A method for estimating downstream gain and upstream gain of an amplifier at an intermediate location in a twisted pair line between a DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) and a customer premises equipment (CPE) for high data rate broadband operation. The method includes: an offline calibration process for obtaining offline tables, and an estimation process including: setting the downstream gain and the upstream gain to a set of predefined gains in the twisted pair line when activated and getting an indication if the line is in ShowTime. In case the line is in ShowTime, the estimation process further measures the downstream/upstream signal level, estimates the distance from the amplifier to the CPE and distance from the amplifier to the to the CPE and the distance from the amplifier to the DSLAM, and obtains the upstream/downstream gains.