The end-to-end path from transmitter to receiver including installed cabling and connecting hardware, with user cords excluded, is called what?

• A. Channel
• B. Permanent link
• C. Work area
• D. Backbone

Answer: (A)

Think of the cabling system as a complete route from the transmitting device to the receiving device. The channel is that whole end-to-end path, including all installed cabling and fixed hardware along the way, but excluding the cords that users plug into their equipment. This is the path you evaluate for performance, because it represents the actual signal journey through the fixed infrastructure. The other terms refer to narrower parts of the system: the permanent link is the fixed portion of the path between fixed connection points, the work area covers the user-accessible portion from the outlet to the device, and the backbone is the main high-level cabling between telecommunications rooms. So the end-to-end, installed-path definition corresponds to the channel.