Signal splitter

1. A splitter, comprising:

a first input for receiving signals from a first device;

a second input for receiving signals from a second device;

a first transmit signal splitter element that receives the first input, the first transmit signal splitter including a first user adjustable input signal equalization and gain that when adjusted compensates for losses to the signals from the first device to produce first compensated signals;

a second transmit signal splitter element that receives the second input, the first transmit signal splitter including a second user adjustable input signal equalization and gain that when adjusted compensates for losses to the signals from the second device to produce second compensated signals;

a first output for forwarding the first compensated signals to the second device;

a second output for forwarding the first compensated signals to a first analytic instrument;

a third output for forwarding the first compensated signals to a second analytic instrument;

a fourth output for forwarding the second compensated signals to the first device;

a fifth output for forwarding the second compensated signals to the first analytic instrument; and,

a sixth output for forwarding the second compensated signals to the second analytic instrument.

2. A splitter as in claim 1 wherein the first user adjustable input signal equalization and gain allows a user to select gain settings of half, unity or double, and allows a user to select frequency dependent boost in two frequency ranges.

3. A splitter as in claim 1 wherein the first input receives sixteen signals in parallel from the first device and the second input receives sixteen signals in parallel from the second device.

4. A splitter as in claim 1 wherein the first transmit signal splitter element additionally includes:

a first driver that forwards the first compensated signals to the first output;

a second driver that forwards the first compensated signals to the second output; and,

a third driver that forwards the first compensated signals to the third output.

5. A splitter as in claim 4 wherein the second transmit signal splitter element additionally includes:

a first driver that forwards the second compensated signals to the fourth output;

a second driver that forwards the second compensated signals to the fifth output; and,

a third driver that forwards the second compensated signals to the sixth output.

6. A splitter as in claim 1 wherein the first user adjustable input signal equalization and gain allows a user to select frequency dependent boost in two frequency ranges, including a long bit-time boost used to boost non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signals that do not change for many successive bit times, and a short bit-time boost used to boost rise/fall transition speed.

7. A splitter as in claim 1 wherein the first analytic instrument is an oscilloscope and the second analytic instrument is a protocol analyzer.

8. A method for splitting signals sent between a first device and a second device, comprising:

receiving first signals from the first device;

using a first user adjustable input signal equalization and gain to compensate for losses to the first signals in order to produce first compensated signals;

forwarding the first compensated signals to the second device, a first analytic instrument and a second analytic instrument;

receiving second signals from the second device;

using a second user adjustable input signal equalization and gain to compensate for losses to the second signals in order to produce second compensated signals;

forwarding the second compensated signals to the first device, the first analytic instrument and the second analytic instrument.

9. A method as in claim 8 additionally comprising:

allowing a user to select gain settings of half, unity or double; and

allowing a user to select frequency dependent boost in two frequency ranges.

10. A method as in claim 8 :

wherein receiving first signals from the first device includes receiving sixteen signals in parallel from the first device; and,

wherein receiving second signals from the second device includes receiving sixteen signals in parallel from the second device.

11. A method as in claim 8 additionally comprising:

using a first driver to forward the first compensated signals to the second device;

using a second driver to forward the first compensated signals to the first analytic instrument; and,

using a third driver to forward the first compensated signals to the second analytic instrument.

12. A method as in claim 11 additionally comprising:

using a fourth driver to forward the second compensated signals to the first device;

using a fifth driver to forward the second compensated signals to the first analytic instrument; and,

using a sixth driver to forward the second compensated signals to the second analytic instrument.

13. A method as in claim 8 additionally comprising:

allowing a user to select frequency dependent boost in two frequency ranges, including a long bit-time boost used to boost non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signals that do not change for many successive bit times, and a short bit-time boost used to boost rise/fall transition speed.

14. A method as in claim 8 wherein the first analytic instrument is an oscilloscope and the second analytic instrument is a protocol analyzer.