Course Overview
The course provides the essential knowledge and hands-on skills required to understand, configure, test and commission Saudi Aramco UHF radio systems, with particular emphasis on GE MDS radio systems, master/slave architecture, antenna positioning and alignment, frequency/channel configuration, RF measurements, back-end integration and SAT documentation.
The program is aligned with the radio-system testing philosophy and requirements reflected in the project SAT procedure, including power-up, master/slave functionality and approved-frequency verification.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand UHF radio principles and Saudi Aramco radio-system architecture.
- Identify major radio, antenna, coaxial cables and RF components.
- Differentiation between GE radios (Data transfer) and other handheld radios used in industrial communication.
- Lab Training for RF Cables & antenna VSWR testing with Anritsu Site Maste.
- Understand GE MDS Master/Slave radio architecture and configuration.
- Perform basic frequency and channel configuration.
- Perform antenna positioning, polarization and alignment.
- Understand and measure VSWR, return loss and RF signal parameters.
- Use an RF Service Monitor / Radio Communication Tester for basic testing.
- Perform radio power-up and functional tests.
- Verify Master/Slave communication and process-data transmission.
- Configure basic back-end interfaces and communication parameters.
- Troubleshoot common radio-system faults.
- Prepare basic testing and commissioning records/SAT documentation.
Training Content – 3 Days
DAY 1 – Radio Fundamentals & System Configuration
Morning
- UHF radio fundamentals
- Radio-system architecture
- Saudi Aramco radio-system applications
- Master/Slave concept
- GE MDS radio overview
- Radio equipment, antennas, coaxial cables, connectors and surge protection
Afternoon
- GE MDS Master/Slave configuration
- Frequency and channel configuration
- Radio parameters
- Basic software/configuration tools
- Power-up and equipment verification
- Practical configuration exercise
DAY 2 – RF cables & Antenna Installation & Termination and VSWR Testing.
- Antenna types and applications
- Antenna positioning and polarization
- Antenna alignment
- Coaxial cable and connector inspection
- Grounding and surge protection
- VSWR measurement
- Return loss / reflected power
- RF power measurement
- Frequency verification
- RF Service Monitor / Radio Communication Tester
- Practical RF measurement exercises
- Troubleshooting poor RF performance
- Copying data from site master and Preparing the VSWR reports.
The training will focus on the radio equipment and RF components specified in the project documentation, with particular emphasis on GE MDS radio systems, antenna installation and alignment, RF measurements, frequency/channel configuration, Master/Slave operation and commissioning procedures.
DAY 3 – Testing, Commissioning & SAT
- Master/Slave communication testing
- Approved-frequency verification
- Process-data transmission testing
- Back-end device/interface configuration
- Functional testing
- Basic fault diagnosis
- Commissioning sequence
- SAT test methodology
- Test results and acceptance criteria
- Punch-list management
- Commissioning documentation
- Final practical assessment
The SAT procedure specifically requires verification that slave radios communicate with the master and that process signals are successfully received.
Target Audience
Telecom Commissioning Engineers
Telecom / Radio Engineers and Technicians
