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220-1201 Practice Question: A client reports that their new IoT smart bulb…
A client reports that their new IoT smart bulb can be controlled from a smartphone app only when the phone is within 10 meters of the bulb. The bulb does not connect to the home Wi-Fi. Which network type is the smart bulb using?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse PAN with WLAN because both are wireless and can use the 2.4 GHz band, but the absence of a Wi-Fi router and the specific 10-meter range clearly indicate a PAN technology like Bluetooth, not a WLAN.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Personal area network (PAN)
The smart bulb uses a personal area network (PAN) because it communicates directly with the smartphone over a short-range wireless technology, such as Bluetooth or Zigbee, without connecting to a home Wi-Fi router. The 10-meter range limitation is a key characteristic of PAN technologies, which are designed for device-to-device communication within a few meters to about 10 meters. This contrasts with WLAN, which would require Wi-Fi and a router for broader coverage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Wireless local area network (WLAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) primarily utilizes Wi-Fi technology to connect devices within a limited geographical area, such as a home or office. While it provides network access and control, its typical range extends well beyond 10 meters, allowing devices to be managed from anywhere within the network's coverage. The scenario's strict 10-meter limitation, coupled with the lack of Wi-Fi, indicates that a WLAN is not the underlying network type for this specific smart bulb interaction.
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Metropolitan area network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to interconnect multiple Local Area Networks (LANs) across a city or large campus, spanning tens to hundreds of kilometers. It typically employs high-speed fiber optic or microwave links to provide connectivity for organizations and public services over a vast area. This extensive geographic scope is fundamentally incompatible with a single smart bulb's limited 10-meter operational range, making MAN an incorrect classification for such a personal device connection.
- ✓
Personal area network (PAN)
Why this is correct
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a short-range wireless network designed to connect personal devices within an individual's immediate workspace, typically within a 10-meter radius. Technologies like Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), or infrared are commonly used for PANs, enabling direct device-to-device communication without requiring a larger network infrastructure. The described 10-meter control limitation and the absence of Wi-Fi perfectly align with the characteristics of a PAN, making it the correct network type for the smart bulb.
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Wide area network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Wide Area Network (WAN) connects geographically dispersed Local Area Networks (LANs) over vast distances, often spanning countries or continents, forming the backbone of the internet. It relies on complex infrastructure, including leased lines, satellite links, and VPNs, to facilitate long-haul data transmission between remote locations. The concept of a WAN is entirely disproportionate to a smart bulb's local 10-meter control range, as its purpose is global connectivity, not immediate proximity device management.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.