An image forming apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording sheet by transporting the recording sheet through a fixing nip formed by a heating rotating body and a pressing rotating body that press against each other. The high temperature electrode connection assembly includes an electrode rod having a cup that mounts to a stud embedded in the pedestal and a plate adapter portion. The reception node processes the received data packet while establishing synchronization by using the WC packet. The received data signals are processed to provide a plurality of soft symbols that correspond to the transmitted data signal. In an alternative embodiment a second microchannel plate electron multiplier is arranged between the first collection electrode and the second collection electrode. The second pin projects beyond the contact pin and has a greatest circumference at the same level as a tip of the contact pin.