Patent ID: 7177606

Claim:
A wireless transmitter system, said system comprising: an outdoor unit configured to process an input signal having an associated input signal power level and generate an output signal having an associated output signal power level initially depending on said input signal power level; and an indoor unit configured to generate said input signal and initialize said input signal power level such that said output signal power level is substantially equal to a predetermined threshold; wherein, after said input signal power level is initialized, said outdoor unit independently controls said output signal power level using an attenuator in accordance with a comparison of said output signal power level and said predetermined threshold, wherein said outdoor unit further comprises: a detector for detecting said output signal power level of said transmitter; and a processor for monitoring said output signal power level, and performing said comparison of said output signal power level to said predetermined threshold, and controlling said attenuator, and wherein, said outdoor unit is configured to generate one or more status signals, said status signals including data representing said input and output signal power levels; and said processor is configured to monitor said status signals and generate a mute signal that mutes said output signal power level if any of said status signals indicates an error in said outdoor unit.