DM8148/DM8168 SATA

I'm happy to help, although I'm not quite sure what you're asking.

Let me clarify our position.  The External SATA (eSATA) specification specifies some slight electrical differences (slightly higher IO transmit voltage and slightly lower receive threshold) than the regular internal cable SATA specification, and at this time we don't support that standard.  The internal SATA cable mode is the only cable mode that is currently supported. The electrical differences specified for eSATA are to ensure that the signal can go over longer cables (2M instead of 1 Meter) with good electrical margin.

However, this doesn't stop the user from running an internal cable outside the box just like you would with eSATA, it just means that longer cable lengths than those specified on the internal cable SATA specification may have reduced data throughput, or may fail.  Operation over regular internal cable lengths (1 meter) should always work, internally or externally, however it is recommended that the cable be shielded if it is brought outside the box of the device.

If you have a SATA device that doesn't need a cable, traces routed on the PCB will work fine without a connector using the PCB layout guide specifications in the data sheet.  Please be sure to follow these specifications no matter what you do.

I hope this answers your question.

Keven