Abstract: A PHY for transmitting link frames on a home phone line network without the need of a MAC layer. The PHY transmits an initial link frame if the PHY has not transmitted a frame for a time interval, as specified by the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance. After transmission of the initial link frame, the transmit-clock signal to the MAC is disabled so that the MAC does not request the PHY to transmit a frame. If a collision is detected during transmission of the initial link frame, a counter is set to zero and the PHY transmits back-to-back link frames, where the initial link frame and the back-to-back link frames are each separated by an IPG (Inter Packet Gap). When transmitting these back-to-back link frames, the counter is incremented each time a collision is detected. When the counter equals a specified number, the transmit-clock signal to the MAC is enabled and the PHY waits for a random interval of time before beginning the above-described process again.