Apparatus for detection of packet energy transfer in cables and related methods

A system for detecting PET, comprising:

• a cable communicating a PET as a pulse train;
• an input in operative communication with the cable to generate a current from the PET;
• an A/D converter in communication with the input to form a digital representation of at least portions of the current;
• an FFT to transform the digital representation into a power spectrum, the FFT in communication with the A/D converter;
• and
• a spectral analyzer to compare frequencies of maxima of the power spectrum with fundamental frequency f1 of the pulse train and harmonic frequency f2 of the pulse train of the PET to detect PET in the cable, the spectral analyzer in communication with the FFT.

A method of detecting PET in a cable, comprising the steps of:

• generating a current in an input of a PET detector apparatus by placing the input in operable communication with said cable, said cable communicating PET configured as a pulse train having a fundamental frequency f1 and a harmonic frequency f2;
• forming a digital representation of at least portions of the current using an A/D converter communicating with the input;
• transforming the digital representation into a power spectrum using an FFT, the FFT communicating with the A/D converter;
• and
• detecting PET in said cable by finding a power maximum P1 at the fundamental frequency f1 and finding a power maximum P2 at the harmonic frequency f2.