A system for determining communication channel characteristics includes a transmitter comprising a bit sequence generator and a frame processing and modulator unit, where the frame processing and modulator unit is configured to generate a transmission frame comprising an embedded bit sequence generated by the bit sequence generator and at least one embedded side channel field, the transmitter further configured to transmit the transmission frame over a communications channel, a receiver in communication with the transmitter over the communications channel and configured to receive the transmission frame, and a data processor, in communication with the receiver through a data processor interface, configured to receive the transmission frame from the receiver, the processor further configured to process the transmission frame to detect and analyze distortions in a waveform corresponding to the transmission frame generated during the transmission over the communications channel based on the embedded bit sequence and the at least one embedded side channel field.