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220-1201 Practice Question: A customer wants to connect two switches in…
A customer wants to connect two switches in different buildings about 150 meters apart. The link must support at least 1 Gbps. Which cabling solution is most appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 100-meter distance limitation for copper Ethernet cabling (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a) is a common testing point; any run beyond 100 meters requires fiber or a repeater, but the most appropriate and scalable solution for inter-building links is fiber, not copper with repeaters.
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
✓
Single-mode fiber optic cable.
Single-mode fiber optic cable is the most appropriate solution because it supports 1 Gbps over distances far exceeding 150 meters, with typical reach up to 10 km or more. Unlike copper cabling, single-mode fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and signal degradation over longer runs, making it ideal for inter-building connections where electrical isolation and distance are critical factors.
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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Cat6a copper cable.
Why it's wrong here
Cat6a copper cable is designed to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet over distances up to 100 meters. For standard Gigabit Ethernet, its maximum reliable length is also 100 meters. At 150 meters, the signal would experience significant attenuation and crosstalk, leading to severe packet loss and an unreliable or non-functional link, making it unsuitable for this distance.
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Cat5e copper cable with a repeater.
Why it's wrong here
Cat5e copper cabling has a maximum segment length of 100 metres for 1 Gbps transmission, so 150 metres exceeds that limit without a repeater. A repeater regenerates the signal but does not extend the physical-layer distance beyond the 100-metre specification for 1 Gbps; the link would still fail due to excessive attenuation. This option tempts because repeaters are correctly used to extend other media types, such as fibre, where distance limits are far greater.
- ✓
Single-mode fiber optic cable.
Why this is correct
Single-mode fiber optic cable is engineered for high-speed data transmission over very long distances, typically supporting Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet for tens of kilometers. Its small core diameter allows light to travel along a single path, minimizing modal dispersion and signal loss. This makes it the ideal choice for connecting switches located 150 meters apart, ensuring reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity.
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Coaxial cable with a balun.
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial cable, even when paired with a balun for impedance matching, is fundamentally incompatible with modern Gigabit Ethernet standards. Ethernet over coaxial, such as 10BASE2 or 10BASE5, operated at much lower speeds and is obsolete. Attempting to use coaxial for a 150-meter Gigabit switch link would require specialized, non-standard transceivers and would likely result in extremely poor performance or no connectivity due to signal integrity issues and lack of standardized support.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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