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Glite Dictionary
📡 A data stream 📺 A secondary channel
subchannel

subchannel

1 7.0
A separate part of a signal used to send one stream of digital data
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌbˌtʃænəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subcanal
  • The subchannel broadcasts different content from the main channel.

Examples

  • Digital television often uses a subchannel to broadcast additional content alongside the main program.

  • Each subchannel in the system can transmit a different type of data simultaneously.

  • Engineers assigned a unique subchannel to every user to prevent signal interference.

  • Many subchannels are available for streaming online.

  • The engineers configured a separate subchannel to handle the video data stream efficiently.

  • To improve the quality of the voice transmission, we moved it to a dedicated subchannel.

  • The network supports multiple subchannels for transmitting different types of data simultaneously.

Synonyms

narrowband
vssubchannel
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A radio or data signal that uses a small range of frequencies

is a portion defined by its use to carry an individual data stream
subband
vssubchannel
  • Specialized
7.3

A small range of frequencies inside a larger band used in electronics

is a separate part used specifically to carry a single data stream

Surface Forms

subchannel singular
subchannels plural

Morphology

subchannel = channel (transparent) = sub + channel

In technical contexts the word simply denotes a 'sub' (secondary) division of a channel, matching the productive sense of 'sub-'.

Etymology

Subchannel is made of sub- meaning 'under' or 'small', like subway, and channel meaning a 'path' for a signal or data. So a subchannel is a smaller part of a signal that carries one separate data stream.