Computer Hardware, Networking and CCTV

About this module

Every office, school, shop and church now has computers, a Wi-Fi router and, more and more, cameras. Someone has to install them, keep them working and fix them. That someone can be you.

Who it is for. Beginners with no formal certificate, including school leavers, young people who are "good with computers", women who want a technical trade, and persons with disabilities. National Proficiency I is the first level of Ghana's TVET framework.

What you should already know. You should be able to switch on a computer, use a mouse and keyboard, and save a file. If you cannot, take the Hub's Basic ICT Skills course first: it teaches the user skills (typing, files, email, online safety). This course teaches the technician skills: opening the box, fixing it and connecting it. Phone repair is taught in the Hub's Phone and Electronics Repair course, so this course does not repeat it.

Why this trade

CTVET's list of approved competency-based programmes includes Computer Hardware and Software, IT Infrastructure, Telecom and Networking, and Electronic Security System at National Certificate II.
CCTV installers already advertise in every region: one Ghana listings site showed about 222 CCTV installation services, and one job advert offered GH¢2,500 a month for an electronic security systems technician in Accra.
A small CCTV kit with four cameras and a recorder was advertised in Ghana for about GH¢1,500–2,700 in October 2026. Many families and shops can now afford one, and they need an installer they can trust.

CTVET status. CTVET lists related programmes (above), but this module is not a CTVET curriculum. It follows CTVET's format. Ask your nearest technical institute about formal certificates.

Three firm rules in this course.

No mains wiring. You never open a power supply, and you never install or change fixed electrical wiring, sockets or switches. That work is only for Energy Commission certified electricians (Unit 1).
Privacy first. Cameras record people. You follow Ghana's Data Protection Act and the customer's written instructions (Unit 6).
Ladders are dangerous. You use them the safe way every time, or you do not climb (Unit 1).

How the module works

Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme split of about 30% school and 70% workplace. Every unit ends with a practical task, homework and Check yourself questions.

Unit 1 · Work safely: static, power, ladders and the law

A computer can be broken by one spark from your finger, and a technician can be killed by one fall from a ladder. Safety is the first skill, not the last.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
1.1 Prepare a safe bench	sets up a clean, dry, well-lit bench with a wrist strap, mat, parts tray and tools
1.2 Control power and static	unplugs, drains power and grounds themselves before touching any part
1.3 Use a ladder safely	inspects a ladder, sets it at the right angle and climbs with three points of contact
1.4 Know the legal limits	explains why mains wiring is only for certified electricians and how e-waste is kept

Range. Desktop and laptop computers, routers and CCTV kits that run from plug-in adapters; step and extension ladders. Evidence. Bench set-up checklist; observed power-down and grounding; observed ladder set-up; oral questions.

The four dangers

Danger	What can happen	How you control it
Mains electricity	Shock, burns, fire	Unplug first; never open a power supply, monitor or adapter; no fixed wiring
Static electricity (ESD)	You kill a memory stick or board without seeing it	Wrist strap, mat, touch the metal case, hold parts by the edges
Batteries	Swollen laptop batteries can catch fire	Never press, puncture or charge a swollen battery
Falls	Broken bones, head injury, death	Safe ladder use; never work alone on a ladder

Static electricity (ESD)

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a sudden flow of electric charge between two objects. It can damage delicate electronics. Anti-static tools work by draining charge away before it passes through the parts. Ground yourself and your work surface with a wrist strap and an anti-static mat.

Wear the wrist strap on bare skin and clip it to bare metal on the computer case (or the mat's grounding point)
Keep new parts in their silver anti-static bags until you fit them
Hold memory sticks and boards by the edges; never touch the gold contacts or chips
Do not work on carpet or in nylon clothes; a bare concrete or wooden floor is better
No drinks on the bench

Power down the right way

Save the customer's work if the computer is still on; shut down from the Start menu.
Switch off at the wall and pull out the plug. For a laptop, remove the charger.
For a laptop with a removable battery, take the battery out. For a desktop, after unplugging, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to drain left-over charge. Kingston's laptop guide says to remove the power cable and battery and hold the power button for five seconds.
Put on your wrist strap and clip it on.
Only now open the case.

Never open a power supply unit (PSU), a monitor, a laptop charger or a CCTV power box. They hold dangerous voltage inside even after unplugging. If one is dead, replace the whole unit.

Swollen batteries

A swollen lithium battery can catch fire. Do not press it flat, puncture it or keep charging it; take it out carefully and store it in a safe place for proper disposal. If the case of a laptop is lifting or the touchpad is pushed up, suspect a swollen battery.

Ladders: the safe way every time

CCTV cameras and Wi-Fi access points are often high on walls and ceilings. Falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of deaths and injuries at work. OSHA, the United States safety agency, gives these rules:

Inspect the ladder before every use. If it is damaged, take it out of use and tag it until it is repaired or thrown away.
Read the labels on the ladder.
Look up for overhead power lines before you carry or raise a ladder. Do not use a metal ladder near power lines or exposed live electrical equipment.
Stand the ladder on a stable, level surface. Never on boxes, blocks or barrels to gain height.
Angle: place the base one quarter of the working length away from the wall (the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 m up, the foot is 1 m out).
An extension ladder used to reach a roof or platform must stick out at least 3 feet (about 1 m) above the top support.
Do not stand on the top three rungs of a straight or extension ladder, or on the top step of a stepladder unless it is designed for it.
Keep three points of contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) and face the ladder while climbing.
Do not move the ladder while anyone or any tool is on it.
Do not use a stepladder folded or leaning like a straight ladder.

