A method for operating a data processing system to determine the operational parameters of a communication system between an REC and an RE that utilizes a CPRI data link for communication. The data processing system is synchronized with the CPRI frames and determines a plurality of CPRI frame characteristics from the CPRI frames by examining a plurality of predetermined locations in the CPRI frames. The plurality of CPRI frame characteristics for one or more of the CPRI frames, and a first model of the communication system are used to generate a first broadcast frame that would be generated by the one or more CPRI frames if the first model accurately described the communication system. The first broadcast frame is tested to determine if the first broadcast frame is consistent with the first model. If the broadcast frame is inconsistent, a new model is chosen and the process repeated.