Distributed gain network

A cable telecommunications network comprising:

• a cascade of amplifiers with bypass switching disposed along branches of said cable telecommunications network, said amplifiers further comprising;
• an input line;
• an output line;
• an amplifier circuit;
• a bypass circuit;
• a first switch located between said input line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said input line to said amplifier circuit;
• a second switch located between said output line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said output line to said amplifier circuit;
• and
• a bypass circuit controller capable of switching said first switch and said second switch and such that said amplifier circuit is removed from said network when power is disabled to said bypass controller circuits, said bypass circuit controller further adapted to send a signal upstream or downstream to change at least one pain level of an upstream or downstream amplifier based on said switching mechanism.

An amplifier for a distributed gain cable telecommunications network comprising:

• an input line;
• an output line;
• an amplifier circuit;
• a bypass circuit;
• a first switch located between said input line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said input line to said amplifier circuit;
• a second switch located between said output line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said output line to said amplifier circuit;
• and
• a bypass circuit controller capable of switching said first switch and said second switch and such that said amplifier circuit is removed from said network, said bypass circuit controller further adapted to receive a signal from another amplifier in said distributed gain cable telecommunications network and adjust the gains of said amplifier circuit such that signals on said input line or said output line are able to bypass said another amplifier.

An amplifier for a distributed gain cable telecommunications network comprising:

• an input line;
• an output line;
• an amplifier circuit;
• a bypass circuit;
• a first switch located between said input line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said input line to said amplifier circuit;
• a second switch located between said output line and said amplifier circuit and capable of switching said output line to said amplifier circuit;
• and
• a bypass circuit controller capable of switching said first switch and said second switch and such that said amplifier circuit is removed from said network, said bypass circuit controller further adapted to detect that another amplifier in said distributed gain cable telecommunications network has entered a bypass mode, said bypass circuit controller further adapted to adjust the gains of said amplifier circuit such that signals on said input line or said output line are able to compensate for said another amplifier being in said bypass mode.