CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background on Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill development programme
established by Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 with the headquarters in Jos Nigeria.
It is meant to enable students in tertiary institutions, in Nigeria, acquire technical skills and
experience for professional development in their course of study, as it bridges the gap
between theory and practice. It is the accepted skills training programme, in institutions of
higher learning in Nigeria, that forms part of the approved academic requirement in various
degree programmes. It is a 3-unit course, which must be met by students before graduation.
It is also to expose and prepare students in institutions of higher learning for the industrial
work situations which they are to meet after graduation. The scheme equally helps to
familiarize students with work methods and expose them to the necessary experience to
handle equipment and machinery that are not available in their institutions. SIWES is also
an effort to bridge the existing gap between theory and practice, and expose students to
necessary skills for smooth transition from the classroom to the world of work. It enables
students to acquire technical skills and experience for professional development in their
study. Before the inception of the scheme, there was a growing concern among Nigerian
industrialists that graduates of institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical
background experience necessary for employment. So, employers were of the opinion that
the theoretical education provided by higher institutions was did not meet nor satisfy the
needs of the economy. It was against this background that the agency, during its formative
years, introduced SIWES to provide students with the opportunity of exposure to handle
equipment and machinery in industry to enable them acquire prerequisite practical
knowledge and skills (ITF & UNIJOS, 2006). These skills aimed at exposing students to
professional work methods as the scheme (SIWES) acts as a catalyst for industrial growth
and productivity through professional development. The Scheme started in 1974 in 11
institutions of higher learning with 748 participants. By 1978, it has widened in scope to
about 5,000 participants from 32 different institutions in the country. In 1979 the Industrial
Training Fund, withdrew from the managing the scheme due to problems of organizational
logistics and the increased financial burden as a result of rapid expansion of SIWES. The
scheme is a tripartite programme that incorporates the students, the institutions, and the

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industries. In Nigeria, SIWES is financed by the federal government (through the ministry
of commerce and industry) and managed by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), aiming at
making education more relevant and also to bridge the yearning gap between theory and
practice of engineering, technology and other related disciplines in tertiary institutions in
Nigeria (Mafe, 2009).

The bodies involved in the SIWES operation are known as the stakeholders and they are;
the Federal Government of Nigeria (through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry),
Industrial Training Fund, NUC/NBTC/NCCE, the institutions, the industries or employers,
and the students. SIWES is a form of cooperative industrial internship programme among
all its stake holders. All stakeholders are involved in the operation of SIWES but that
students are the key actors that are directly involved in its implementation, all other
stakeholders have lesser role to play in the actual training process (Mafe, 2009). SIWES is
generic because it cuts across more than 60 programmes in the universities, over 40
programmes in the polytechnics and about 10 programmes in the colleges of education.
Students who participate in this training programme include those studying Library and
Information Science, Engineering, Vocational, Technological and related courses in higher
institution of learning. Other courses involved in SIWES include Agricultural science,
Forestry, Industrial Chemistry, Microbiology, Geology and Mineral Science, Physics and
Mineral Science, Plant and Environmental Biology, Computer Science, Tourism and
Hospitality, Business Education, Industrial Engineering, Enterprise Creation and
Management (Mafe, 2010).

1.2 Scope of the Scheme

The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), being a tertiary institution with the
vision of producing technologically sound and self-reliant graduates, has made the SIWES
program an integral part of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Technology
degree for her students. The scheme takes place for a period of 6 months during the second
semester of their fourth year and it carries a total load of 12 units for students in the
Department of Physics (Energy), with its scope mainly centered on practical or field
experience.