Add your own team rules: one person holds the ladder foot; carry tools in a belt or pull them up in a bucket; no ladder work in rain or strong wind.

The law on electrical wiring. In Ghana, only Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals (CEWP) certified by the Energy Commission may do electrical wiring in buildings. The Energy Commission has warned that it is illegal to engage an uncertified electrician for wiring. For you this means: you plug camera, router and computer adapters into sockets that are already there. If the customer needs a new socket, a new circuit or anything joined to the mains, a CEWP electrician does it, and you write that on the job card.

E-waste

Old computers, boards, batteries, cables and cartridges are e-waste. Ghana's Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) repealed the 2016 hazardous and electronic waste law and now covers e-waste; check the current rules with the Environmental Protection Authority. The EPA's e-waste project runs a GH-Waste app for collection and lists the number 050 130 1567. Never burn cables to get the copper, and never throw batteries in the bin.

Your basic tool kit

Tool	Local name or what to ask for	Where to buy
Screwdriver set with Phillips PH0, PH1, PH2, flat and Torx bits	"Precision screwdriver set"	Computer and phone-parts shops; online shops
Anti-static wrist strap	"ESD wrist strap"	Computer parts shops; online
Plastic opening tools, tweezers	"Spudger", "opening tool"	Phone-parts shops
Torch or head torch	"Touchlight"	Any market
Soft paint brush, compressed air or hand blower	"Blower"	Hardware and computer shops
Parts tray	Egg tray or ice-cube tray works	At home
Multimeter (for later units)	"Tester" or "multimeter"	Electrical shops
Step ladder	"Step ladder", "A-ladder"	Hardware shops

Buy a good screwdriver set: cheap bits strip screws, and a stripped screw turns a 10-minute job into a 2-hour job.

Safe bench and safe ladder

Set up a bench: clear and dry, good light, mat, wrist strap clipped to ground, parts tray, tools laid out. Fill in the bench checklist.
Power down a desktop and a laptop the correct way while your assessor watches.
Find the places on a desktop case where you can clip the wrist strap to bare metal.
Inspect an extension ladder and a step ladder with the checklist; tag any fault.
Set the extension ladder against a wall with the 4-to-1 rule; measure the height and the distance at the foot; climb to the third rung with three points of contact while your partner holds the foot.

Safety poster

Draw a poster for the workshop wall with the five steps of "Power down the right way" and the ten ladder rules. Ask someone at home to read it and tell you which rule they did not know.

Check yourself

Why must you never open a computer power supply?
A ladder reaches 4 m up a wall. How far from the wall should its foot be?
A shop owner asks you to add a new socket for the CCTV recorder. What do you do?

Unit 2 · Meet the parts: desktop and laptop

You cannot fix what you cannot name. Learn every part, what it does and how to read its label.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
2.1 Name the parts	names and points to the main parts inside a desktop and a laptop
2.2 Read specifications	reads the processor, memory, storage and Windows version of a computer
2.3 Match parts	identifies memory type and SSD type and says which will fit

Range. At least two desktops and two laptops of different ages. Evidence. Labelled parts sheet; specification record for four computers; oral questions.

The main parts

Part	What it does	Simple picture
Case	Holds and protects everything	The house
Power supply unit (PSU)	Changes mains power into low-voltage power for the parts	The kitchen that cooks the food
Motherboard	The main board every part plugs into	The roads of the town
Processor (CPU)	Does the thinking and calculating; sits under a heat sink and fan	The brain
Memory (RAM)	Holds the programs that are open now; empties when switched off	The table you work on
Storage (HDD or SSD)	Keeps Windows, programs and files when switched off	The cupboard
Graphics	Makes the picture for the screen; built into the CPU or a separate card	The painter
Fans and heat sinks	Carry heat away	The window and fan in a hot room
Ports	USB, HDMI, VGA, network (RJ45), audio, charger	The doors

A laptop has the same parts squeezed into a small space, plus a battery, a screen, a keyboard and a touchpad. Many laptop parts are soldered to the board, so check what can be changed before you promise an upgrade.

Storage: HDD, SATA SSD and NVMe SSD

A hard disk drive (HDD) has spinning metal plates. It is cheap per gigabyte but slow, and it can be damaged if dropped.
A solid-state drive (SSD) has no moving parts and is much faster. A 2.5-inch SATA SSD fits where a laptop hard disk was.
An M.2 SSD is a small card. M.2 SATA SSDs usually use a "B-key" connector and M.2 NVMe SSDs usually use an "M-key" connector; some support both and have a "B+M" key. The size code gives width then length: "2280" means 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Not every device supports every size.

Rule: before you buy an M.2 SSD, check the laptop's manual or the maker's website for the slot type (SATA or NVMe) and size.

Memory (RAM) types

Desktop memory sticks are DIMMs; laptop sticks are shorter SO-DIMMs. The generations do not mix: DDR3 DIMMs have 240 pins, DDR4 and DDR5 DIMMs have 288 pins, and laptop SO-DIMMs have 204 (DDR3), 260 (DDR4) and 262 (DDR5) pins. Different pin counts and different notch positions stop you fitting the wrong type. If a stick does not go in easily, stop: it is probably the wrong type.

Reading the specification

On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings → System → About. Write down the processor, the installed RAM and the Windows edition and version.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) → Performance. Click Memory to see the speed, the slots used and the form factor; click Disk to see whether it is an SSD or HDD.
Turn a laptop over and read the label for the exact model number. Search the model number with the word "manual" or "specifications" on the maker's website.
Record everything on a specification card (see the logbook).

