An analog radio over fiber (AROF) wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system comprising: a plurality of transmitters , each transmitter for receiving a radio frequency input signal and for modulating the radio frequency input signal onto an optical signal to obtain a modulated optical signal; a multiplexer for receiving each modulated optical signal from the plurality of transmitters and for combining the modulated optical signals into a combined optical signal, the multiplexer having a plurality of passbands, each passband having a center wavelength; a demultiplexer for receiving the combined optical signal and for separating the combined optical signal back into the individual modulated optical signals; and a plurality of receivers , each receiver for receiving one of the modulated optical signals from the demultiplexer and for converting the received modulated optical signal into a radio frequency output signal; characterized by a controller configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that a wavelength of the modulated optical signal transmitted by that transmitter is longer than the center wavelength of a corresponding one of the plurality of passbands of the multiplexer; wherein the controller is configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that that transmitter produces the modulated optical signal at an optical frequency that is between 25GHz and 30GHz lower than a center optical frequency of the corresponding passband of the multiplexer ; or the controller is configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that that transmitter produces the modulated optical signal at a wavelength that is 0.2 nanometers to 0.24 nanometers longer than the center wavelength of the corresponding passband of the multiplexer . a plurality of transmitters , each transmitter for receiving a radio frequency input signal and for modulating the radio frequency input signal onto an optical signal to obtain a modulated optical signal; a multiplexer for receiving each modulated optical signal from the plurality of transmitters and for combining the modulated optical signals into a combined optical signal, the multiplexer having a plurality of passbands, each passband having a center wavelength; a demultiplexer for receiving the combined optical signal and for separating the combined optical signal back into the individual modulated optical signals; and a plurality of receivers , each receiver for receiving one of the modulated optical signals from the demultiplexer and for converting the received modulated optical signal into a radio frequency output signal; characterized by a controller configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that a wavelength of the modulated optical signal transmitted by that transmitter is longer than the center wavelength of a corresponding one of the plurality of passbands of the multiplexer; wherein the controller is configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that that transmitter produces the modulated optical signal at an optical frequency that is between 25GHz and 30GHz lower than a center optical frequency of the corresponding passband of the multiplexer ; or the controller is configured to detune each transmitter , or detune the multiplexer relative to each transmitter , such that that transmitter produces the modulated optical signal at a wavelength that is 0.2 nanometers to 0.24 nanometers longer than the center wavelength of the corresponding passband of the multiplexer . <EOS>