function [eq_package] = vnle(eq_,M,rx_signal,tx_symbols,tx_bits,options)
    %VNLE Apply an equalization algorithm to the received signal and calculate BER
    %   This function takes an equalizer object, a received signal, and the 
    %   transmitted symbols to apply equalization, map the received signal back to bits,
    %   and compute the bit error rate (BER).
    %
    %   Inputs:
    %     EQ         - Equalizer object that provides the equalization method
    %     rx_signal  - Received signal that needs to be equalized
    %     tx_symbols - Transmitted symbols used as a reference for BER calculation
    %
    %   Outputs:
    %     eq_signal  - Equalized version of the received signal
    %     ber        - Bit error rate after equalization
    %     numErrors  - Number of bit errors detected

    arguments
        eq_ 
        M 
        rx_signal   
        tx_symbols 
        tx_bits 
        options.precode_mode db_mode
        options.showAnalysis = 0
    end

    %FFE or VNLE
    [eq_signal_sd,eq_noise] = eq_.process(rx_signal,tx_symbols);

    eq_signal_hd = PAMmapper(M,0).quantize(eq_signal_sd);

    % precoding to mitigate error propagation, most prominently used in
    % combination with duobinary signaling to avoid catastrophic error
    % behavior (see J.W.M. Bergmans, Digital Baseband Transmission and Recording -> partial response signaling)

    % takes: 
    %   -> eq_signal_hd: hard decision signal after eq
    %   -> tx_symbols: that where used as reference for eq 

    switch options.precode_mode
        case db_mode.db_emulate
        % re
        eq_signal_hd = Duobinary().encode(eq_signal_hd,"M",M);
        eq_signal_hd = Duobinary().decode(eq_signal_hd,"M",M);

        tx_symbols_precoded = Duobinary().encode(tx_symbols);
        tx_symbols_precoded = Duobinary().decode(tx_symbols_precoded);

        tx_bits = PAMmapper(M,0).demap(tx_symbols_precoded);

        case db_mode.db_discard

        % normal dsp for precoded sequence == discard/omit/ignore precode
        tx_bits = PAMmapper(M,0).demap(tx_symbols);

        case db_mode.db_encoded

        % normal DB encoded data (only for 10KM)

        case db_mode.db_precoded

        eq_signal_hd = Duobinary().encode(eq_signal_hd,"M",M);
        eq_signal_hd = Duobinary().decode(eq_signal_hd,"M",M);

    end

    rx_bits = PAMmapper(M,0).demap(eq_signal_hd);

    [~,numErrors,ber,~] = calc_ber(rx_bits.signal,tx_bits.signal,"skip_front",100,"skip_end",150,"returnErrorLocation",1);
    [evm_total,evm_lvl] = calc_evm(eq_signal_sd,tx_symbols);
    [inf_rate] = calc_air(eq_signal_sd,tx_symbols,"skip_front",10000,"skip_end",10000);

    eq_package.ber_vnle     = ber;
    eq_package.evm_total    = evm_total;
    eq_package.evm_lvl      = evm_lvl;
    eq_package.inf_rate_vnle = inf_rate;

    if options.showAnalysis

        fprintf(['VNLE EVM lvl: ',repmat('%.3f ',1,numel(evm_lvl)),' \n'],evm_lvl);

        fprintf('VNLE BER: %.2e \n',ber);

    end

end