Systems and methods for line attenuation testing

A method of detecting line attenuation on an operational data transmission line transmitting an in-service digital signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• electrically contacting a center conductor of the operational data transmission line at a first location on the operational data transmission line;
• transmitting a broadband data signal from the center conductor in a first direction along the operational data transmission line, wherein the broadband data signal is different from the in-service digital signal;
• measuring, at the first location, a return signal from a reflection point at a second location on the operational data transmission line different from the first location, the return signal being a reflection of the transmitted broadband data signal traveling in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• collecting, at the first location, while the operational data transmission line is transmitting the in-service digital signal, spectral data of the broadband data signal, the return signal, and a standing wave created by the sum of the broadband data signal and the return signal;
• determining the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the standing wave;
• and
• calculating a line attenuation from the determined VSWR.