220-1201 Internet Connection Types — 15 Questions

Question 1

A small office is moving to a new location and needs a dedicated, symmetrical internet connection with a guaranteed service level agreement (SLA). Which type of internet connection should be installed?

Accepted Answer

Fiber optic. Fiber optic internet provides symmetrical speeds (same upload and download) and can offer SLAs, making it ideal for business needs. Cable and DSL typically have asymmetrical speeds and no SLA, while satellite has high latency and is not suitable for business-critical applications.

Answer

Cable broadband

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DSL

Answer

Satellite

Question 2

A customer is moving into a new apartment building that has a fiber optic terminal in the basement. They want the fastest possible internet. What equipment will the technician need to install inside the apartment to complete the connection?

Accepted Answer

An Optical Network Terminal (ONT). Fiber internet requires an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) to convert the optical signal to electrical signals for use by a router. A cable modem is for coax, a DSL modem is for phone lines, and a satellite modem is for satellite dishes.

Answer

A cable modem

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A DSL modem

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A satellite modem

Question 3

A customer reports that their internet connection drops frequently during rainstorms. They have a cable modem and a wireless router. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent connection?

Accepted Answer

The cable modem's coaxial cable connection is compromised by moisture.. Cable internet uses coaxial cables that can be susceptible to signal degradation when water enters the line, especially at connectors or splices. This is a common issue during rainstorms. DSL, fiber, and satellite are less affected by rain in this specific way, though satellite can have rain fade.

Answer

The wireless router is overheating.

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The DSL filter is malfunctioning.

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The satellite dish is out of alignment.

Question 4

A technician is configuring a new SOHO router for a client who has a DSL internet connection. What type of cable will the technician use to connect the router to the wall jack?

Accepted Answer

Telephone cable (RJ-11). DSL uses standard telephone cables (RJ-11) to connect to the wall jack. Coaxial (RG-6) is for cable, fiber uses a specialized connector, and Ethernet (RJ-45) is used for LAN connections or some fiber modems.

Answer

Coaxial cable (RG-6)

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Fiber optic cable

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Ethernet cable (RJ-45)

Question 5

A user complains that their internet is slow in the evenings, especially when streaming video. They have a cable modem and a wireless router. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Network congestion due to many users sharing the same cable node.. Cable internet uses a shared bandwidth model where many users in the same neighborhood contend for the same local loop capacity. During peak usage times (evenings), this contention leads to slower speeds. Wireless interference, router age, or ISP throttling are less likely to cause consistent evening slowdowns.

Answer

The wireless router is outdated.

Answer

The ISP is throttling streaming traffic.

Answer

Interference from other wireless networks.

Question 6

A technician is troubleshooting a satellite internet connection that has high latency and frequent disconnections. The dish is installed on a roof with a clear view of the sky. What is the most likely cause of the high latency?

Accepted Answer

The signal has to travel a long distance to the satellite and back.. Satellite internet inherently has high latency (typically 500-800 ms) due to the long distance the signal must travel to and from the satellite in geostationary orbit. This is a fundamental characteristic, not a fault. The other options could cause disconnections but not specifically high latency.

Answer

The satellite dish is not grounded properly.

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The modem is outdated.

Answer

There is interference from nearby cellular towers.

Question 7

A technician is called to a home where the customer reports that their cable internet works fine, but the TV service has pixelated channels. The technician suspects a signal issue. What is the most appropriate tool to measure the signal strength and quality on the coaxial line?

Accepted Answer

A cable tester (signal level meter). A cable tester (specifically a signal level meter or spectrum analyzer) can measure signal strength, SNR, and other parameters on coaxial cables used for cable internet and TV. A tone generator is for tracing wires, a multimeter is for electrical measurements, and an OTDR is for fiber optic cables.

Answer

A tone generator and probe

Answer

A multimeter

Answer

An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR)

Question 8

A technician is setting up internet for a rural home that is 5 miles from the nearest town. The home has no cable TV or phone line. Which internet connection type is most feasible?

Accepted Answer

Satellite. Satellite internet is available almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky, making it ideal for rural areas without wired infrastructure. Cable, DSL, and fiber all require physical infrastructure that may not reach remote locations.

