Patent ID: 8514916

Claim:
A method of automatically adjusting the gain of a modem that is connected to a transceiver by a connecting cable in a satellite communication system comprising: generating a tone control signal in response to a control signal associated with a transmission of a data signal from said transceiver; transmitting said tone control signal to said transceiver to enable operation of said transceiver for said transmission; activating, concurrently with generating said tone control signal, a counter in response to said control signal; applying, at said modem, a voltage from a power supply to said connecting cable to power said transceiver; sampling a count value from said counter upon detection of an increase in current supplied to said transceiver from said power supply; generating a cable length signal from said count value, wherein a value of said cable length signal is substantially proportional to a length of said connecting cable; adjusting gain of said modem based at least in part on said cable length signal.