Abstract: An apparatus and method for a data communications device such as a modem (100) to generate initial coefficient values for an equalizer (440) from a transmitted training signal received via a channel, in which the transmitted training signal has predetermined characteristics. The apparatus and method embodiments of the invention determine a finite impulse response characteristic of the inverse frequency response of the channel based on a received training signal and the transmitted training signal (610). In the various embodiments, an energy index, a magnitude index, and an offset index are generated and combined with an equalizer length index to select a sequence of initial coefficient values for the equalizer (630, 640, 650).