A communications processor is presented that is capable of receiving a
potentially degraded data transmission signals operating at high
transmission rates and generating an improved data transmission signal in
a manner that allows the signals to be transmitted over longer distances
than is otherwise possible using conventional methods. The communications
processor includes a decoding mechanism configured to compensate for
amplitude and phase distortions of the data transmission signal, to split
the corrected data signal into component data signals, to generate a data
clock reference signal based on the data transmission signal and the
external clock reference signal, and to convert the component data signals
into digital component data signals synchronized to the data clock
reference signal. The communications processor further includes an
encoding mechanism configured to receive the digital component data
signals and the data clock reference signal and to convert the digital
component data signals into analog component data signals. The
communications processor then selectively outputs at least one of the
analog component data signals as the improved data transmission signal.