Answer

Cable broadband

Answer

DSL

Answer

Fiber optic

Question 9

A company is deploying a new branch office in a location where no wired internet is available. They need a reliable connection with moderate speed and low latency for VoIP and video conferencing. Which technology should they consider?

Accepted Answer

Fixed wireless (e.g., point-to-point microwave). Fixed wireless (using point-to-point or point-to-multipoint antennas) can provide reliable, low-latency connections in areas without wired infrastructure, often using licensed or unlicensed spectrum. Satellite has high latency, cellular can be inconsistent, and dial-up is too slow.

Answer

Satellite internet

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Cellular 4G/5G hotspot

Answer

Dial-up

Question 10

A user reports that their internet connection is extremely slow, and they notice the modem's 'DSL' light is blinking. They have a DSL connection. What does the blinking DSL light indicate?

Accepted Answer

The modem is trying to establish a DSL sync.. A blinking DSL light typically indicates that the modem is trying to synchronize with the ISP's DSLAM. This can be due to line noise, distance issues, or a faulty filter. A solid light means sync is established. The other options are not standard indicators for a DSL sync light.

Answer

The modem is receiving data.

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The modem is not connected to the phone line.

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The modem has a firmware error.

Question 11

A company is deploying VoIP phones and needs a connection with low latency and consistent speeds. They are choosing between cable broadband and fiber-optic. Which factor makes fiber the better choice?

Accepted Answer

Fiber provides symmetrical upload and download speeds. Fiber-optic provides low latency and symmetrical speeds, ideal for VoIP. Cable broadband can suffer from latency spikes due to shared bandwidth and has asymmetrical speeds. Fiber's dedicated connection ensures consistent call quality.

Answer

Fiber has higher download speeds

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Fiber is less prone to electromagnetic interference

Answer

Fiber is cheaper than cable

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a DSL connection that keeps disconnecting. The modem shows the DSL light blinking. After checking the phone line, they find a filter is missing on a nearby phone handset. How does this cause the issue?

Accepted Answer

The missing filter allows voice frequencies to interfere with DSL frequencies. DSL requires a microfilter on every phone device to prevent interference from voice signals. Without it, the phone handset can cause noise that disrupts the DSL signal, leading to disconnects. This is a common DSL troubleshooting step.

Answer

The phone handset draws too much power from the line

Answer

The filter is needed to amplify the DSL signal

Answer

The phone handset creates a short circuit without the filter

Question 13

A client in a dense urban apartment building wants internet service but cannot install a satellite dish due to HOA rules. They have a phone line but no cable TV outlet. Which connection type is most practical and cost-effective?

Accepted Answer

DSL. DSL uses existing phone lines and is widely available in urban areas, making it a practical choice. Cable requires a coaxial outlet, satellite is prohibited, and fiber may not be available in all apartment buildings. DSL offers a balance of availability and cost.

Answer

Cable broadband

Answer

Satellite

Answer

Fiber-optic

Question 14

A user reports that their internet connection drops out frequently, especially during rainstorms. They have a dish mounted on their roof. Which connection type are they most likely using?

Accepted Answer

Satellite. Satellite internet is susceptible to rain fade, where heavy rain attenuates the signal, causing dropouts. Fiber and cable are underground and unaffected by rain, while DSL uses phone lines. This symptom is classic for satellite connections.

Answer

Fiber-optic

Answer

Cable broadband

Answer

DSL

Question 15

A technician is configuring a new router for a client who has a fiber-optic internet connection. Which type of interface is most likely used to connect the router to the ISP's ONT (Optical Network Terminal)?

Accepted Answer

Ethernet (RJ45). Fiber-optic connections typically use an ONT that converts optical signals to electrical, and the router connects via Ethernet (RJ45). Coaxial is for cable, RJ11 for DSL, and fiber patch cables connect the ONT to the wall, not the router. Ethernet is the standard interface for modern fiber installations.

Answer

Coaxial (F-type)

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RJ11 (phone jack)

Answer

Fiber patch cable (LC connector)