本SAE推荐规程概述了一系列性能建议，涉及整个数据通道。这些建议不受任何变化的影响，所有这些建议都应由进行本规程测试的机构遵守。然而，证明遵守建议的方法是灵活的，可以根据机构使用的特定设备的需要进行调整。 不打算从字面意义上理解每项建议，因为需要进行一次测试来证明建议得到了满足。相反，建议对本规程进行测试的任何机构都应能够证明，如果能够并且已经进行了此类测试，则其设备将符合建议。应根据其掌握的证据（如部分试验结果）进行合理推断。 在某些系统中，可能需要将整个通道划分为子系统，以进行校准和检查。 这些建议仅针对整个通道编写，因为这是子系统性能影响输出质量的唯一途径。如果很难测量整个信道性能（通常情况下），测试机构可以将信道视为两个或多个方便的子系统。然后，可以根据子系统结果以及将子系统结果组合在一起的原理来演示整个信道的性能。 本SAE推荐实施规程的SAE J211-1涵盖了电子仪表。SAE J211-2涵盖摄影仪器。

This SAE Recommended Practice outlines a series of performance recommendations, which concern the whole data channel. These recommendations are not subject to any variation and all of them shall be adhered to by any agency conducting tests to this practice. However, the method of demonstrating compliance with the recommendations is flexible and can be adapted to suit the needs of the particular equipment the agency is using. It is not intended that each recommendation be taken in a literal sense, as necessitating a single test to demonstrate that the recommendation is met. Rather, it is intended that any agency proposing to conduct tests to this practice shall be able to demonstrate that if such a single test could be and were carried out, then their equipment would meet the recommendations. This demonstration shall be undertaken on the basis of reasonable deductions from evidence in their possession, such as the results of partial tests. In some systems, it may be necessary to divide the whole channel into subsystems, for calibration and checking purposes. The recommendations have been written only for the whole channel, as this is the sole route by which subsystem performances affect the quality of the output. If it is difficult to measure the whole channel performance, which is usually the case, the test agency may treat the channel as two or more convenient subsystems. The whole channel performance could then be demonstrated on the basis of subsystem results, together with a rationale for combining the subsystem results together. SAE J211-1 of this SAE Recommended Practice covers electronic instrumentation. SAE J211-2 covers photographic instrumentation.