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 CHAPTER TWO

VDT COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

2.1 Location and Brief History of Establishment

With its headquarters at 1, Alfred Rewane Road, Falomo Ikoyi, Lagos-Nigeria, VDT
Communications Limited is a leading provider of infrastructure-based telecommunication
and information technological services based here in Nigeria. VDT is a licensed private
network service provider specializing in the provision of Enterprise Wide Area Network
(WAN) and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) link connectivity using fiber optic and
wireless communication infrastructure and access networks. It is a leading broadband
communication service provider to corporate organizations with leased fiber optic trunks to
the thirty six (36) states in Nigeria and the FCT, where it has its Points-Of-Presence (POPs)
and complement of technical support staffers. These network trunks are interconnected with
its IP-MPLS technology core at each city to provide today’s largest IP-MPLS network in
Nigeria, with the enterprise edge metro wireless distribution access network offering to
numerous customers. It has been offering this robust service and the enterprise MPLS/VPN
platform provisioning technology to its customers (including other communication service
providers) since 2001 across the country. It is an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization
(Certificate #: BN5966/6288:0313) as well as ISO/IEC 20000-2011 certified organization
(Certificate # ITMS 621838). This confers the global mark of process quality standard
compliance on its ability to meet and exceed customers’ requirements (VDT e-brochure,
2023).

2.2 Vision & Mission Strategies

2.2.1 VDT’s Vision

To be the provider of world class communication services for innovative lifestyle.

2.2.2 VDT’s Mission

At VDT, we deliver flexible and reliable digital connectivity to people, wherever they live,
work and play.

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2.2.3 VDT’s Service Quality Policy
We shall continually uplift our service quality in order to delight customers, improve
profitability and reduce wastages.

2.2.4 VDT’s Core Values

The core values of the staff at VDT are:
• Customer Delight
• Teamwork
• Integrity
• Leadership
• Proactiveness
• Diligence

2.3 VDT’S Services at A Glance

VDT provides the following services to small and large scale enterprises:

2.3.1 Digital Leased Circuit (DLC)

VDT Communications Limited Digital Leased Circuit (DLC) service is a secured, high
speed, reliable, solution for customers requiring dedicated point-to-multi point links
between the organizations’ head office and its branch offices nationwide. The digital leased
circuit is flexible, hence allowing for modern technological variation when required.
Channelization equipment has been deployed to allow for bandwidth scalability, to allow
for clients’ variation requests from time to time. Data, video and voice, transfers along the
DSL links at a speedy rate, hence enabling effectiveness and efficiency of the work process
(VDT e-brochure, 2023).

2.3.2 Wireless and Fiber Services

VDT Communications Limited has deployed its own metro wireless access network in each
of the cities where it operates. VDT delivers last mile connectivity for its clients connecting
head offices to branch offices in a point-to-point (PTP) or point-to-multipoint (PTMP)
configuration. The VDT Communications Limited metro fiber network is a cost-effective,
dedicated optical network that allows VDT customers to transport multiple signals over a
single pair of fibers and provides multiple interface options to meet customers’ native data
transport needs (VDT e-brochure, 2023).

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2.3.3 Corporate Internet Services
The corporate internet access solution provided by VDT is reliable, highly available and
offers dedicated, secure and managed internet access with the highest service levels. VDT
offers multiple bandwidth options to provide tailor-made solutions to its customers. With
sufficient capacity on the Main One inter-continental submarine cable in Nigeria, VDT has
enough redundancy and peering with tier-1 service providers to enable the best possible
traffic routing for customers’ data (VDT e-brochure, 2023).

2.4 The Various Department/Units at VDT and Their Functions

VDT has different strategic departments that work together, performing various functions
in order to achieve the desired objectives of the organisation. This section describes these
different units and states their functions. The different departments/units are:

1. Administration: This department oversees the smooth running of daily activities and
ensures good flow of work process. Its sub divided into the following:
Human Resources (HR): The team here is committed to providing an enabling
environment where the full potentials of each and every staff can be unleashed to
create a mastery of achievement. They are in charge of recruiting, code of conduct
and ethics of members of staff.

2. Finance: The daily inflow, outflow of cash and keeping their records constitute the
major duties of this department at VDT. This unit is in charge of all the monetary
transactions carried out at VDT. Payments, transfers, loans, etc. are all handled in the
finance unit. Proper documentation is also done here for safety purposes.

