1. An apparatus, comprising: means for quantizing a value from a receiver, using quantization step sizes which are integer multiples of ½ In 2, to produce a quantized value; and means for performing one of a check node processing operation and a variable node processing operation on said quantized value to produce at least a portion of an outgoing message communicating reliability information, said means for performing one of a check node processing operation and a variable node processing operation being coupled to said means for quantizing.