Importance

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Abstract

A smart data station termination ('DST') uses a method for remote alignment in which the switched access remote test system ('SARTS') sends a test tone of a single, predetermined frequency and power level to the receive-in port of the DST. The DST amplifies this test tone by a fixed gain factor (e.g. 4 dB) and then progressively increases attenuation (e.g. by 0.1 dB increments) of said amplified test tone until the resulting signal supplied to the receive-out port of the DST is reduced to a predetermined power level (i.e. -16 dBm). After alignment, the attenuation factor remains constant during normal operation of the DST. The preferred embodiment also provides a transponder mode of operation in which test signals received from the SARTS through the receive-in port of the DST are routed through an automatic gain control ('AGC') amplifier and transmitted back to the SARTS at a substantially constant level through the transmit-out port of the DST. A loopback mode is also be provided in which the AGC amplifier is bypassed.

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First Claim