3. Planning and Optimization: This department is in charge of the VDT network

infrastructure. They are charged with the design of the network (on paper). They explore
new areas for expansion of the network. They are also in charge of the configuration of
network components such as the core devices. The Network Operations Center (NOC)
forms a major part of this department.
Network Operations Center (NOC): The NOC deals mainly with monitoring
network devices and the data centers (a room with network devices all connected for
network optimization). In essence they ensure nothing goes unnoticed on the network

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4. Network Implementation: This department comprises of the engineers who carry
out the actual installation of devices and equipment that make up the network. The
department is divided based on the regions. The network structures mapped out by the
planning department are handed over to this group to carry out the needful. They see to it
that the necessary base-stations are in place. They also provide support and maintenance for
the clients and various sites.

5. Customer Support: The staff in this department (which comprises wireless and
corporate support for retail and corporate customers respectively) make sure that VDT
customers are satisfied with the product being delivered. They also get feedback from
customers, in order to serve them better.

6. Marketing And Sales: This department provides for the continuity of the company
by getting new customers and providing door to door services for them.

7. Procurement: This section of the VDT family is in charge of all equipment in and
out of the company. They take proper records of goods being bought and those delivered
for use at VDT locations.

2.5 Organogram
The organizational profile of VDT Communications Limited is shown in Figure 2.1. The
organogram shows the hierarchical relationship between the managers and reporting staff in
different departments. The management staff include the managing director, the chief
technical officer, the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer. The network
implementation unit, where I worked in, is headed by the regional head of network
implementation, who reports to the chief technology officer.

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Figure 2.1: Organogram of VDT Communications Limited.

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 CHAPTER THREE

INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE

3.1 Brief Outline of Industrial Work Experience

During the period of my 16-week attachment at VDT Communications Limited, I worked
with the radio frequency (RF) engineers to deploy wireless internet access solutions for
homes, small and medium scale enterprises, and large enterprises. The major activities
included the planning, installation and configuration of secure network infrastructure,
troubleshooting and diagnosing network issues. This internship provided me the
opportunity to work effectively in a team environment and utilize industry-standard
network management tools.

3.2 The Internet

The internet is a computer network that interconnects billions of computing devices
throughout the world. Not too long ago, these computing devices were primarily traditional
desktop PCs, Linux workstations, and so-called servers that store and transmit information
such as Web pages and e-mail messages. Increasingly, however, nontraditional internet
“things” such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, thermostats, home
security systems, home appliances, watches, eye glasses, cars, traffic control systems and
more are being connected to the internet (as shown in Figure 3.1). In internet terms, all of
these devices are called hosts or end systems. End systems are connected together by a
network of communication links and packet switches. There are many types of
communication links, which are made up of different types of physical media, including
coaxial cable, copper wire, optical fiber, and radio spectrum. Different links can transmit
data at different rates, with the transmission rate of a link measured in bits/second. When
one end system has data to send to another end system, the sending end system segments
the data and adds header bytes to each segment. The resulting packages of information,
known as packets, are then sent through the network to the destination end system, where
they are reassembled into the original data. A packet switch takes a packet arriving on one
of its incoming communication links and forwards that packet on one of its outgoing
communication links. Packet switches come in many shapes and flavors, but the two most
prominent types in today’s internet are routers and link-layer switches. The sequence of
communication links and packet switches traversed by a packet from the sending end

