220-1201 Cabling — Timed 20 Questions

Question 1

A customer reports that their new Gigabit Ethernet connection is only achieving 100 Mbps speeds. The cable run is about 75 meters through a drop ceiling. You verify the switch and NIC are both Gigabit-capable. Which cable issue is most likely causing the speed limitation?

Accepted Answer

The cable is a Cat5 cable.. This question tests knowledge of Ethernet cabling standards and speed limitations. Cat5e and Cat6 cables support Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, but using an older Cat5 cable (which only supports 100 Mbps) will cap the speed. The correct answer identifies the cable category as the likely culprit.

Answer

The cable is a Cat5e patch cable.

Answer

The cable is a Cat6a cable.

Answer

The cable is a Cat6 cable.

Question 2

A customer wants to connect two switches in different buildings about 150 meters apart. The link must support at least 1 Gbps. Which cabling solution is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Single-mode fiber optic cable.. This question tests the understanding of Ethernet distance limitations and when to use fiber optic cabling. Copper Ethernet (Cat6) is limited to 100 meters, so a 150-meter run requires fiber optic cable, which can support Gigabit speeds over longer distances. The correct answer identifies fiber as the solution.

Answer

Cat6a copper cable.

Answer

Cat5e copper cable with a repeater.

Answer

Coaxial cable with a balun.

Question 3

A technician is troubleshooting a network where one workstation intermittently loses connectivity. The cable run is 85 meters and passes through a conduit with several sharp bends. The cable tester shows intermittent shorts. Which cabling issue is most likely?

Accepted Answer

The cable is being pinched or crushed in the conduit.. This question tests understanding of physical cable damage due to improper installation. Sharp bends can exceed the cable's bend radius, causing internal wire damage or shorts. The correct answer identifies this as the root cause.

Answer

The cable is too long for the network standard.

Answer

The cable is unshielded and picking up EMI.

Answer

The cable is a flat patch cable used for a permanent run.

Question 4

A technician is installing a new network drop in a warehouse where the cable must run near high-voltage machinery. The run is 60 meters. Which type of cable should be used to minimize interference?

Accepted Answer

STP Cat6a cable.. This question tests understanding of shielded cabling and its application in high-EMI environments. STP (shielded twisted pair) reduces electromagnetic interference, making it suitable for runs near machinery. The correct answer emphasizes the shielding benefit.

Answer

UTP Cat6 cable.

Answer

Coaxial RG-6 cable.

Answer

Fiber optic cable.

Question 5

A small office is installing new network drops in a drop ceiling for employee workstations. The IT manager wants to minimize future troubleshooting. Which cabling practice should be followed during installation?

Accepted Answer

Label both ends of each cable with a unique identifier.. This question tests best practices for structured cabling, specifically labeling and documentation. Proper labeling at both ends of each cable run simplifies future troubleshooting and maintenance. The correct answer emphasizes this fundamental practice.

Answer

Use crossover cables for all workstation connections.

Answer

Run cables parallel to electrical wiring to save space.

Answer

Use flat ribbon cables for all long runs.

Question 6

A customer reports that their new Cat6a installation passes a cable certifier test but the link only negotiates at 100 Mbps. The cable run is 90 meters and uses standard T568B terminations. What is the most likely cause of the speed limitation?

Accepted Answer

The patch cables are Cat5e instead of Cat6a.. This question tests advanced knowledge of cable certification and speed negotiation. A cable certifier tests for compliance, but if the cable passes, the issue may be with the patch cables or connectors, which can degrade performance even if the permanent link is good. The correct answer identifies the patch cables as the likely weak point.

Answer

The cable run exceeds the maximum length for Cat6a.

Answer

The switch port is configured for 100 Mbps only.

Answer

The cable is terminated in T568A instead of T568B.

Question 7

A user complains that their VoIP phone intermittently loses connectivity. The phone is connected to a switch via a 50-meter run of solid-core Cat6 cable. You suspect interference from nearby fluorescent lights. Which cabling characteristic is most relevant to this issue?

Accepted Answer

The cable is not shielded (STP).. This question tests understanding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and how it affects network cabling. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable is susceptible to EMI from sources like fluorescent lights, causing intermittent connectivity. The correct answer highlights the lack of shielding as the key factor.

Answer

The cable is not properly terminated with RJ45 connectors.

Answer

The cable length exceeds the maximum for Cat6.

Answer

The cable is a crossover cable.

Question 8

A technician is troubleshooting a network drop that was working yesterday but now has no link light at the switch. The cable run is 80 meters and passes through a conduit. Which tool should be used first to isolate the problem?

Accepted Answer

A cable tester.. This question tests the use of basic cable testing tools in a troubleshooting scenario. A cable tester can quickly identify faults like breaks, shorts, or miswiring. The correct answer prioritizes the most direct tool for the symptom.

Answer

A tone generator and probe.

Answer

A multimeter.

Answer

A time-domain reflectometer (TDR).

Question 9

A company is upgrading its network to support 10 Gbps connections between server racks. The distance between racks is 25 meters. Which cabling standard is most appropriate for this upgrade?

Accepted Answer

Cat6a cable.. This question tests knowledge of cabling standards for high-speed Ethernet. Cat6a is rated for 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it suitable for this distance. The correct answer distinguishes Cat6a from Cat6, which has shorter 10 Gbps support.

Answer

Cat5e cable.

Answer

Cat6 cable.

Answer

Cat7 cable.

