Systems and methods for optical modulation index calibration in a catv network

A system comprising a head end, a plurality of ONUs, and at least one active splitter, the active splitter comprising:

• a unit operating as a splitter in a forward direction and an active combiner in a reverse direction, the combiner having a plurality of inputs that each receive an upstream optical signal from a respective ONU and combines them to create a combined electrical signal at an output;
• a transmitter that receives the combined electrical signal and converts it to a reverse path optical signal at a calibrated power level;
• a multiplexer that multiplexes the reverse path optical signal with a forward path optical signal;
• where
• the active splitter at least one of:
• (i) calibrates at least one of its own reverse transmission optical power level and RF signal gain to that of at least one other device, and in response to a downstream signal;
• (ii) calibrates at least one of its own reverse transmission optical power level and RF signal gain to that of at least one other device, and in response to an upstream signal;
• and (iii) calibrates at least one of a reverse transmission optical power level and RF signal gain of another device using a downstream signal sent from the active splitter to the other device.