Characterization of serial links at 5.5Gbps on FR4 backplanes

Nowdays the fast and increased demand for bandwidth in the telecommunication world translates into the design of complex boards exchanging data at high bit rate in reduced design cycle. Sometimes it is impossible to spent time in setting pre-layout simulations, because they are not compatible with the design time schedule. In this scenario it is better to design the boards using experience and then make simulations in conjunction with measurements, using customized numerical tools which don't need complex models.