An optical transceiver, optical network and methods for using the same are disclosed. The optical transceiver and/or optical network and related methods may be useful for independently monitoring the optical transceiver and/or optical network. The optical transceiver generally includes an optical receiver configured to receive optical information; circuitry configured to calculate signal strength values of the received optical information from a plurality of remote optical transmitters; logic configured to process the signal strength values for each of the plurality of remote optical transmitters; and one or more memories configured to store the signal strength values. Optionally, the optical transceiver may notify a system or host when the transceiver, network or component thereof is operating outside a predetermined threshold.