Robert Lacoste's The Darker Side

Chapter 12 Open Your Eyes! A Primer on High-Speed Signal Transmission

Note: This chapter is a reprint of the article “The darker side: High-speed signal transmission—from eye diagrams to pre-emphasis and equalization,” Circuit Cellar, no. 227, June 2009.

Communication, even simple wired communication, is another interesting dark side subject. You are used to connecting your RJ-45 plugs to the nearest router and assuming they will work without any problems—and they usually do. You understand that wireless networks such as Wi-Fi can be a little trickier, yet even reputable electrical engineers think that wired communications are, well, just wires. But have you ever thought twice about the black magic that actually enables you to send and receive ...