Abstract: A system and method for equalizing a signal is provided. In one implementation, the method includes generating a partially equalized signal from an input signal based on a plurality of coefficients associated with a feed-forward equalizer (FFE); generating decoded bit values based on the partially equalized signal, the decoded bit values being an equalized output signal; measuring error in the partially equalized signal; and adjusting the coefficients associated with the feed-forward equalizer (FFE) based on the error measured in the partially equalized signal. Values of the coefficient are not used to adjust of the coefficients associated with the feed-forward equalizer (FFE).

Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer finite impulse response (DFE FIR) filter for cancelling inter-symbol interference within a signal transmitted through a communication channel. The DFE FIR filter includes a feed-forward equalization path to receive the signal transmitted through the communication channel and generate a first partially equalized signal from the signal based on a plurality of coefficients associated with the feed-forward equalization path; a feedback equalization path to generate a second partially equalized signal that corrects for the inter-symbol interference within the signal based on an output of the DFE FIR filter; a summer to combine the first partially equalized signal with the second partially equalized signal; and a signal amplifier to receive the combined signal from the summer and generate the output of the DFE FIR filter.