A method and an apparatus for detecting and quantifying bacterial spores on a surface. The panel includes first and second opposing surfaces. SNRgeo here defines a scalar measure of the link signal quality, which results in a computationally efficient yet accurate link signal quality assessment, and thereby permit selective link characteristic alteration. These radio architectures support this wide variety of modulations by efficiently sharing detector hardware components. In one embodiment an algorithm is used to eliminate from consideration optical amplifier configurations unlikely to have satisfactory minimum power characteristics.