Will it run Windows 11?

Windows 11 needs at least a 1 GHz 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, TPM version 2.0, DirectX 12 graphics and a 720p screen bigger than 9 inches; Home edition needs internet and a Microsoft account during first set-up. Many older office computers do not meet the TPM or processor rules, so check before you promise an upgrade.

Name it, read it

With your wrist strap on, open a desktop. Point to and name each part in the table. Stick a small paper label on each.
Open the bottom cover of a laptop (your trainer shows you how). Find the memory, the storage, the battery, the fan and the Wi-Fi card.
Take out one memory stick and one drive (Unit 3 shows the full steps). Read their labels: type, size, speed.
Fill in a specification card for four computers using Settings, Task Manager and the label.
For each computer, say whether it meets the Windows 11 minimum.

Price a part

Choose one computer from today. Find the price of a memory stick and an SSD that would fit it, from two shops or websites. Write the exact type you would ask for (for example "8 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM").

Check yourself

What is the difference between RAM and storage?
What does "2280" on an M.2 SSD mean?
Why will a DDR5 desktop stick not go into a DDR4 slot?

Unit 3 · Open, upgrade and look after a computer

The two upgrades customers love most are more memory and an SSD. Done well, an old, slow computer feels new.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
3.1 Open and close safely	opens and closes a desktop and laptop with no lost screws, broken clips or static damage
3.2 Upgrade memory	fits a compatible memory stick and confirms it in Windows
3.3 Fit an SSD	backs up, fits an SSD and either clones the old drive or installs fresh
3.4 Clean and maintain	removes dust, checks fans and records the work on a job card

Range. One desktop and one laptop memory upgrade; one SSD fitting; one full clean. Evidence. Job cards with before-and-after notes; observed work; customer sign-off (role play).

The job card

Every job, even practice, gets a job card: date, customer name and phone, machine model and serial number, what the customer says is wrong, what you found, what you did, parts used and their cost, time taken, and the customer's signature on collection. A job card protects you and the customer. Ask the customer to remove or note any passwords you are not given; never ask for their bank or MoMo PIN.

Open and close without damage

Power down the right way and put on the wrist strap (Unit 1).
Take a photo of the machine and its cables before you start.
Remove screws in order and put them in the parts tray in the same pattern as they came out. Laptop screws are often different lengths; a long screw in the wrong hole can pierce the board.
For laptops, slide a plastic opening tool around the edge to release clips. Never force it with a metal screwdriver.
Look for hidden screws under rubber feet and stickers.
Close in reverse order. Before the last screw, check no cable is trapped.
Switch on and test before you hand back.

Upgrade memory, step by step

Check the type the computer takes (Unit 2): DDR3, DDR4 or DDR5; DIMM or SO-DIMM; the speed; how many slots and how many are free. Generations do not mix.
Power down, ground yourself, open the case.
Desktop: push the clips at the ends of the slot open. Line up the notch in the stick with the key in the slot. Press straight down with both thumbs until the clips click shut.
Laptop: slide the SO-DIMM into the slot at an angle, gold edge first, notch lined up; then press it down flat until the side clips hold it.
Close, switch on and check: Settings → System → About should show the new total.
Record the old and new memory on the job card.

If the computer beeps or will not start: switch off, re-seat the stick (take it out and press it in again), try one stick at a time, try another slot. If it still fails, the stick may be the wrong type or faulty; put the old stick back and return the new one to the seller.

Memory sums (example figures)

A laptop has two slots. Slot 1 has a 4 GB stick; slot 2 is empty. You add an 8 GB stick. What is the new total?
A customer wants Windows 11. Her desktop has two 2 GB sticks. Does it meet the RAM minimum? What would you suggest?
An 8 GB stick costs GH¢450 and your fitting charge is GH¢100 (example prices). The customer pays a 50% deposit on the part before you buy it. How much is the deposit, and how much is due on collection?

Fit an SSD, step by step

Back up first. Copy the customer's important files to an external drive, a flash drive or the cloud before you touch the old drive. Unit 4 explains backups.
Check for BitLocker. If the drive is encrypted, Windows can ask for a 48-digit BitLocker recovery key after hardware changes. The key may be in the customer's Microsoft account at aka.ms/myrecoverykey. Microsoft Support cannot recover a lost key. Get the key (or confirm it is not needed) before you start.
Choose the right SSD: 2.5-inch SATA, M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe, and the right length.
Power down, ground yourself, open the case.
2.5-inch SSD: remove the old drive from its caddy, screw the SSD into the caddy, slide it into the SATA connector.
M.2 SSD: line up the notch, insert the card at a low angle (Kingston says about 30 degrees), press it down and fit the small screw. Do not over-tighten the screw.
Choose: clone the old drive to the new one with the SSD maker's cloning tool (keeps everything), or fresh install Windows (Unit 4) and copy the files back. A fresh install is cleaner if the old system was slow or infected.
Switch on, check the SSD shows in Task Manager → Performance → Disk, check the files are there.
Give the customer the old drive back or wipe it in front of them. Never keep a customer's old drive.

Clean and maintain

Take the computer outside or to a well-aired place.
Hold each fan still with a finger or a plastic tool (a spinning fan blown by air can be damaged), then blow dust out of fans, heat sinks and vents with compressed air or a blower.
Brush dust off boards with a soft, dry brush.
Check every fan spins freely. A noisy or stuck fan means overheating: replace it.
Check cables are firmly seated.
Close, test, and write "cleaned" with the date on the job card.

