A method for distinguishing between types of electrochemical test sensors in a meter is disclosed. The gas blocking device includes a fiber containing body, a fiber organizing insert, and a locking member securing the insert to one end of the body. The divided slab waveguide is temperature-dependently moved along the division surfaces by sliding members which are formed of members exhibiting different expansioncontraction corresponding to temperature change. A step size between the quantized power steps varies based on the raw power command. If not, the access node sets the bit rate to the higher value if at least one of the following is true: control-channel occupancy exceeds a second threshold, the amount of data in a traffic buffer exceeds a third threshold, and control-channel occupancy exceeds a fourth threshold and the amount of data in the traffic buffer exceeds a fifth threshold.