For transmission, MIL-STD-1553 mandates a range of stub voltages between 6.0 and 9.0 volts peak-to-peak for direct-coupled stubs. For transformer-coupled stubs, the required voltage range is between 18.0 and 27.0 volts peak-to-peak.

MIL-STD-1553 also specifies receiver threshold voltages between 0.28 and 1.2 volts peak-to-peak for direct-coupled stubs and between 0.20 and 0.86 volts peak-to-peak for transformer-coupled stubs. In addition, terminal input impedance must be a minimum of 2,000 ohms for directed-coupled stubs and 1,000 ohms for transformer-coupled stubs.