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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up internet for a remote…
A technician is setting up internet for a remote cabin that is 5 miles from the nearest road. No wired infrastructure exists. Which connection type is most practical for reliable, moderate-speed internet?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception tested on the CompTIA A+ exam is that DSL or cable can be extended over long distances using repeaters or amplifiers, but in reality, both technologies have strict distance limits (DSL ~18,000 feet from the CO; cable ~100 miles with amplifiers) and require existing wired infrastructure that simply does not exist in a remote cabin 5 miles from the nearest road.
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
✓
Satellite
Satellite internet is the only viable option for a remote cabin 5 miles from the nearest road with no wired infrastructure. It uses a geostationary satellite to provide coverage anywhere with a clear line of sight to the sky, offering moderate speeds (typically 25–100 Mbps) without requiring terrestrial cabling. DSL, cable, and fiber all depend on physical infrastructure (copper phone lines, coaxial cable, or fiber optic cables) that cannot reach such a remote location.
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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DSL
Why it's wrong here
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet service leverages existing copper twisted-pair telephone lines to transmit data. While it utilizes readily available infrastructure in many areas, its performance and availability are highly dependent on the distance from the internet service provider's central office or a local Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). A remote cabin 5 miles from the road, implying significant distance from established telecommunications infrastructure, would likely be too far to receive a reliable or even any DSL signal.
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Cable
Why it's wrong here
Cable internet operates over a Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) network, requiring extensive coaxial cable infrastructure to be laid directly to the premises. This technology is primarily deployed in urban and suburban areas where the population density justifies the significant investment in cabling and associated network equipment. A remote cabin, by definition, lacks this specialized coaxial cabling and the necessary provider presence, making cable internet an unfeasible option.
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Satellite
Why this is correct
Satellite internet is the most viable solution for remote locations because it does not depend on terrestrial cabling or cellular towers. It provides connectivity by communicating with geostationary or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites via a dish antenna installed at the user's location, requiring only a clear line of sight to the sky. This independence from ground-based infrastructure makes it ideal for a cabin 5 miles from the road where traditional wired services are unavailable.
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Fiber optic
Why it's wrong here
Fiber optic internet delivers data using light signals through thin strands of glass or plastic, offering superior speed and reliability. However, deploying fiber optic service requires the physical installation of new fiber optic cables directly to each subscriber's location, which involves significant trenching and construction costs. For a remote cabin far from existing roads and infrastructure, the expense and logistical challenges of extending a fiber optic network would be prohibitively high and impractical.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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