Common mistakes and fixes

Mistake	What happens	Fix
No wrist strap	Part dies later "for no reason"	Always ground yourself
Screws mixed up	Long screw damages laptop board	Use the tray in the same pattern
Forcing a stick	Broken slot or stick	Check type and notch; stop if it does not slide in
No backup before SSD swap	Customer loses photos and work	Back up first, every time
BitLocker key not found	Computer locked; data may be lost	Get the key before you start
Ribbon cable not fully seated	Keyboard or screen does not work	Re-open, lift the latch, seat the cable, close the latch

Two upgrades and a clean

Fill in a job card for a practice "customer" (your partner).
Fit an extra memory stick in a desktop and in a laptop; confirm the new total in Windows.
Back up a folder, fit an SSD in a laptop, and do either a clone or a fresh install with your trainer.
Clean a dusty desktop. Take before-and-after photos (no customer data on screen).
Hand the machine back to your "customer", explain what you did, and get a signature.

Ask three people

Ask three people who own a laptop how old it is, whether it is slow, and whether it has an SSD (show them how to check in Task Manager). Write what upgrade you would suggest for each.

Check yourself

Why do you back up before fitting an SSD?
What is a BitLocker recovery key, and why find it before work?
Name two things you check after an upgrade before handing back.

Unit 4 · Windows, backups, malware and printers

Most "computer problems" are software problems. A good technician installs cleanly, backs up first and removes viruses safely.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
4.1 Install Windows	makes a USB installer and installs Windows with drivers and updates
4.2 Back up data	backs up a user's files following the 3-2-1 rule
4.3 Remove malware	recognises signs of malware and runs a full and offline scan
4.4 Set up a printer	installs a printer, prints a test page and clears a jam or runs a head clean

Range. One clean install; one backup; one malware scan; one inkjet printer. Evidence. Job cards; backup record; screenshot of a clean scan result; printed test page.

Windows 10 or Windows 11?

Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025: Microsoft no longer gives security updates for it, so it is at greater risk from viruses. Options are a free upgrade to Windows 11 if the PC meets the requirements, a new PC, or Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates, which protect a Windows 10 device until 12 October 2027. Check the Windows 11 minimum in Unit 2.

Genuine software only. Install Windows and Office only with a genuine licence. Many computers have a licence stored in the firmware and activate automatically. Never sell "cracked" software: it is illegal and often carries malware.

Make a Windows 11 USB installer

Microsoft's Media Creation Tool makes a bootable USB drive or an ISO file. You need a blank USB flash drive of at least 8 GB (everything on it is deleted), an internet connection, administrator rights, and a 64-bit PC.

On a working computer, download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website.
Run it as administrator and accept the licence.
Choose "Create installation media for another PC".
Choose language, edition and 64-bit.
Choose USB flash drive and pick the right drive. Wait for it to finish.
Label the flash drive "WIN11 INSTALL" with the date.

Install Windows, step by step

Back up the user's files first (below).
Plug the USB drive into the computer and restart. If it does not start from the USB, open the boot menu or change the boot order in BIOS/UEFI, usually with F2, F12, Delete or Esc.
Choose language, time and keyboard, then Install Windows.
For a clean install, delete the old Windows partitions only after you have confirmed the backup. Choose the empty space and continue.
Follow the set-up screens. Let the customer type their own account name and password; do not create accounts with your phone number or email.
Run Windows Update until no more updates appear. Restart as asked.
Open Device Manager: any device with a yellow mark needs a driver. Get drivers from the computer maker's website using the exact model number.
Copy the user's files back. Install their programs from genuine sources.
Write everything on the job card.

Backups: the 3-2-1 rule

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) advises the 3-2-1 rule: keep 3 copies of any important file (one main copy and two backups), on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy stored offsite, outside the home or business.

Example for a small shop: the files on the computer (copy 1), a weekly copy on an external hard drive kept in a drawer (copy 2), and an automatic copy to a cloud service such as Google Drive or OneDrive (copy 3, offsite).

Ask the customer which folders matter: Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, accounts files, WhatsApp backups on the computer.
Plug in the external drive. Make a folder named with the customer's name and the date.
Copy the folders across. Check the number of files and the size match.
Open three files from the backup to prove they work.
Write the backup on the job card and tell the customer where it is.

Viruses and other malware

Signs of malware: very slow computer, pop-up adverts, a browser home page that changed by itself, new toolbars, files renamed with strange endings and a message asking for payment (ransomware), friends receiving messages the user did not send.

Disconnect from the internet (unplug the cable, switch off Wi-Fi) so the malware cannot spread or send data.
Back up the user's documents (not programs) to a clean drive. Do not open unknown files.
Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection; update the virus definitions (reconnect briefly if needed) and run a Full scan.
For stubborn malware, run Microsoft Defender Offline: under Scan options choose Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan). The computer restarts and scans before Windows fully loads, where malware finds it harder to hide; results are in Protection history.
Remove unknown programs in Settings → Apps, and reset the browsers.
If ransomware has locked files, do not pay. Restore from backup, or do a clean install. Report cybercrime to the Cyber Security Authority on 292.
Teach the customer how it happened (fake downloads, cracked software, unknown flash drives) and turn on automatic updates.

Printers

Set up a new printer:

Unpack it fully: remove every piece of tape and foam inside.
Fill the ink tanks or fit the cartridges as the leaflet shows (ink tanks: match each colour exactly).
Connect by USB or Wi-Fi as the leaflet says. Download the driver from the maker's website using the exact model.
Print a test page and a nozzle check pattern.