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system to the receiving end system is known as a route or path through the network. End
systems access the internet through Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including residential
ISPs such as local cable or telephone companies; corporate ISPs; university ISPs; ISPs that
provide Wi-Fi access in airports, hotels, coffee shops, and other public places; and cellular
data ISPs, providing mobile access to our smartphones and other devices. Each ISP is in
itself a network of packet switches and communication links. ISPs provide a variety of types
of network access to the end systems, including residential broadband access such as cable
modem or DSL, high-speed local area network access, and mobile wireless access. ISPs
also provide internet access to content providers, connecting Web sites and video servers
directly to the internet. The internet is all about connecting end systems to each other, so
the ISPs that provide access to end systems must also be interconnected (as shown in Figure
3.2). End systems, packet switches, and other pieces of the internet run protocols that
control the sending and receiving of information within the internet. TheTransmission
Control Protocol (TCP) and the internet Protocol (IP) are two of the most important
protocols in the internet. The IP protocol specifies the format of the packets that are sent
and received among routers and end systems. The internet’s principal protocols are
collectively known as TCP/IP. Given the importance of protocols to the internet, it’s
important that everyone agrees on what each and every protocol does, so that people can
create systems and products that interoperate. This is where standards come into play.
internet standards are developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The IETF
standards documents are called requests for comments (RFCs). RFCs started out as general
requests for comments (hence the name) to resolve network and protocol design problems
that faced the precursor to the internet. RFCs tend to be quite technical and detailed. They
define protocols such as TCP, IP, HTTP (for the Web), and SMTP (for e-mail). There are
currently more than 7,000 RFCs. Other bodies also specify standards for network
components, most notably for network links. The IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards
Committee, for example, specifies the ethernet and wireless Wi-Fi standards (Kurose &
Ross, 2007).

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Figure 3.1: Interconnected devices that form the internet.

Figure 3.2: Interconnection of ISPs.

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3.3 Radio Communication
Radio communication, the transmission of information using radio waves, plays a vital role
in modern telecommunications. At its core, radio communication operates by converting
information (voice, data, etc.) into electrical signals, modulating them onto radio waves
with specific frequencies, and transmitting them through air or space. Antennas play a
crucial role, converting electrical signals into radio waves at the transmitter and vice versa
at the receiver. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves ranging in frequencies between 3
KHz and 300 GHz. Radio waves are omni-directional; when an antenna transmits radio
waves, they are propagated in all directions. This means that sending and receiving antennas
do not have to be aligned. A sending antenna can send waves that can be received by any
receiving antenna. Radio waves, particularly those waves that propagate in sky mode, can
travel long distances. This makes radio waves a good candidate for long-distance
broadcasting such as AM radio. Different frequency ranges are used for various
applications, with lower frequencies offering wider coverage and higher frequencies
supporting faster data transmission (Dishan, 2023).

3.4 Radio Link Internet

Radio link internet provides a wireless means of transmitting data and enabling internet
connectivity in areas not served by traditional wired infrastructure. By leveraging radio
waves in free space, radio links can provide broadband access across long distances and
challenging terrain. Radio links enable high-speed internet connectivity by transmitting data
wirelessly between two fixed points using modulated radio frequency signals. A complete
radio link system consists of radio transceivers, antennas, encoders, networking equipment
and other components for transmitting internet protocol data across a wireless radio
connection. Radio link systems establish wireless point-to-point (PTP), line-of-sight (LoS)
connections between towers or buildings at two distinct geographic locations. Digital IP
network data from the internet is encoded onto a radio frequency carrier wave and
transmitted via a directional antenna across available frequencies in the radio spectrum. The
radio signal passes through the air and is captured by a receiver antenna at the other endpoint
before being demodulated into digital data. This process of encoding data onto modulated
radio signals allows ethernet network traffic to be seamlessly bridged and routed over the
wireless radio link connection. By integrating radio link transceiver equipment with existing
networking infrastructure like routers, switches, and fiber optic cables, the radio link acts
as a wireless bridge to extend internet connectivity between locations. This enables high-

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speed broadband access to communities where wired infrastructure like cable or fiber
networks are unavailable due to prohibitive terrain or remote locales (Dishan, 2023).

3.4.1 Wireless Transmission of Data Signals

To transport internet data traffic wirelessly over distance using radio links, digital IP data
packets must first be encoded onto a radio frequency carrier wave for transmission through
the air. The process involves modulating the digital information onto a radio signal by
altering wave properties, such as phase, amplitude or frequency, to represent the binary ones
and zeroes. Standard modulation techniques used in radio links include phase shift keying
(PSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing (OFDM). The modulation scheme is selected based on balancing performance
in the radio environment against capacity requirements. The resulting modulated signal
carrying data is then broadcast using a directional transmit antenna that concentrates the
radio waves into a beam pointed towards the receiver location. Important antenna design
factors like gain, bandwidth, sidelobes, and polarization control the propagation
characteristics of the transmitted radio beam as it travels over a distance (as shown in Figure
3.3). Higher gain directional antennas focus the radio energy into a tighter beam covering
longer distances. The transmitted signal passes through the air and is captured by a matching
receiver antenna engineered to pick up the specific radio frequency and polarization. The
radio waves induce a current in the receiver antenna, amplified and demodulated to extract
the original digital data from the radio signal for further network processing (Dishan, 2023).

