A method and apparatus for detecting and classifying RF impairments on the upstream
path of a communication system is provided. The detection system detects frequencies
with common path distortion impairments, and a system manager avoids transmission
over those frequencies or adapts transmissions accordingly. Subsequently, periodic
impairments on the upstream path are detected. Detection of periodic impairments
triggers the system manager to schedule no traffic during impairment periods, schedule
low priority traffic during impairment periods, and/or adjust the physical layer
parameters of traffic transmitted during an impairment period in order to increase
robustness only when necessary. Finally, non-periodic or random impairments are
detected on the upstream path and global parameter changes are made to adapt to
non-predictable impairments. Each of the impairment types is then further classified
to assist an operator of the system in determining the physical source of the impairment.