DEV Systemtechnik has upgraded the optical receiver module DEV 7312 with a Manual Gain Control (MGC) to ensure trouble-free distribution of weak signals. The module is a core component of the optical transmission system DEV 7000 and provides for the adjustment of the actual signal strength received to the signal level required by the head end station.

If a cable head end or satellite ground station has a redundant dish farm it would, for instance, be possible to transmit the signal directly from the dish farm to the main head end station in case of transmission failure at the main transmission station. However, if the redundant dish farm were located 30 kilometres away and the signal received by the main head end station is too weak to be processed, DEV Systemtechnik has equipped its optical receiver modules with a feature designed to compensate for signal degradation. The signal is amplified to the level required for further processing at the head end station. The modules DEV 7312 with Manual Gain Control (MGC) for the transmission in L-band are installed into the optical signal transmission system DEV 7000. The respective signal level requirements of the head end station are previously configured by the operator via the web interface of DEV 7000. This compensates for signal degradations over long distances.