easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A small office has intermittent connectivity…
A small office has intermittent connectivity issues. The technician needs to verify that the Ethernet cable from the wall jack to the workstation meets T568A wiring standards. Which tool is most appropriate for this task?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a toner and probe (used for cable tracing) with a cable tester (used for verifying wiring standards), leading them to choose option C when the question specifically asks for verifying T568A compliance.
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
✓
Cable tester with wire map
A cable tester with wire map is the correct tool because it verifies that each of the eight wires in the Ethernet cable is terminated to the correct pin on the RJ45 connector according to the T568A standard. This ensures proper continuity and pin-to-pin mapping, which is essential for reliable network connectivity. Intermittent issues often stem from miswired or broken pairs, which a wire map test can detect.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Multimeter
Why it's wrong here
A multimeter is primarily used to measure electrical properties such as voltage, current, and resistance, or to test for basic continuity in a single conductor. While it can confirm if a wire is broken or shorted, it lacks the capability to simultaneously test all eight conductors of an RJ-45 cable to verify the correct end-to-end pin mapping according to T568A or T568B standards. Therefore, it cannot diagnose specific wiring faults like crossed pairs or split pairs that cause intermittent network connectivity.
- ✓
Cable tester with wire map
Why this is correct
A cable tester with a wire map is the ideal tool for diagnosing intermittent connectivity issues related to network cabling because it comprehensively checks the integrity and pinout of each conductor. This device sends signals through each wire pair and displays a graphical representation (wire map) of the connections, allowing a technician to identify open circuits, short circuits, crossed pairs, or split pairs. This ensures the cable adheres to the T568A or T568B wiring standards essential for reliable Ethernet communication.
- ✗
Toner and probe
Why it's wrong here
A toner and probe, also known as a tone generator and inductive amplifier, is designed to trace and identify a specific cable within a bundle or a wall by injecting an audible signal onto one end. While highly effective for locating an unlabeled cable, this tool does not provide any diagnostic information about the cable's internal wiring configuration, continuity of individual conductors, or whether its pin assignments conform to T568A/B standards. It merely helps in physical cable identification, not electrical verification.
- ✗
Crimper
Why it's wrong here
A crimper is a specialized mechanical tool used exclusively for attaching modular connectors, such as RJ-45 plugs, to the ends of un-terminated network cables. Its function is to press the connector's metal pins into the individual conductors, creating a secure electrical and mechanical connection. This tool is solely for the physical assembly or termination of cables and possesses no diagnostic capabilities to test or verify the functionality, continuity, or wiring standard of an existing, terminated cable.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Connectivity
Key term
Ethernet
Ethernet is a wired networking technology that connects devices like computers, printers, and servers to each other and to the internet using cables.
Key term
Cable tester
A cable tester is a device used to verify that network or electrical cables are wired correctly and can carry signals without interruption.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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