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+--- Thread: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? (/showthread.php?tid=22)
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Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - NizamKhalid - 23-02-2008
Hello!
Just wondering whether anyone's doing Module 4 this year?
2 of us at my company have decided to do it.
If you know anyone who's gonna do it too, please give us a shout. It'll be nice (and very productive, hopefully!) to help each other, share resources and compare notes.
Thanks. Waiting for your replies!
Regards
Nizam
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - jrwsykes - 13-03-2008
Hi Nizam,
I'm a graduate telecoms engineer and I am looking to take modules 4 and 6 this year. Where are you based?
James
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - NizamKhalid - 13-03-2008
James
Ah! Finally, a reply! A reply!
Nice to get your reply, James. It's been several weeks since I posted my message, and I was getting the impression I would never get a reply.
I'm based with May Gurney (contractor to Network Rail) in Bedford. But that's not a problem, since we've got this forum and can communicate electronically regardless of location.
Excellent that you're doing those modules. I've completed Module 6, but near-failed Module 4 that same year (this was 2-3 years ago). I've finally gathered enough courage to go for it again. Not really a telecoms expert, only did its extreme basics as part of my Electrical/Electronics Eng degree, and not working on telecoms in my job. So a lot of my preparation was basically own study/reading. But looking forward to many happy hours of discussion too, this year, on this forum!
What about you? Have you started any studying for the modules?
Regards
Nizam
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - jrwsykes - 14-03-2008
Hi,
Well I might get a few tips for 6 then as well.
I haven't actually registered yet - scraping some pennies together. However in the mean time I'm developing a learning and revision plan, sourcing reading materials, standards etc.
With 28 weeks between now and the exams I have split my work as follows:
8hrs study at the weekend and 2hrs on one evening during the week that makes 10hrs a week and so 280hrs for both modules.
I have given 4 weeks (40hrs) to revision and so I'm left with 240hrs learning - 120hrs per module. This also gives me a spare week at the end to relax.
I've covered most of the content of module 4 at uni and within my travels around Network Rail but I haven't looked at it for a while. One of my main quarries is that the syllabus is far too vague.
For example it mentions Coding theory and methods. I know of some very specialist coding theory which I covered in a course at uni - it is unlikely that they require this much detail. There are so many codes it's difficult to know what they actually want.
What was your approach to module 6?
Cheers
James
NizamKhalid Wrote:James
Ah! Finally, a reply! A reply!
Nice to get your reply, James. It's been several weeks since I posted my message, and I was getting the impression I would never get a reply.
I'm based with May Gurney (contractor to Network Rail) in Bedford. But that's not a problem, since we've got this forum and can communicate electronically regardless of location.
Excellent that you're doing those modules. I've completed Module 6, but near-failed Module 4 that same year (this was 2-3 years ago). I've finally gathered enough courage to go for it again. Not really a telecoms expert, only did its extreme basics as part of my Electrical/Electronics Eng degree, and not working on telecoms in my job. So a lot of my preparation was basically own study/reading. But looking forward to many happy hours of discussion too, this year, on this forum!
What about you? Have you started any studying for the modules?
Regards
Nizam
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - PJW - 14-03-2008
Good to see that someone has made a plan and is differentiating between initial learning study and revision; however I'd say that 2nd activity is primarily attempting past paper questions and then revising when you realise that your performance fell short in an area.
I am not a Telecomms person and once data gets into the telecomms cloud then I am lost and just hope it emerges where and when it should and in the correct form. You say the syllabus is vague- I don't think (but not sure) wthat Study Packs available and there is little if anything in exam reviews but Past papers are available and ought to give a much clearer view of what things come up and the level. Have you got hold of these?
By analogy with the Signalling Papers I do feel reasonably confident in saying that it is not likely to be hosts of DETAIL but a good general the OVERVIEW of a topic that is needed. "Compare and contrast", what is appropriate where in what circumstances, the reasons which lie behind decisions, the WHY rather than the WHAT.
PJW
jrwsykes Wrote:With 28 weeks between now and the exams I have split my work as follows:
8hrs study at the weekend and 2hrs on one evening during the week that makes 10hrs a week and so 280hrs for both modules.
I have given 4 weeks (40hrs) to revision and so I'm left with 240hrs learning - 120hrs per module. This also gives me a spare week at the end to relax.
One of my main queries is that the syllabus is far too vague.
For example it mentions Coding theory and methods. I know of some very specialist coding theory which I covered in a course at uni - it is unlikely that they require this much detail. There are so many codes it's difficult to know what they actually want.
What was your approach to module 6?
