Abstract: An output controller in a repeater node for controlling data transfers in a data communication system in which each node is operated by an independent local clock. Nodes will occasionally delete idle bytes from a preamble to recenter an elasticity buffer. The output controller performs a process that requires the elasticity buffer to be progressively more full before deleting another idle byte from the preamble. Transmission of the start of a subsequent frame is delayed and additional idle bytes are transmitted when the number of idle bytes being transmitted is at or below a certain threshold. Multiple thresholds are utilized so that the amount of the delay can be adjusted.