Analyses of ideal models for reamplifying and reshaping repeaters are presented to evaluate performance of such lumped repeater chains for long‐haul transmission, compared with EDFA chains. A non‐ideal case in real systems, which is based on interferometric configuration of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), is addressed and measured and its noise characteristics are analyzed. System performance evaluations in a communication line are performed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 59:843–848, 2017