Patent ID: 7400866

Claim:
A method for calibrating a transmitter and setting output power levels of a broadband signal in a broadband communications system, comprising: setting a variable gain device, which varies a power level of said broadband signal output from said transmitter, at two known setpoints; measuring a corresponding output power level from said transmitter at each setpoint; calculating a slope (SLP) of the detector based on the measured output power level at each setpoint; selecting a predefined gain bands as a reference gain band; measuring a power level at a frequency point inside the selected reference gain band; adjusting the variable gain device until a desired reference output power level (DRPL) of the selected reference gain band is achieved; determining a setpoint of the variable gain device at which DRPL is achieved in the selected reference gain band (REFVGD); determining a desired operating output power level (OPL) for the transmitter in a desired gain band of operation based on frequency of operation, REFVGD, and the slope of the detector (SLP); and adjusting the variable gain device to provide said desired OPL.