3.4.2 Radio Wave Propagation in Real Scenarios

Radio performance is strongly influenced by the environment in which the transmitter and
receiver are embedded. In empty space between the stars, the received power will decrease
as the inverse square of the distance between transmitter and receiver, as it ought to
conserve total energy. Thus, the power received 1 km from the transmitter is 1 million times
smaller than that received at 1 m. However, on earth things are more complex. Indoors, the
wave will encounter reflection and absorption by walls, floors, ceilings, ducts, pipes, and
people as well as scattering by small objects and interference from other radios and
unintentional emitters such as microwave ovens. Outdoors, in addition to reflection and
absorption by buildings, the earth’s often craggy surface, and lakes, rivers, or oceans, the
wave can be scattered by cars and trucks and absorbed by foliage or heavy rain (Dobkin,
2005).

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Figure 3.3: Elements of a Radio Link

13
The net result is that the received wave may have been severely attenuated, delayed,
replicated, and mixed with other interfering signals, all of which need to be straightened out
in the receiver (Dobkin, 2005).

3.5 VDT’s Point-Of-Presence (PoP)

The term “Point of Presence,” commonly abbreviated as PoP, refers to a physical location,
or node, where two or more different networks or communication devices share a
connection. In the context of internet service providers (ISPs), a PoP often serves as an
access point or a physical location where the ISP connects to the internet, allowing users to
interface with the web. Traditionally, a PoP houses servers, switches, routers, and
digital/analog call aggregators. Its architecture is designed to facilitate the flow of data
between the local user and the broader internet ecosystem. In essence, PoPs play an
instrumental role in ensuring that data packets find the shortest and most efficient route to
their intended destinations (Network Encyclopedia, 2023). The entirety of my internship
was carried out at VDT’s Ikorodu PoP. The compound housed an office, a self-supporting
tower, backup power supply for the network devices and other equipment like ladders, steel
poles, etc. Pictures of these network devices and other equipment are included in
Appendices 1 & 2. The self-supporting tower housed several network devices like
microwave radios, antennas and radio wave units, baseband units. It was through these
devices that the PoP was connected to the larger VDT network and was able to connect to
and provide internet access to the customers located in the surrounding areas. Inside the
office, there was a server room that housed the following:
• Router and switches
• Power supply and redundancy equipment
• Surge protectors and lightning arrestors
• Climate control systems
• Alarms and monitoring systems
• Backup radio link equipment

3.6 Radio Link Internet Deployment

At VDT, customers were provided with internet connectivity of varying capacities (2 Mbps
- 150 Mbps) via point-to-point radio link. To establish this connection, a radio device was
installed at the customers’ premises. During the period of my internship, I carried out

14
 several radio link deployments. The deployment of the radio link internet connection
involved the following processes:

3.6.1 Line of sight (LoS) survey

Predictive surveys were performed before deployment to analyze the physical environment
and existing wireless signals as part of the planning procedure. It involved the following:
• Visual identification and observation of the location
• Identify optimal positions for mounting outdoor unit of customer premises
equipment (CPE)
• Determining GPS coordinates, altitude above mean sea level (AMSL), distance
between the two locations (customer premises and PoP), azimuth (elevation)
• Checking for line-of-sight (LoS) availability: While visual line of sight is
necessary, making sure that there are no obstacles within the Fresnel zone will
enhance link stability and performance. The fresnel zone is a cylindrical ellipse
drawn between a transmitter and receiver. Basically, if there are obstructions
within the fresnel zone of a link, (as shown in Figure 3.4), some or even all of the
original signal is either lost due to reflections and absorption depending on the
material in the way. This area should be kept as clear as possible for the best results.

