In order to qualify a subscriber loop for xDSL transmission, the channel capacity has to be estimated, which depends on the transfer function of the network. A method is provided to estimate the transfer function of the subscriber loop only measuring the one-port scattering parameter at the central office. We consider three types of networks according to their topology: a single line, a homogeneous network with a bridged tap, and a cascade of two line sections. For each type of network a parametric model is derived of its one-port scattering parameter and transfer function based on the physical line model VUB0. The model for the scattering parameter is used to identify the network based on the corresponding measurements by means of a maximum-likelihood estimator. The estimated parameters are substituted in the transfer function model, which is needed for the capacity estimation. The proposed models and estimators are validated by measurements and simulations. For the measurements, which were performed with a network analyzer, three types of twisted-pair cables were used: British Telecom (BT), Deutsch Telekom (FT), and Belgacom.