Question 10

A user reports that their computer connected to a wall jack works fine, but when they move the computer to a different desk and plug into a different wall jack, there is no network connectivity. The switch port shows no link light. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The wall jack is terminated incorrectly.. This question tests understanding of cable termination and wiring standards. A faulty termination at the wall jack or patch panel is a common cause of intermittent or no connectivity. The correct answer focuses on the physical connection at the new location.

Answer

The computer's NIC is faulty.

Answer

The patch cable is not a crossover cable.

Answer

The switch port is administratively down.

Question 11

A user reports intermittent network connectivity in an office that recently had a new ceiling installed. The network drop runs through the ceiling and is not in a conduit. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent connection?

Accepted Answer

The cable is pinched or kinked by the new ceiling installation.. Cables run through ceilings without proper support can be damaged by ceiling tiles or other equipment. The intermittent nature suggests a physical issue like a kink or pinch. Always ensure cables are secured and protected in plenum spaces.

Answer

The cable is too long for the network speed.

Answer

The cable is not properly terminated at the patch panel.

Answer

The network switch port is faulty.

Question 12

A technician is installing a new network drop in a warehouse where there is high electromagnetic interference (EMI) from machinery. Which cable type should be used to minimize signal degradation?

Accepted Answer

Cat6a STP. Shielded twisted pair (STP) cables have a metal shield that reduces EMI. In industrial environments with heavy machinery, STP is preferred over unshielded cables. Fiber optic would also work but is more expensive and harder to terminate.

Answer

Cat5e UTP

Answer

Coaxial cable

Answer

Plenum-rated cable

Question 13

A technician is troubleshooting a network drop that was working yesterday but now has no link light. The cable run is 90 meters and uses Cat5e. The patch cables and switch ports have been tested and are fine. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The cable has been cut or damaged.. A cable that was working but now fails often indicates physical damage. The length is within spec, so it's not a distance issue. The most common cause is a break or cut in the cable, possibly from recent activity.

Answer

The cable is too long for Cat5e.

Answer

The network switch is not powered on.

Answer

The cable is terminated with the wrong standard.

Question 14

A customer reports that their new Gigabit Ethernet connection is only achieving 100 Mbps speeds. The cable run is 75 meters through a drop ceiling and uses a Cat5e cable. What is the most likely cause of the speed limitation?

Accepted Answer

The cable is actually Cat5, not Cat5e.. Cat5e cables are rated for Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, so a 75-meter run should be fine. The issue is likely that the cable is not Cat5e or higher; Cat5 cables only support 100 Mbps. Always verify the cable category when troubleshooting speed issues.

Answer

The cable is too long for Cat5e.

Answer

The cable is shielded and causing interference.

Answer

The network switch port is faulty.

Question 15

A technician is asked to run a new network cable from a patch panel to a cubicle 80 meters away. The cable must support at least 1 Gbps. The technician has Cat6 cable on hand. What is the maximum distance this cable will support for 1 Gbps?

Accepted Answer

100 meters. Cat6 supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, so 80 meters is fine. The question tests knowledge of distance limits for different categories. Cat6 also supports 10 Gbps up to 55 meters, but for 1 Gbps, the limit is 100 meters.

Answer

55 meters

Answer

150 meters

Answer

200 meters

Question 16

A customer wants to connect two buildings that are 200 meters apart with a high-speed network link. Which cabling solution is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cable can transmit data over long distances without signal loss, making it ideal for inter-building connections. Copper Ethernet is limited to 100 meters. Wireless could work but may be less reliable than fiber.

Answer

Cat6a copper cable

Answer

Coaxial cable

Answer

Wireless bridge

Question 17

A small office is setting up a new VoIP phone system. The IT staff must run new cabling to each desk. Which cable type is most appropriate for connecting VoIP phones to the network?

Accepted Answer

Cat5e UTP. VoIP phones typically use Ethernet for data and power (PoE). Cat6a supports higher frequencies and is backward compatible, making it ideal for future-proofing. Cat5e is also sufficient but Cat6a offers better performance.

Answer

Coaxial cable

Answer

Fiber optic cable

Answer

Serial cable

Question 18

A technician is installing a new network in a school and must run cables through air handling plenums. What type of cable jacket is required for this installation?

Accepted Answer

Plenum-rated jacket. Plenum-rated cables have a special jacket that does not emit toxic fumes when burned, required by fire codes for air handling spaces. PVC cables are not allowed because they produce hazardous smoke. This is a safety and code compliance issue.

Answer

PVC jacket

Answer

Shielded jacket

Answer

Riser-rated jacket

Question 19

A network administrator is troubleshooting a 1000BASE-T connection that is only running at 100 Mbps. The cable is Cat5e and the switch supports Gigabit. The link light is green but the speed is capped. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

One of the four wire pairs is broken or shorted.. If only one pair of wires is faulty, Gigabit Ethernet (which uses all four pairs) will fall back to 100 Mbps (which uses only two pairs). This is a common issue with damaged cables. A faulty pair may not cause a complete link loss but will reduce speed.

Answer

The cable is too long for Gigabit.

Answer

The network card is set to 100 Mbps manually.

Answer

The switch port is configured for 100 Mbps.

Question 20

A company is deploying 10 Gigabit Ethernet in a data center and needs cabling that supports this speed over a distance of 50 meters. Which cable type should be selected?

Accepted Answer

Cat6a. Cat6a supports 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, making it suitable for this distance. Cat6 supports 10 Gbps only up to 55 meters, so it would also work but with less margin. Cat5e is limited to 1 Gbps, and Cat3 is for voice.

Answer

Cat5e

Answer

Cat6

Answer

Cat3