Patent ID: 11863145

Abstract:
Automatic gain control (AGC) may be accomplished in a radio frequency (RF) amplifier in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network using a wideband RF tuner to select multiple pilot channels (e.g., frequencies in lower and upper portions of an RF signals spectrum) for use in measuring power and determining a correction to be applied to the RF amplifier. The power of the pilot channel or channels may be measured, for example, using a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from the wideband RF tuner or using a power detector circuit. Using the wideband RF tuner allows selectable gain and/or tilt control across a wideband spectrum, such as a channel spectrum of a CATV downstream RF signal, to maintain stable RF output levels of the amplifier as RF input levels vary. The RF amplifier may be a line extender amplifier used in a CATV HFC network to amplify a wideband RF spectrum of up to 1.8 GHz.