SNLA491 August   2025 DP83826AE , DP83826AI

 

  1.   1
  2.   Trademarks
  3. 1DP83826A Application Overview
  4. 2Troubleshooting the Application
    1. 2.1 Schematic and Layout Checklist
    2. 2.2 Device Health Checks
      1. 2.2.1 Voltage Checks
      2. 2.2.2 Probe the RESET_N Signal
      3. 2.2.3 Probe RBIAS and CEXT
      4. 2.2.4 Probe the XI Clock
      5. 2.2.5 Probe the Strap Pins During Initialization
      6. 2.2.6 Probe the Serial Management Interface Signals (MDC, MDIO)
        1. 2.2.6.1 Read and Check Register Values
          1. 2.2.6.1.1 Extended Register Access
    3. 2.3 MDI Health Checks
      1. 2.3.1 Magnetics
      2. 2.3.2 Probe the MDI Signals
      3. 2.3.3 Link Quality Check
      4. 2.3.4 Compliance
    4. 2.4 MII Health Checks
      1. 2.4.1 MII Check
      2. 2.4.2 RMII Check
    5. 2.5 Loopback and PRBS
      1. 2.5.1 Loopback Modes
      2. 2.5.2 Transmitting and Receiving Packets With the MAC
      3. 2.5.3 Transmitting and Receiving Packets With BIST
  5. 3Summary
  6. 4References

2.3.3 Link Quality Check

After establishing a valid link, confirming the key status register values and visually verifying that the link LED is lit, the next data transfer debug step is to check the MAC Interface.

There are several possible sources of link problems:

  1. Link partner transmit problem
  2. Cable length and quality
  3. Clock quality of the 25MHz reference clock
  4. MDI signal quality

With the PHY powered and connected to a link partner, the following registers can be read from to determine the health of the link:

Table 2-6 Link Quality MSE Register
CHANNELREGISTER ADDRESS
A0x225

For a given channel, read the register value to determine the MSE (Mean Square Error), convert to decimal, and refer to Table 2-7 to determine link quality:

SNR(dB) = 10log(0.5) - 10log(MSE217)
Table 2-7 Link Quality Ranges
LINK QUALITYSNR RANGE
ExcellentSNR > 22dB
Good19.5dB < SNR < 22dB
PoorSNR < 19.5dB