Ink-tank printer prints with gaps or lines: Epson's advice for its EcoTank printers is to run Print Head Cleaning and a new nozzle check, up to 3 times; if there is no improvement, switch off and wait at least 12 hours, then check and clean again. A Power Cleaning needs each ink tank at least one-third full, and after one you wait at least 12 hours before another. Cleaning uses a lot of ink, so do not repeat it without waiting.

Clear a paper jam:

Switch off.
Open the covers the printer leaflet shows.
Pull the paper slowly, with both hands, in the direction it normally travels.
Check no small torn pieces remain (use a torch).
Fan new paper, load it straight, do not overfill.

Install, back up, clean, print

Make a Windows 11 USB installer.
Back up a practice user's folders following 3-2-1 (external drive plus a cloud folder).
Do a clean install of Windows on a practice computer, with drivers and updates.
Run a full scan and an offline scan; take a screenshot of the Protection history.
Install an inkjet printer, print a test page and a nozzle check; clear a jam your trainer creates.

Your own backup

Make a 3-2-1 backup plan for your own phone photos or your family's important papers. Write where each of the three copies will be.

Check yourself

What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Why disconnect a computer from the internet before cleaning malware?
How many times does Epson say to run print-head cleaning before waiting 12 hours?

Unit 5 · Small networks: cables, routers, Wi-Fi and IP addresses

A network is computers, phones, printers and cameras talking to each other and to the internet. Good cables and a well-set router solve most problems.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
5.1 Make a network cable	crimps a straight-through RJ45 cable to T568B that passes a cable tester
5.2 Set up a router	changes the default password, sets Wi-Fi name and WPA3 or WPA2 security, updates firmware
5.3 Read IP addresses	finds a device's IP address, gateway and subnet mask and explains them
5.4 Troubleshoot	follows the troubleshooting steps to find a simple fault

Range. One small network: router, switch, two computers, one printer, phones. Evidence. Three tested cables; router set-up record; troubleshooting log.

The parts of a small network

Device	What it does
Modem or MiFi	Connects to the internet provider (fibre, 4G, satellite)
Router	Shares the internet, gives out IP addresses (DHCP), usually has Wi-Fi built in
Switch	Adds more cable sockets; joins wired devices together
Access point (AP)	Adds Wi-Fi in another area
Cable (Cat5e / Cat6)	Carries data between devices

Cables: what to buy

Twisted-pair Ethernet runs up to 100 m per cable for 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (gigabit), which need at least Category 5 cable; gigabit uses all four pairs.
In installed cabling, the standard allows 90 m of fixed cable plus patch cords, 100 m in total.
Buy pure copper. Some cheap cables are copper-clad aluminium (CCA). The cable standard requires copper conductors, so CCA cable does not meet it. In October 2026, 305 m boxes of Cat6 were advertised in Ghana from about GH¢350 to GH¢3,600; some listings said "CCA" and others "pure copper". The very cheapest box is usually not copper. Ask, and scratch a conductor: copper is copper-coloured all the way through; CCA shows silver inside.

The colour code

Pin	T568A	T568B
1	White/green	White/orange
2	Green	Orange
3	White/orange	White/green
4	Blue	Blue
5	White/blue	White/blue
6	Orange	Green
7	White/brown	White/brown
8	Brown	Brown

Use the same standard on both ends for a normal (straight-through) cable. A cable with T568A on one end and T568B on the other is a crossover cable; it is only occasionally needed, for older equipment. In this course we use T568B on both ends, and every cable in one building uses the same standard.

Crimp an RJ45 cable, step by step

Tools: crimping tool, cable stripper or the crimper's blade, side cutters, RJ45 plugs, boots, cable tester. Crimpers were advertised in Ghana for about GH¢70–210 in October 2026, and a 10-in-1 network tool kit with a tester for about GH¢300.

Slide the rubber boot onto the cable first (everybody forgets this once).
Strip about 3 cm of the outer jacket. Do not nick the inner wires.
Untwist the pairs and straighten each wire.
Arrange them in the T568B order (table above), holding the plug with the clip underneath and the gold pins facing you, pin 1 on the left.
Cut the wires straight across so about 12 mm sticks out of the jacket.
Push the wires into the plug until every wire touches the end of the plug; the jacket must go inside the plug so the plug grips it.
Check the colours again through the clear plug.
Put the plug in the crimper and squeeze firmly until it stops.
Do the other end the same way.
Test with the cable tester: lights 1 to 8 must come on in order on both units.

Tester shows	Problem	Fix
One light missing	A wire not pushed in or a bad crimp	Cut off the plug and redo
Lights out of order	Colours in the wrong order	Cut off and redo
Cable works but falls out	Jacket not gripped	Redo with the jacket inside the plug

IP addresses in plain words

Every device on a network needs an IP address, like a house number.

Private addresses are used inside homes and offices and are not sent onto the internet. The three private blocks are 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255. Most home routers use 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x.
The router usually hands out addresses automatically (DHCP).
The default gateway is the router's address: the door to the internet.
The subnet mask (often 255.255.255.0) tells the device which addresses are "in the same house".
If a computer shows an address beginning 169.254, it gave itself a link-local address because it could not get one from a DHCP server. That usually means a bad cable, a Wi-Fi problem or a router fault.

Find the addresses on Windows: open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. With no options it shows the IPv4 address, subnet mask and default gateway for each adapter; ipconfig /all shows everything, ipconfig /renew asks DHCP for a new address and ipconfig /flushdns clears the stored name lookups.

Set up a router safely

The US cyber agency CISA advises: change the default username and password (default ones are on the internet), update the firmware, use the strongest encryption available (WPA3 Personal with AES), turn off WPS, turn off remote management, and keep the router's firewall on.

