A hybrid equalizer arrangement for use in data communications equipment

A hybrid type of decision feedback equalizer (DFE) structure that approaches optimal DFE performance is described. The hybrid DFE includes both an intersymbol interference DFE (ISI-DFE) and a noise predictive DFE (NP-DFE). In particular, an adaptive feedforward filter section is followed by both an intersymbol interference (ISI) predictive filter and a noise predictive (NP) filter. The corresponding transmitter uses a precoder that utilizes optimal coefficient values, denoted as C(z), of the hybrid DFE structure. In particular, C(z) is equal to (1 + I(z)) (1 + N(z)) - 1, where, the notation I(z) and N(z), as known in the art, represent the resulting coefficient values after adaptation of the ISI-DFE and the NP-DFE, respectively.