The present invention relates to an analog transmitter using an external cavity laser (ECL) in which specific characteristics of the ECL are enhanced and exploited to improve 2nd and 3rd order distortion while increasing the threshold for the occurrence of deleterious stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The performance of the ECL shows a substantial reduction in distortion occurring over certain narrow ranges of operating temperatures. Optical, electronic, thermal and/or mechanical methods are described that cause this "distortion dip" to be moved to, or created at, stable regions of ECL operation, away from mode hops. Methods are also described that allow the distortion dip to be moved to, or created at, ECL operating regions in which sufficiently high chirp occurs, thereby reducing SBS. Transmitters and other devices employing these and related techniques are also described.