Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the characterization of transmission media, among other embodiments. For example, a system for characterizing a transmission medium may include: a waveform generator to generate an initial input waveform; waveform pre-processing circuitry to process the initial waveform to generate a processed input waveform for provision to the transmission medium, wherein the processed input waveform has a maximum amplitude greater than a maximum amplitude of the initial input waveform; and waveform output circuitry to display or store data representative of an initial output waveform, wherein the initial output waveform is output from the transmission medium as a reflection or transmission of the processed input waveform.