Abstract: Channel equalization is performed by selecting an equalizer from a set of equalizers that have a common frequency response with the differences in the equalizers being able to be characterized by different values of a single variable. Selecting from a set of equalizers reduces the problem of training an equalizer to a one-dimensional optimization process. Specifically, the selection of the equalizer from the set is done through an optimization process in which a performance measure such as the signal-noise-ratio is maximized, or, as an alternative embodiment, some error measurements such as the power of the timing error signal is minimized. The set of equalizers may be generated from a root equalizer that has been already trained to compensate for a channel characteristic such that the set of equalizers all have the same frequency response, but have different group delays.