3.6.2 Planning the installation

Planning the radio link involved the following steps:
• Choosing the right customer premise(s) equipment (CPE) radio: Selection of the most
fitting CPE radio depends on a few key factors: the link capacity, the chosen
frequency band (2.4GHz or 5GHz), distance of the link (in Km) (as distances
increases, performance typically decreases), the transmission power of the radios.
• Selecting the tools and materials for mounting the CPE: For point-to-point (PTP)
links, radios with narrower beam widths and higher gain antennas are preferred, such
as larger dishes. The materials that are used to mount the radio ODU include; steel
pole, pole clamps, cable ties, nails, etc.
• Outlining costs.

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Figure 3.4: Line of sight and Fresnel zone.

16
 • Specifying network parameters like the IP addresses of internet radio and router,
frequency spectrum, etc.
• Providing logistics for the field engineers and technicians.

3.6.3 Installation of CPE

CPE stands for Customer Premises Equipment. It refers to the communications equipment,
like radios, routers, or network bridges, that are located on the customer’s premises and
connect to a service provider’s network. Essentially, it is the customer’s gateway to the
wider network beyond. The CPE I installed, during the radio link deployment, is the
Ubiquiti Networks airMax Litebeam 5AC Gen 2 Wi-Fi radio. It came in a package with the
following contents: Antenna Feed, Center Reflector Panel, 2 Side Reflector Panels, Feed
Receiver, Azimuth Mount, Elevation Mount, Metal Strap, Wingnut Kit, Gigabit POE
adapter, Power Cord and a Quick Start Guide (as shown in Figure 3.5). To begin the CPE
setup process, we carried out a routine check to ensure that the following were available:
• The Wi-Fi radio (Litebeam) device (outdoor unit of CPE)
• Passive power over ethernet (PoE) Adapter (indoor unit of CPE)
• Router (indoor unit of CPE)
• Pole mounting straps
• Mounting bracket with wall anchors and screws
• A power cord for the PoE adapter
• 2 pairs of cat-6 twisted-pair patch cables

The LiteBeam radio is the outdoor component of the CPE The radio was assembled (as
1
shown in Figure 3.6) and then secured onto a 34-inch diameter steel pole with a metal strap.

The pole was then mounted at an elevation to satisfy the LoS condition that is required for
optimal performance of the radio link. In some cases, it was not possible to install the radio
on a standard vertical mast or pole. Depending on the structures e.g., buildings, trees, water
tank scaffold, etc, that were present in the customers’ premises, the location, where the radio
was mounted, would vary. Images of some structures, where the LiteBeam radio was
mounted, are included in Appendix 3.

17
 Figure 3.5: Litebeam 5AC Gen 2 Wi-Fi radio.

Figure 3.6: Assembly of the Ubiquiti Networks LiteBeam 5AC Gen 2 radio.

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In a typical CPE installation, the cat-6 patch cable goes from the outdoor CPE, in through
an exterior wall and then to the ethernet port labeled ‘POE’ on the PoE adapter. The PoE
adapter plugs into a wall outlet. Another Cat-6 patch cable goes from ‘LAN’ port on the
PoE adapter to internal home or computer router, or single computer (as shown in Figure
3.7).

3.6.4 Alignment of CPE to Remote Station Radio Device

The newly installed CPE (radio antenna) was then aligned to the radio unit located on the
tower at the Point-of-Presence. Having a perfectly aligned link is crucial for a well-
performing link. Without proper alignment, less-than-desirable throughput, high latency,
and/or stability issues would occur (Ubiquiti Inc., 2024). It was necessary to change the
azimuth and elevation of the LiteBeam radio’s antenna by a few degrees at a time in order
to establish the initial link. Listed below are some best practices that I followed during
antenna alignment:
• Open up the alignment tool in the LiteBeam radio’s management console (airOS
WebUI) and slowly adjust the azimuth of the wi-fi radio until the signal gets better,
and then it begins to worsen.
• Once you notice you're losing signal, start backing up the azimuth until you reach
the peak signal.
• Slowly adjust the elevation of the wi-fi radio until the signal gets better, and then it
begins to worsen (Ubiquiti Inc., 2024).

