mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is deploying a new network in a…
A technician is deploying a new network in a warehouse and needs to connect two separate switches that are 120 meters apart. The cable run must support 1 Gbps speeds. Which networking hardware component should be used to ensure reliable connectivity?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a single cable can exceed 100 meters if it is high-quality Cat6, but the 100-meter limit is a hard standard for 1 Gbps Ethernet, not a suggestion; exceeding it risks intermittent connectivity or complete link failure.
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
✓
Install a switch at the 60-meter midpoint and use two Cat6 cables.
A single Cat6 cable is limited to 100 meters for 1 Gbps Ethernet (per TIA/EIA-568 standards). By placing a switch at the 60-meter midpoint, you effectively create two separate 60-meter segments, each well within the 100-meter limit, ensuring reliable 1 Gbps connectivity. The switch regenerates the signal, overcoming the distance limitation without violating the standard.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a single 120-meter Cat6 cable.
Why it's wrong here
Standard Ethernet specifications for Cat6 cabling, such as 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet), strictly limit the maximum segment length to 100 meters (328 feet). Exceeding this distance, as a 120-meter run would, leads to significant signal attenuation and increased susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. This degradation results in unreliable data transmission, frequent packet loss, and ultimately a complete loss of network connectivity, making a single cable solution impractical for the required distance.
- ✓
Install a switch at the 60-meter midpoint and use two Cat6 cables.
Why this is correct
Installing an Ethernet switch at the 60-meter midpoint effectively breaks the 120-meter run into two separate 60-meter segments. Each segment then falls well within the 100-meter maximum distance specified for Cat6 cables under IEEE 802.3 standards. The switch actively regenerates the electrical signal before forwarding it, counteracting signal attenuation and ensuring reliable, high-speed data transmission across the entire 120-meter distance without exceeding any segment limitations.
- ✗
Use a fiber optic cable with media converters on both ends.
Why it's wrong here
While fiber optic cable, particularly multimode fiber, can easily transmit data over 120 meters without signal degradation, this solution introduces unnecessary cost and complexity for the specified distance. It would require specialized fiber optic cabling, two media converters to translate between electrical and optical signals, and potentially more intricate installation and maintenance compared to a simpler copper-based solution. Although technically functional, it is an over-engineered and less economical approach for merely extending a 120-meter Ethernet link.
- ✗
Replace one switch with a hub to increase signal strength.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing a switch with a hub is a detrimental choice for network performance and signal extension. A hub operates at Layer 1 of the OSI model, simply repeating all incoming signals to every other port without regenerating or intelligently forwarding data. This creates a single large collision domain, leading to increased network collisions, significant performance degradation, and does not effectively extend signal strength over distance. Furthermore, hubs are obsolete technology and would not provide the necessary signal regeneration or intelligent traffic management required for a modern network.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 220-1201 question from scratch — 972 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.