The TSB81BA3 provides the digital and analog transceiver functions needed to implement a three-port node in a cable-based IEEE 1394 network. Each cable port incorporates two differential line transceivers. The transceivers include circuitry to monitor the line conditions as needed for determining connection status, for initialization and arbitration, and for packet reception and transmission. The TSB81BA3 is designed to interface with a link-layer controller (LLC), such as the TSB82AA2, TSB12LV21, TSB12LV26, TSB12LV32, TSB42AA4, TSB42AB4, TSB12LV01B, or TSB12LV01C. It may also be connected cable port to cable port to an integrated 1394 Link + PHY layer such as the TSB43AB2.