Abstract: An adaptive network includes a summation node for receiving an input signal and delivering an output signal. A decision unit receives the output signal of the summation node as an input signal and has an output for delivering an output signal being a differential signal between the input and output signals of the decision unit. An adaptive feedback branch receives the output signal of the decision unit and has status variables, coefficients and an output. A changeover switch unit couples the output of the feedback branch to the summation node. A monitoring unit monitors an error magnitude of the output signal of the decision unit. The monitoring unit triggers the changeover switch unit in the next clock cycle if a first signal value having an amplitude exceeding a certain threshold value appears, for causing the summation node to be acted upon by a digital zero signal, for setting the status variables of the feedback branch to zero and for freezing the coefficients of the feedback branch.