An individual score is generated for a first combination of a transmitter configuration value and a receiver configuration value. The transmitter configuration is used to configure a first physical layer circuit and the receiver configuration is used to configure a second physical layer circuit. The individual score is based on measured characteristics observed by the second physical layer circuit in response to the first configuration combination. A neighbor weighted score is then generated for the first configuration combination. The neighbor weighted score is based on measured characteristics observed by the second physical layer circuit in response to a second configuration combination that is within a first distance from the first configuration combination within a multidimensional array of configuration combinations. The individual score is summed with the neighbor weighted score to generate a final neighbor weighted score for the first configuration combination.