3.6.5 Configuring the Wi-Fi radio

Once the hardware setup is complete, the next step is the network configuration. This
process begins with the configuration of the LiteBeam radio. Figure 3.8 shows the
dashboard of the radio’s management console. The configuration is carried out as follows:
1. The radio is initially restored to factory default settings. This is critical, especially
during troubleshooting.
2. With a Windows PC or Mac computer configured to the 192.168.1.x subnet,
connect it to the radio using an Ethernet cable.
3. Using a web browser, enter 192.168.1.20 as the URL to gain access to the radio's
management console.
4. Enter “ubnt” as the administration account and “ubnt” as the password.

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 Figure 3.7: Connection of indoor and outdoor units of the CPE

Figure 3.8: The dashboard of the LiteBeam radio's management console

20
 5. Choose the |Wireless| tab, and only change:
a. Access Point: On
b. PTP Mode: On
6. Choose the |Network| tab, and only change:
a. IP Address: 192.168.1.2
7. Click the Save button
8. Reboot before using this link for the first time (Ubiquiti Inc., 2024).

3.6.6 Configuring the router

This is the next step in the network configuration. It is carried out as follows:
1. Power on the router
2. Connect the ethernet cable from your internet service provider to the "WAN" or
"internet" port on the back of the D-Link router.
3. Ensure that the router is restored to factory settings. (To reset the router, press and
hold the reset button (more than 10 seconds) until the system LED becomes quick-
flash from slow-flash.)
4. Connect your phone or computer to the router using an ethernet cable or wi-fi.
5. Login to the router’s web management page.
a. Open a web browser and type the default IP address in the address field and
press enter.
b. Enter the default username ‘admin’ and default password ‘admin’.
c. Click ‘login’.
6. Under WAN setup, select connection type ‘static’.
7. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers allocated to the
customer by the internet service provider.
8. Under wireless setup, confirm or change the wireless network SSID.
9. Enter the wireless network password (wi-fi password must contain at least 8
characters).
10. Then click save and connect to finish the router setup and configuration.

3.6.7 Testing and Monitoring the Network

Network Testing (or network performance testing), is the process of analyzing and testing
the network to identify bugs and performance issues, and measure network performance
(Lamberti, 2023). It is important to evaluate the newly deployed link and collect data on the
21
network performance to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) of the link. One way to ensure that
devices were connected and configured correctly is to run a ping test. A ping network test
transmits data packets to a specific IP address and either confirms or denies there is
connectivity between IP-networked devices. In the case of confirmation, the “latency” (i.e.,
the length of the response time) is discovered by performing a ping test (as shown in Figure
3.9). A lower latency provides a better experience, as even milliseconds can matter in
situations, like online gaming, where a fast response is essential. If the ping fails, this can
point to the need for further investigation to locate the root cause (Lamberti, 2023). I carried
out the following steps to run a ping test on the newly installed radio link:
1. Type “cmd” to bring up the Command Prompt.
2. Open the Command Prompt.
3. Type “ping” in the black box and hit the space bar.
4. Type the IP address of the host (router, wi-fi radio) (e.g., 196.220.10.78).
5. Review the ping results displayed (PagerDuty, 2023).

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Figure 3.9: Ping test on Windows OS.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Conclusion
The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was without a doubt a great
program for me and was highly successful. First of all, it introduced and exposed me to real
life scenarios and provided me with the opportunity and practical exposure to apply the
theoretical knowledge gained from lectures taught in school to real life problems. The
exposure to various aspects of network design, configuration, optimization, and
troubleshooting has not only enhanced my technical skills but also reinforced the
importance of teamwork, communication, and adaptability in a fast-paced industry.
Moreover, interacting with clients and addressing their network-related challenges has
honed my problem-solving abilities and customer service orientation. As I reflect on my
internship journey, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have contributed
to my personal and professional growth. I am confident that the knowledge, skills, and
insights gained during this internship will serve as a solid foundation for my future career
endeavors in the field of networking.