Cheers
James
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - NizamKhalid - 14-03-2008
That's great, James. I'm happy to help with tips for Module 6 (whatever my tips are worth), and you can help me with Module 4 (as you've rightly said, you would have covered most of it in your degree and at Network Rail; not something I was that privileged to have done).
Wow! You've got a proper study plan there. I'm impressed.
My plan isn't that established yet, sad to say, but I do have one. I plan to start and complete a relevant telecoms textbook (that's not too detailed, but detailed enough to cover Module 4 syllabus) in the next 2 months. Thereafter, I'll review where I stand at that time, and plan forward for the next 2 months, and so on. The question is, what's a relevant telecoms textbook? The exam syllabus certainly doesn't help there. And IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook didn't do the trick for me last time (though it worked wonders for my Module 6!). Would you be able to recommend me any textbooks that would fit the role, based on what you've seen from the syllabus, past papers and your NR experience?
I fully agree with Peter about interpretation of the syllabuses; the past exam papers are the best guide we have. They do give us quite a good indication of what's expected. IRSE have informed me that they don't have a Study Pack for Module 4 (I'm not sure about Module 6). They will, however, give us 5 years' free past papers instead upon registration (because other Modules give their Study Packs free upon registration).
As to my approach to Module 6, it was mostly based on study of IRSE's "Railway Telecommunications" textbook and attempting (or pseudo-attempting...) the past papers. I would certainly recommend that to you as well. If you don't already have the textbook, I think it costs about
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - PJW - 27-03-2008
Hi there,
We met last year didn't we?
Not a Telecomms man I am afraid; I'll try to sound out some contacts.
I have just got the Telecomms book myself and found it a good read but really do not know how useful for which module.
I do suggest that you become as familar as possible with the RAILWAY- that means trains, operations, signalling, traction supply. A railway is a system and by having an awareness of the other disciplines always helps shed light on WHY something needs to be done in a certain way- i.e. understanding the "customer requirements" as well as the technology. To be honest a lot of this can be gained from books / magasines / DVD / internet sites produced for the railway enthusiast market. So as and when you register for the examination and obtain the Study DVD, although it will have nothing specific for the Telecomms modules on it, doesn't mean that it is of no use.
Shouldn't be surprising to find that much of the "background reading" suggested for Signalling Principles / Applications is just as relevant for Telecomms Principles / Applications. If interested in that I could give you a list.
Also Signalling and Telecomms are converging technologies again, so learning how FTN is being used to support signalling and how GSM-R interfaces with ERTMS is bound to be useful. I suspect not much in books about these, but quite a few articles in IRSE News / Seminar papers in recent years; again if you can't find I could attempt to point you to them.
I hope someone else can be more helpful specifically on Telecomms.
Surely James ought to have been assigned a mentor who has been in the industry a few years as well as having contact with more senior engineers. Whereas I could try to sound out my contacts, it's a small world and almost certainly they'd be the same people .....
Let me know how you get on,
PJW
NizamKhalid Wrote:Ok James (Peter too, and everyone out there), looking forward to some textbook suggestions from yourselves.
Regards
Nizam
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - jrwsykes - 01-04-2008
Hi Guys,
The day-job has been keeping me away from my learning/development activities. I'm popping to the IET library this afternoon to get a few books.
I already have the Railway Telecommunications book, access to papers and senior engineers (who should know what they're talking about!). I also have two years worth of past papers and answers.
I don't use this forum often, however if you'd like to contact me directly my email is james.sykes@networkrail.co.uk and my mobile is 07825 969 275.
Cheers
James
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - Kamurimo - 01-04-2008
Hi guys
I did a HND in Telecomms and Electronics several years ago (1999). I've worked on a lot of DWDM in the early days for the defunct Marconi and and now in Signalling on the Underground.
I have only had access to the syllabus for the 2 modules 4 and 6 thus far it it looks failry ok with me.
Am i right? I need encouragement as i think i should tackle these exams this year with you guys?
What I really need is suggestions on reading material for these 2 subjects.
The RRM (recommended reading material) given seems a little dated and insuffient.
I would be most glad if you could help.
RE: Hello There! Anyone Doing Module 4 This Year? - jrwsykes - 03-04-2008
Hi Kamurimo,
May I suggest you have a look at some of the past papers/answers. I can forward some of them to you if you give me your email address.
If you have worked on these systems and have a good understanding of the theory behind the technology you shouldn't have a problem. May I suggest that most of the systems identified in Module 4 are covered in basic (inch and a bit thick) Telecommunications Fundamentals textbooks. If you are based in London then you should be allowed to use the IET's library where there are a wide selection.
James