A physical layer device, PHY, that is capable of communicating at at least ten gigabits per second, 10 Gb/s, and performing cable diagnostics on at least one of a plurality of transmission lines that each form one of a corresponding plurality of links that is coupled to the PHY, the PHY comprising: a transceiver section for each of the plurality of transmission lines, the transceiver section having an input path and an output path and the transceiver section being capable of communicating and diagnosing; the input path comprising a receiver having an input coupled to the corresponding link, an analog-to-digital converter, ADC, having an input coupled to an output of the receiver, at least one far end cross talk, FEXT,/near end cross talk, NEXT, canceller section, an alien noise canceller section, and an equalizer section; and the output path comprising a coding and preconditioning section, a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, having an input coupled to an output of the coding and preconditioning section, and a transmitter having an input coupled to an output of the DAC and having an output coupled to the corresponding link wherein the PHY is configured to: determine, as a function of frequency, a signal attenuation characteristic of at least one of the plurality of links, a FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links, and an alien noise level characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links; and determine operability of the at least one of the plurality of links at a rate of 10Gb/s, based upon a combination of the signal attenuation characteristic, the FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic, and the alien noise level characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links, wherein the alien noise level characteristic relates to a dynamic noise received by the one of the plurality of links from an outside source. a transceiver section for each of the plurality of transmission lines, the transceiver section having an input path and an output path and the transceiver section being capable of communicating and diagnosing; the input path comprising a receiver having an input coupled to the corresponding link, an analog-to-digital converter, ADC, having an input coupled to an output of the receiver, at least one far end cross talk, FEXT,/near end cross talk, NEXT, canceller section, an alien noise canceller section, and an equalizer section; and the output path comprising a coding and preconditioning section, a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, having an input coupled to an output of the coding and preconditioning section, and a transmitter having an input coupled to an output of the DAC and having an output coupled to the corresponding link wherein the PHY is configured to: determine, as a function of frequency, a signal attenuation characteristic of at least one of the plurality of links, a FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links, and an alien noise level characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links; and determine operability of the at least one of the plurality of links at a rate of 10Gb/s, based upon a combination of the signal attenuation characteristic, the FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic, and determine, as a function of frequency, a signal attenuation characteristic of at least one of the plurality of links, a FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links, and an alien noise level characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of links; and determine operability of the at least one of the plurality of links at a rate of 10Gb/s, based upon a combination of the signal attenuation characteristic, the FEXT/NEXT coupling characteristic, and