Connect a computer to the router by cable. Read the router's label for its address (for example 192.168.1.1) and default login.
Open a browser and type the address. Log in.
Change the admin password to a long one. Write it on the customer's handover sheet, not on the router.
Set the Wi-Fi name (do not use the family's name or address) and a strong Wi-Fi password.
Choose WPA3 or, if some devices cannot join, WPA2/WPA3 mixed.
Turn off WPS and remote management.
Check for a firmware update.
Reconnect every device and test.

Wi-Fi placement and channels

Put the router high, in the middle of the area, away from metal cabinets and thick concrete walls.
In the 2.4 GHz band, most of the world allows the first 13 channels, and in the USA the usual non-overlapping 20 MHz channels are 1, 6 and 11. If neighbours' Wi-Fi is crowded, try channel 1, 6 or 11 and test which is best.
5 GHz Wi-Fi is usually faster but goes less far through walls. Most routers offer both.

Troubleshooting: start simple

Ask: What stopped working? One device or all? Since when?
Look at the lights on the modem, router and switch. No light on a port = cable or device problem.
Restart in order: modem, then router, then the device. Wait for each to start fully.
Swap the cable with a tested one.
Run ipconfig. An address starting 169.254 = no DHCP (step 2 or 4 again; check the router).
Ping the gateway (for example ping 192.168.1.1). Replies = the local network is fine.
Ping a known internet address. No reply = the internet line or the provider's service. Call the provider.
If websites do not open but pings work, run ipconfig /flushdns and try again.
Write what you found and did in the troubleshooting log.

Cable for a small office (example figures)

An office needs cables from the switch to four desks: 18 m, 22 m, 25 m and 30 m. Add 10% for waste and bends. Each run needs two RJ45 plugs, and you buy 25% extra plugs for mistakes.

How many metres of cable do you need?
How many plugs?
Is any run too long for Ethernet?

Build a small network

Crimp three cables to T568B; all must pass the tester.
Set up a router from factory settings: new admin password, Wi-Fi name, WPA3/WPA2, WPS off, remote management off, firmware checked.
Connect two computers by cable, one phone and one printer by Wi-Fi.
Run ipconfig on each computer; write the address, mask and gateway.
Your trainer creates three faults (unplugged cable, wrong Wi-Fi password, a cable with a bad plug). Find and fix each one using the steps; fill in the troubleshooting log.

Map your home or a shop

With permission, draw a map of the network at home or in a shop: where the router is, which devices connect by cable and by Wi-Fi, and where the Wi-Fi is weak. Suggest one improvement.

Check yourself

What is the T568B order for pins 1 and 2?
A laptop shows the address 169.254.12.7. What does that tell you?
Name three things CISA says to do when setting up a router.

Unit 6 · CCTV basics: cameras, recorders, storage and privacy

A camera is only useful if it records the right place, keeps the footage long enough, and respects the people it watches.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
6.1 Know the systems	explains a DVR system and an NVR/PoE system and the parts of each
6.2 Plan storage	works out how many days of recording a hard drive will hold
6.3 Install a small kit	mounts, cables and powers a 4-camera kit using existing sockets and safe ladder work
6.4 Respect privacy	places cameras lawfully, puts up a sign and explains the customer's data protection duties

Range. One 4-camera kit (DVR or NVR) installed on a training wall or building, with a recorder, hard drive and phone viewing. Evidence. Site sketch with camera positions; storage calculation; installed and working system; privacy sign; handover sheet.

Two kinds of system

	DVR system (analog HD)	NVR system (IP)
Cameras	Analog HD cameras	IP (network) cameras
Cable	Coaxial video cable plus a power pair (often sold together)	Network cable (Cat6)
Power	A power box with a lead to each camera	PoE: power and data in one network cable
Where the video is processed	In the recorder	In the camera, then streamed to the recorder

A network video recorder (NVR) records video that arrives over a network: the video is encoded and processed at the camera and then streamed to the NVR, unlike a digital video recorder (DVR), which takes video directly from capture hardware. In October 2026, a 305 m roll of coaxial cable with a power pair was advertised in Ghana for about GH¢850.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

PoE sends power and data down the same network cable.

Standard	Power at the switch port	Power guaranteed at the camera
802.3af (Type 1)	15.4 W	12.95 W
802.3at (Type 2, "PoE+")	30 W	25.5 W

Passive PoE injectors send power all the time without checking the device, so the voltage must match beforehand. Never plug a passive PoE injector into a device that is not made for it. Use standard PoE switches or a PoE NVR for cameras.

Recording, compression and storage

Video is compressed. H.265 (HEVC) gives 25–50% better compression than H.264 at the same quality, so the same drive holds more days. Choose H.265 in the recorder if all cameras support it.
Use a surveillance hard drive made for recording all day. In October 2026, 1 TB surveillance drives were advertised in Ghana for about GH¢390–600 and 4 TB for about GH¢2,800.

How to work out storage (example). A camera recording at 2 megabits per second (Mbps) all day:

Seconds in a day: 24 × 60 × 60 = 86,400.
Megabits a day: 2 × 86,400 = 172,800.
Megabytes (divide by 8): 21,600 MB = 21.6 GB a day per camera.
Four cameras: 4 × 21.6 = 86.4 GB a day.
A 1 TB (1,000 GB) drive holds about 1,000 ÷ 86.4 = about 11 days.

The recorder overwrites the oldest footage when the drive is full. Real bit rates depend on the camera settings; read them in the recorder's menu.

