Receive only physical interface device IC used in a passive network tap

A receive or listen only Physical Interface Device (Phy). The receive or listen only Phy is configured to have a front end configured to only receive data from a communications network. The receive only Phy may be implemented a part of a tap device including a first network port for receiving a first network signal having a first format; a receive only Phy for converting the first network signal into a second signal format; and a transmit and receive Phy for receiving the first network signal in the second signal format and converting it into the first signal format.