4.2 Recommendations
Based on my experiences during the scheme, I would recommend the following:
• The institution should partner with network equipment vendors, service providers,
and other industry players for guest lectures, workshops, and internship
opportunities, in a bid to increase students’ computer networking knowledge.
• The institution should encourage students to pursue relevant certifications like
CCNA, CCNP, or AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Networking Specialty.
• Students should develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills
through group projects and presentations.
• Proper orientation should be given to the students by the university before they go
on SIWES.
• Institutions of attachment should acquire adequate tools and safety wears to enable
students participate fully in every activity.

24
 REFERENCES

Dishan S. (2023). Radio Link internet: A Comprehensive Guide. [Online], Telewavehub

Website, Accessed on: 7th of January, 2024, Retrieved from:
/https://telewavehub.com/what-is-radio-link-internet-and benefits/ Key Components
of_a_Radio Link_internet_System/

Dobkin M. D. (2005). RF Engineering for Wireless Networks: Hardware, Antennas, and

Propagation. Elsevier Inc.. 1st Edition, p. 48

ITF & UNIJOS (2006). Proceedings and Resolutions of the 10 Biennial SIWES National
Conference July, 2006. Industrial Training Fund University of Jos: An evaluation of
the impact of Student Industrial Training Fund on technical skill development in
Nigeria Jos, June 2011. Corporate Affairs Department, ITF, Jos. Vol 2, p. 5

Kurose J. F. & Ross W. F. (2007). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach

Featuring the internet. Pearson Education Limited. 7th Edition, pp. 30-33

Lamberti A. (2023). Network Testing: How to Test Network Performance. [Online], Obkio
Website, Accessed on: 19th of January, 2024, Retrieved from:
https://obkio.com/Website/ network-testing/ Network_testing_can help you several
benefits of_network_testing./

Mafe, O. A. T. (2009). Guide to Successful Participation in SIWES. Panaf Publishing Inc.,

Abuja and Lagos. Vol 1, p. 6

Mafe, O.A.T. (2010). Effectiveness of SIWES with respect to chemical engineering;

Paper presented at the Workshop on “Achieving the Necessary Professional
Standards in Chemical Engineering in our Universities”, University of Lagos, Lagos.
Vol 1, pp. 4-6

Network Encyclopedia. (2023). Point of Presence (PoP). [Online], Network Encyclopedia,

Accessed on: 19th of January, 2024, Retrieved from:
https://networkencyclopedia.com/point-of-presence-pop/#Original-Article

25
PagerDuty. (2023). How to Ping a Network for Testing Connectivity. [Online], PagerDuty
Website, Accessed on: 19th of January, 2024, Retrieved from:
https://www.pagerduty.com/resources/learn/ping-network-testing-connectivity/

Ubiquiti Inc. (2024). ISP Wireless - Antenna Alignment for Outdoor Wireless Links.
[Online], Ubiquiti Website, Accessed on: 17th of January, 2024, Retrieved from:
https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013252034-ISP-Wireless-Antenna-
Alignment-for-Outdoor-Wireless-Links

VDT Communications. (2023). VDT e-Brochure. [Online], VDT Website, Accessed on:
10th of November, 2023, Retrieved from: https://vdtcomms.com/index.html

26
 APPENDIX 1

Network Devices

Home router Ubiquiti edge switch

LiteBeam 5ac Wi-Fi radio Router

Gigabit PoE Adapter Cat-6 twisted pair cable

(Patch cable)

Direct current distribution unit Cat-6 RJ45 connector

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 APPENDIX 2

Power Supply Equipment

Dc battery bank for power backup (redundancy)

9KVA diesel generating set connected to 1000L diesel tank

Diesel tanker in the process of refueling 1000l diesel tank 48vdc inverter

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 APPENDIX 3

Outdoor Unit of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

Radio devices installed for wireless internet connectivity

29
 APPENDIX 4

Tools & Materials Used in Radio Link Deployment

Screwdriver Crimping tool

Wall clips for twisted pair cables Tornado wall nails

Steel pole Cable tie

Scaffolding clamp Heavy duty hammer

30