How many days? (example figures)

A shop has 4 cameras at 1 Mbps each, recording all day, on a 1 TB drive. About how many days will it keep?
The owner wants 30 days. With 4 cameras at 2 Mbps, how many TB does she need?
A 4-camera kit costs GH¢1,860 and comes with a 1 TB drive. A 4 TB drive costs GH¢2,800 (example prices). What is the extra cost of the bigger drive if you sell the 1 TB drive for GH¢400?

Plan the cameras with the customer

Walk the site with the owner. Ask: what do you want to see (faces at the door, the cash counter, the car park), and why?
Mark camera positions on a sketch. Aim for entrances, the gate, the counter and stock rooms.
Do not point cameras into toilets, changing rooms, bedrooms of workers or guests, or into the neighbour's house or compound.
Mark where the recorder will sit (a locked, cool, dry place) and the existing socket it will use.
Measure each cable run. Keep IP cable runs under 90 m of fixed cable.
Agree it in writing: number of cameras, positions, recording days, who may view, and the price.

Install a small kit, step by step

Bench test first: connect every camera to the recorder on the ground, with short cables, and check each picture works before anything goes up the wall.
Fit the hard drive in the recorder (power off, ground yourself, screw it in).
Ladder work with a partner holding the foot (Unit 1). Look up for overhead lines.
Mark the camera base holes with the camera's template. Drill with the right bit for block, concrete or wood; wear safety glasses.
Run cables neatly in trunking or conduit and clip them. Leave a drip loop at outdoor connections so rain runs off before the joint. Seal outdoor joints with the cover or tape supplied.
Fit the plugs: BNC and power for DVR cameras; RJ45 for IP cameras (test each cable).
Connect to the recorder; plug the recorder and power box into the existing socket (no new mains wiring, Unit 1).
Set the date and time, recording mode (continuous or motion), H.265, and overwrite on.
Change the recorder's default password. Set up the phone app for the owner on their phone with their account.
Adjust each camera's angle and focus while someone watches the monitor. Check day and night pictures.
Put up the CCTV sign (below).
Hand over: show the owner how to view, play back and copy a clip; give the handover sheet with the passwords sealed in an envelope.

Privacy and the law

Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) protects personal information and created the Data Protection Commission. A clear picture of a person's face is personal data. Under the Act, people have the right to see data held about them, and anyone who keeps data must protect it from loss, damage and unauthorised access. The Data Protection Commission says all data controllers and processors must register with it. A business that runs CCTV is likely a data controller: tell your customer to check with the Commission.

What good practice looks like. One Ghanaian school's CCTV privacy notice, written under Act 843, says the cameras capture images, location and time; the reason is safety and security; footage is kept for 60 days and stored locally; notices are put up so people know about the cameras; cameras do not intrude in washrooms and hostels; and only named officers can view the footage, protected by passwords. The UK data regulator (a foreign example) says surveillance should be lawful, necessary and proportionate, and that recording where people would not expect it is especially intrusive.

Put up a clear sign at each entrance: "CCTV in operation", the purpose (for example "for safety and security"), the business name and a phone number to contact
Cameras only where the owner has a clear reason
No cameras in toilets, changing or sleeping areas; not pointing at neighbours
Keep footage only as long as needed (agree a number of days, for example 30), then let it overwrite
Only named people can view; strong passwords; recorder locked away
Never copy, share or post footage yourself, not even "funny" clips
No sound recording unless the owner has taken advice: it is much more intrusive

You are the installer, not the owner. The owner decides why and where to record and is responsible for the footage. Your job is to install it safely, explain these duties, and refuse to place a camera somewhere clearly wrong (a toilet, a neighbour's bedroom window). Write your advice on the handover sheet. Whether the Data Protection Commission has CCTV-specific guidance for Ghana was not verified; tell customers to check with the Commission.

Install a 4-camera kit

Plan: sketch the training building, mark 4 camera positions and the recorder, and measure the cable runs.
Bench-test the kit on the floor.
With a partner, install two cameras at height using the ladder rules, and two at a low wall.
Run and test the cables, connect and power the recorder from an existing socket.
Set time, recording, H.265, overwrite and a new password; set up the phone app on the "owner's" phone.
Work out how many days the drive will keep at the real bit rate shown in the menu.
Make and put up a CCTV sign. Hand over with a handover sheet.

Spot the cameras

Walk through a market or street (do not enter private places). Count the CCTV cameras you see and how many have a sign. Write which ones you think point somewhere they should not, and why.

Check yourself

What is the main difference between a DVR and an NVR system?
How much power does an 802.3af (PoE) port give out, and how much reaches the camera?
Name four things that should be on a CCTV sign or in the owner's privacy plan.

Unit 7 · Your location, business ideas and marketing yourself

Customers trust a technician who turns up on time, explains in plain words, gives a written quote and keeps their data private.

Competency standard

Learning outcome	Performance criteria — the trainee…
7.1 Cost and quote	writes a quote with parts, labour and transport and works out the deposit
7.2 Choose a location	judges a place to work from and explains why
7.3 Market yourself	plans a name, a WhatsApp Business profile, a portfolio and referrals

Range. The trainee's own plan. Evidence. One written quote; one-page plan; portfolio page.

