Communication system monitor

A monitor for a communication system, comprising:

• a signal source generating a shaped pulse including a carrier signal adjustable to at least one predesignated frequency;
• a coupler, injecting the shaped pulse into the communication system at a first point, in the presence of at least one live signal within the communication system;
• and
• a receiver, detecting the shaped pulse at at least one second point in the communication system, wherein the shaped pulse is below the at least one live signal by at least a predesignated threshold at a predesignated offset from each of the at least one predesignated frequency of the carrier signal, and wherein the shaped pulse has a time duration that is less than a settling time of the signal source and the receiver.

A monitoring method for a communication system, comprising:

• generating a carrier signal adjustable to at least one predesignated frequency;
• modulating the carrier signal according to a control signal to provide a shaped pulse;
• injecting the shaped pulse into the communication system at a first point, in the presence of at least one live signal within the communication system;
• and
• detecting the shaped pulse at at least one second point in the communication system, wherein the shaped pulse is below the at least one live signal by at least a predesignated threshold at a predesignated offset from each of the at least one predesignated frequency of the carrier signal, and wherein the shaped pulse has a time duration that is less than a pre-established settling time.