True, but I would argue that the probability of a 1000-year TIE (or even = several UIs of TIE) is so small (if indeed possible) that it isn't worth = taking into consideration.=20 If you restrict yourself to extending the Gaussian distribution to the = bit error rate you're trying to achieve, it is probably as good a = mathematical model as you can get. =20 Art -----Original Message----- From: si-list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:si-list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] = On Behalf Of Scott McMorrow Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 2:23 PM To: art_porter@xxxxxxxxxxx Cc: si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [SI-LIST] Re: Jitter transfer vs. accumulation Art While I would agree that most terrestrial data communications links are=20 dominated by a large number of non-random processes that appear random=20 when taken as a whole, I would take issue with your .0005 or 700-ft tall = human analogy. There are structural limitations for humans. For=20 electronics, the charge of an electron sets a practical lower floor for=20 all events, but there is not an upper limit. You wouldn't argue against = the near-Gaussian distribution of Johnson-Nyquist noise or the Poisson=20 distribution of and Shot noise, or their impact on receiver and control=20 loop design, would you? And if you want to see 100V noise spike=20 outliers, just wait long enough and you'll eventually receive a nuclear=20 particle event. It may not be truly random, since it was originally=20 based on a deterministic cataclysmic nuclear process in a star, but it=20 is for all practical purposes random. Scott Scott McMorrow Teraspeed Consulting Group LLC 121 North River Drive Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 284-1827 Business (401) 284-1840 Fax http://www.teraspeed.com Teraspeed(r) is the registered service mark of Teraspeed Consulting Group LLC > =20 ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List technical documents are available at: http://www.si-list.net List archives are viewable at: =20 //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu =20 ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List technical documents are available at: http://www.si-list.net List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu