Distribution frame

In telecommunications, a distribution frame is a passive device which terminates cables, allowing arbitrary interconnections to be made.

For example, the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) located at a telephone central office terminates the cables leading to subscribers on the one hand, and cables leading to active equipment (such as DSLAMs and telephone switches) on the other.

In broadcast engineering, a distribution frame is a location within an apparatus room through which all signals (audio, video, or data) pass, with the ability to arbitrarily route and connect sources and destinations between studios and other internal and external points.

Multiple smaller frames, such as one for each studio, can be linked together with fibre-optics (which also helps eliminate ground loops), or with gigabit Ethernet.

This has the advantage of not having to route dozens of feeds through walls (and sometimes floors and ceilings) to a single point.