The answer is that the cable is a Cat5 cable, which is the most likely cause of the speed limitation. While Cat5e and Cat6 cables support Gigabit Ethernet up to the full 100-meter distance, the older Cat5 standard was only certified for 100 Mbps, so using it will cap your connection regardless of the switch or NIC capabilities. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this tests your understanding of Ethernet cabling standards and their speed limitations, often appearing as a scenario where a user’s gigabit ethernet drops to 100 Mbps due to an overlooked cable category. A common trap is assuming any Cat cable works for gigabit, but the key distinction is that Cat5 lacks the tighter specifications for 1000BASE-T. To remember this, think: “Cat5 caps at 100—for gigabit, you need an ‘e’ or a ‘6’.”
220-1201 Cabling Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cabling. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
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.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The cable is a Cat5e patch cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat5e supports Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, so this would not cause a 100 Mbps limit.
✗
The cable is a Cat6a cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat6a exceeds Gigabit requirements, so it would not cause a speed drop to 100 Mbps.
✓
The cable is a Cat5 cable.
Why this is correct
Cat5 cable is only rated for 100 Mbps, so using it for a Gigabit connection would limit speed to 100 Mbps.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The cable is a Cat6 cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat6 supports Gigabit Ethernet, so it would not cause a speed limitation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Cabling — This question tests Cabling — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
easy
A.The cable is too long for Cat5e.
✓ B.The cable is actually Cat5, not Cat5e.
C.The cable is shielded and causing interference.
D.The network switch port is faulty.
Why B: 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.
Variation 2. 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. The technician checks the patch panel and wall jack terminations, which appear correct. What is the most likely cause of the speed issue?
medium
A.The cable run exceeds the maximum length for Gigabit Ethernet.
✓ B.The cable is Cat5e or lower, which cannot support Gigabit Ethernet at that distance.
C.The wall jack is wired for T568B but the patch panel uses T568A.
D.The cable is shielded (STP) and the connectors are unshielded (UTP).
Why B: This question tests knowledge of Ethernet cabling standards and performance limitations. The correct answer is that the cable is likely Cat5e or lower, as Cat5e is only certified for Gigabit up to 100 meters, but older Cat5 may only support 100 Mbps. The scenario highlights the importance of using proper cabling for desired speeds.
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