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220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their wireless mouse and…
A user complains that their wireless mouse and keyboard stop working when they move more than 10 feet away from the computer. The devices use a USB dongle. Which network type is being used for these peripherals?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the wireless nature of the peripherals with Wi-Fi (a LAN technology), but the short range and personal-device context point specifically to a PAN, not a LAN.
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)
Personal Area Network (PAN), because wireless mice and keyboards that connect via a USB dongle typically use Bluetooth or a proprietary 2.4 GHz RF protocol, which creates a short-range PAN. The 10-foot range limitation is characteristic of PAN technologies, which are designed for personal device connectivity within a few meters, not for broader network 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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Local Area Network (LAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Local Area Network (LAN) connects devices within a limited geographical area, such as a home, office building, or campus. While a computer connected to a LAN can share resources and access the internet, the LAN itself is not the direct connection mechanism for individual peripherals like a wireless mouse or keyboard. These input devices typically utilize short-range wireless technologies, not the Ethernet or Wi-Fi protocols that define a LAN's primary infrastructure for host-to-host communication.
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Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Wide Area Network (WAN) spans a large geographical area, often connecting multiple LANs across cities, states, or even continents. The internet is the most prominent example of a WAN, designed for long-distance data transmission and global connectivity, utilizing complex routing and carrier services. This extensive scope and infrastructure are entirely disproportionate and irrelevant for the direct, short-range communication required between a computer and its immediate wireless peripherals.
- ✓
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why this is correct
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is specifically designed for short-range communication among personal devices, typically within a 10-meter radius. Technologies like Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1) and proprietary 2.4 GHz radio frequency (RF) are commonly employed to establish a PAN, enabling devices such as wireless mice, keyboards, headsets, and smartphones to connect directly to a computer or other personal electronic devices. This localized, low-power network type perfectly matches the operational requirements for desktop peripherals.
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Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) covers a geographical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, typically spanning an entire city or a large campus. MANs are often used by municipalities, large corporations, or educational institutions to connect multiple branch offices or provide city-wide internet access to their constituents. The infrastructure and purpose of a MAN, which involves connecting large-scale networks over significant distances, bear no relation to the direct, localized wireless communication between a computer and its input devices.
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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.