What people pay for

Slow computer: clean-up, memory and SSD upgrade
Windows install, drivers and backups
Virus removal and "my files are locked"
Printer set-up, ink refills done right, jams
Network cables, router set-up, Wi-Fi in a dead corner
CCTV for homes, shops, schools, churches and hostels
Maintenance visits: cleaning computers, checking backups and cameras every month or quarter

Location settings that give good returns

Near offices, schools, banks, hospitals, churches and busy shops (they all have computers and want cameras)
Near a computer or phone-parts area, so you can buy parts quickly
A bench with steady power and a UPS, good light and a lockable cupboard for customers' machines
Mobile work: many network and CCTV jobs are at the customer's site, so a motorbike or reliable transport and a tool bag matter more than a big shop
Akwidaa and small towns: fewer competitors; combine computer care with CCTV and Wi-Fi for guest houses and shops

Business ideas and ingenuity

"Make it fast" package: clean, SSD and memory upgrade, fresh Windows, backup
School computer-lab maintenance contract (per term)
Wi-Fi and CCTV for guest houses on the coast
Network cabling for new buildings, working alongside the CEWP electrician
Second-hand laptops: buy, test, upgrade and sell with a written warranty
Partner with the Hub's Basic ICT Skills graduates: they teach the customer; you fix the machine

Write a quote

A quote lists parts, labour, transport and the total, how long the price is valid, and the deposit. In October 2026, 4-camera kits were advertised in Ghana for about GH¢1,150–3,500 depending on brand and resolution.

Quote a 4-camera job (example figures)

Parts: CCTV kit GH¢1,860; extra cable and plugs GH¢150; trunking and clips GH¢120. Transport GH¢80. Labour: you charge GH¢600 for the installation. The customer pays a deposit equal to 70% of the parts before you buy them.

What is the total quote?
How much is the deposit?
How much is due when the job is finished?

Market yourself

WhatsApp Business: a profile with your name, services, hours and area; a catalogue of packages with prices; quick replies for "How much for a Windows install?".
Google Business Profile: businesses verify their listing with Google so they appear on Maps and search.
Portfolio: before-and-after photos of neat cable work, a clean computer, a camera on a wall. Never post screenshots of a customer's footage, screen or files, and ask permission before you show their building.
Referrals: give each happy customer three business cards; thank them when someone calls.
Trust signs: written quotes, job cards, a small warranty (for example 30 days on labour), on time every time.

Accessibility

Ghana's Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) says a person who provides a service to the public must provide facilities that make it accessible to persons with disability. The Assemblies' share of the Common Fund for persons with disabilities rose from 3% to 5% from 2026; ask your Assembly's disability desk about support for tools.

Which tasks are workable? Bench work (upgrades, Windows installs, backups, malware clean-up, printer repair, crimping cables, configuring routers and recorders) can be done seated. A bench at wheelchair height with knee space works well. Deaf technicians can use written job cards and WhatsApp with customers; blind and low-vision technicians can configure Windows and routers with a screen reader and magnifier (taught in Basic ICT Skills) and can do much of the phone support. Ladder and roof work is for team members who can climb safely; a mixed team can share the work.

Your plan

Write a quote for a real or made-up customer (computer upgrade or CCTV).
Choose a location and explain why in five lines.
Set up a WhatsApp Business profile (or a paper version) with three packages and prices.
Make a one-page plan: name, services, location, prices, how you will find your first 10 customers.

Talk to a customer

Ask two shop owners or office managers: who fixes their computers now, what annoys them about it, and whether they have CCTV. Write their answers.

Check yourself

Name four things a quote must show.
Why should you never post a customer's CCTV footage, even with faces hidden?
Name two technician tasks that can be done seated.

Glossary

Term	Meaning
BitLocker	Windows drive encryption; may ask for a 48-digit recovery key
CCA	Copper-clad aluminium: cheap cable that does not meet the copper standard
CEWP	Certified Electrical Wiring Professional (Energy Commission)
Crimp	Press an RJ45 plug onto a cable
DHCP	The router service that gives out IP addresses automatically
DIMM / SO-DIMM	Desktop / laptop memory stick
DVR / NVR	Recorder for analog cameras / recorder for IP cameras
ESD	Electrostatic discharge: a static spark that damages parts
Gateway	The router's address: the door to the internet
H.265 (HEVC)	Video compression that saves space
IP address	A device's "house number" on a network
M.2	Small card-shaped SSD connector (SATA or NVMe)
Malware	Viruses and other harmful software
PoE	Power over Ethernet: power and data in one cable
SSD / HDD	Solid-state drive / hard disk drive
T568B	The colour order for RJ45 plugs used in this course
3-2-1	Three copies, two media, one offsite

Logbook

Unit 1: bench checklist; ladder inspection sheet
Unit 2: labelled parts sheet; four specification cards
Unit 3: job cards for two upgrades and a clean, with photos
Unit 4: USB installer made; backup record; scan result; printer test page
Unit 5: three tested cables; router set-up record; troubleshooting log
Unit 6: site sketch; storage calculation; handover sheet; CCTV sign
Unit 7: quote; one-page plan; WhatsApp profile
Every homework, dated

Specification card: customer or owner · make and model · serial number · processor · RAM (size, type, slots used/free) · storage (type, size) · Windows edition and version · Windows 11 ready? · notes.

Self-check quiz

Name the five steps to power down a computer before opening it.
What does a wrist strap do?
What is the 4-to-1 ladder rule?
Who may install a new electrical socket for a CCTV recorder?
What is the difference between RAM and storage?
What is the minimum RAM and TPM version for Windows 11?
What size USB drive does the Media Creation Tool need?
Explain the 3-2-1 backup rule.
Write the T568B colour order for pins 1 to 8.
Name the three private IP address ranges.
A 4-camera system uses 86.4 GB a day. How many days fit on a 2 TB drive?
Name three places a camera must never point.