Abstract: Methods and nodes including a hub node of a passive optical network (PON) comprising a DSP chain configured to: receive a signal burst from a leaf node in the PON, the signal burst having a frame comprising a payload and a frame header, the frame header comprising a clock-and-gain control section, a frame detection section, and an equalizer section; acquire a leaf node clock phase from the clock-and-gain control section of the frame header; estimate signal power of a signal burst from the leaf node in the PON; compensate for differences in the signal power of the signal burst from the leaf node; detect a Frame-Alignment-Sequence indicating arrival of the signal burst; determine MIMO polarization filter coefficients from the Frame-Alignment-Sequence; align a phase between X-Polarization and Y-Polarization of the signal burst using the MIMO polarization filter coefficients; and determine a local oscillator signal Frequency Offset Estimate (FOE).