A method manages a communications link in which a first device (110) interfaces with a first channel extender (310) and in which a second device (120) interfaces with a second channel extender (320), and in which the first and second channel extenders (310, 320) communicate with each other through a communications medium (330). The method involves (FIG. 7A) monitoring an occupancy ("b") of a receive buffer (922+924) in the first channel extender (310) during transmission from the second channel extender (320) at a first transmission rate (R.sub.0); (FIG. 7B) at a first time (T.sub.lwm) when the occupancy of the receive buffer (922+924) exceeds a first threshold (B.sub.0+B.sub.cr), immediately instructing (718) the second channel extender (320) to cease transmission to the first channel extender (310); (FIG. 7C, 732) monitoring for an overflow condition in the receive buffer (922+924); if (FIG. 7D, 758) the overflow condition is present, specifying (760) that a future transmission to the first channel extender (310) be at a second transmission rate (R'.sub.0) that is lower than the first transmission rate (R.sub.0); and instructing (FIG. 7D, 762) the second channel extender (320) to resume transmission to the first channel extender (310).