth and give examples of modern usage
- Define ‘bandwidth’ and compare for audio/video/data transmission applications and the advantages of various bandwidth sizes
Modulation
- Distinguish between the major modulation schemes currently in use
- Match common acronyms associated with B-VoIP technology and their definitions
- Describe PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
- Describe DPCM (Digital Pulse Code Modulation)
- Describe DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)
Transmission Media
- Classify copper telecommunication cables, comparing bandwidths and common usage
- Explain the advantages of coaxial cables, compare types and describe termination fittings
- Illustrate a D connector and explain where it is commonly used in telecommunication systems
- Describe fiber optic cabling and list advantages over copper cables
- Explain why and where wireless telephone communication is preferred
VoIP Services
- Compare common PSTN audio phone conversation technology with VoIP service and list advantages
- Compare common PSTN video signaling with VoIP and list advantages of VoIP
- Compare common PSTN data signaling with VoIP and list advantages of VoIP
QoS - Real Time Applications
- Discuss human opinion when judging Quality of Service and compare with other objective measurement methods
- Define ‘latency’ as it applies to telephone signals
- Define ‘jitter’ as it applies to telephone signals
VoIP Network Architectures
- Illustrate a LAN (Local Area Network) and describe how it differs from a WAN (Wide Area Network)
- List common broadband signal transmissions and compare with narrowband and PSTN (i.e., PSTN @ 3 kHz, TV station @ 6 kHz, multiplexed data packets @ 100 MHz)
- Name common types of broadband services currently in use
- Describe the Internet system and explain how it functions within the wired and wireless worldwide telephone online system
- Define ‘domains’ as related to telephone networks
- Define ‘client’ in the VoIP system
Protocols
- Describe the applications of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) within the protocol suite and why it is needed
- Define User Datagram Protocol (UDP), explain its purpose and advantages as a datagram delivery process
- Define IP (Internet Protocol), its origin and purpose
Control Protocols – IP Transport
- Describe H.245, its origination, purpose and where commonly used
- Describe ‘Megaco’, its purpose, length of existence and where commonly used
- Define ‘MGCP’ (Media Gateway Control Protocol) and explain its common usage
- Explain the purpose of RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol)
- Explain the purpose of RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol)
Address Protocols
- Define NAT (Network Address Translation)
- Identify the four (4) host classes of an IP address
- Describe network & host addresses (I.D.s) and their bit range relation to the host classes
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
VoIP Signaling Protocols
- Differentiate between the following signaling protocols and explain the purpose of each in VoIP application:
  SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
  SAP (Service Advertising Protocol)
  H.323
  SDP (Session Description Protocol)
  H.931
Cabling Standards
- Explain the purposes and requirements of the following cabling and communications standards in relation to VoIP applications:
  TIA/EIA-568
  TIA/EIA-569
  TIA/EIA 570A (Residential Telecom Cabling Standard)
  IEEE 802
Network Provisioning
- Describe the mechanics of PSTN Gateways
- Explain the purpose of Media Gateways and how they packetize information
- Describe a Proxy Server and explain its purpose
User Agent Provisioning
- Describe the difference between IP and PSTN phones
- Explain the purposes of the analog telephone adapter
- Define UAC (User Agent Client) and how it is used
- Describe the ITU’s T-120 standard for multiple user participation
Softphone Provisioning
- Describe the process a computer uses to interface with phone lines
Safety
- Describe the following Safety related standards:
  ANSI/TIA/EIA 607
  CSA T527
  NFPA 70
  ISO/IEC 1180
Troubleshooting
- Trouble Analysis
- Minimum cable tests for networking protocols:
  Wire mapping
  Length
  Attenuation
  NEXT
  Propagation delay
  Delay skew
  PS-NEXT
  ELFNEXT
  PS-ELFNEXT
  Return loss
- Testing Nics:
  Data packets and link pulses
- Network utilities:
  Ipcinflg
  Ping
- Systematically using network utilities to test your network

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP) examination:

Best Sources

RECERTIFICATION

Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP)

Renewal Period: 4 years

The Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP) credential has the following recertification information:

Recertification requires submitting 10 hours of continuing education or the Employer Verification Form, and paying recertification fee.

ETA-I allows certified individuals to renew either annually or every 4 years. If an individual recertifies annually, ETA-I also renews membership. If an individual recertifies every 4 years; initial membership will expire after the one-year anniversary and will not be renewed until the individual recertifies at the end of the 4-year time period.

Additional considerations for the Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP) include:

ETA-I does not require any specific education or experience, however it is suggested that candidates for the B-VoIP should be knowledgeable in the areas addressed in the certification exam.

Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP)

Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP)

Broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (B-VoIP)

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