In certain embodiments, a transponder comprises a transceiver configured to receive a forward link having a forward-link header comprising at least one symbol for configuring a setting of the transponder. The transponder may be configured to transmit a return link having a return-link header comprising information based on one or more characteristics of the transponder, and to receive a modified subsequent symbol of the forward-link header. The modified subsequent symbol of the forward link header generated by analyzing the return-link header to determine adjusted information for configuring the setting of the transponder and modifying the subsequent symbol of the forward-link header in accordance with the adjusted information for configuring the setting of the transponder.