The channel configuration may include the optional consolidation
point as well as a cross-connect. Often there is just a patch
panel in the equipment room.
The channel, as described in TIA 568B and ISO 11801, includesup
to 90 meters of horizontal cable, a work area equipment cord,
an optional transition point, 2 cross-connections in the telecommunications
closet, a patch jumper between these two connections, and a
telecommunications closet equipment cord. In simple terms, the
channel includes everything necessary to get data from a PC
in an office to a hub in a wiring closet.
The channel does not include the mated connection at the
hub or PC. This means the plug at the end of the user's patch
cord at both ends of the link is considered part of the data
terminating equipment (DTE) and not part of the link. The
reason for this is connectors must be considered as mated
pairs of plugs and jacks, and since the jack is fixed in the
DTE it was decided that connection would be part of the DTE.
In practice, the channel is rarely used in link certification,
because user patch cords are almost never available when the
permanent cabling is installed.
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