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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is configuring a new SOHO router for…
A technician is configuring a new SOHO router for a client who has a DSL internet connection. What type of cable will the technician use to connect the router to the wall jack?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between the WAN-side connection type (DSL requiring RJ-11) and the LAN-side connection type (Ethernet requiring RJ-45), causing candidates to mistakenly choose Ethernet cable because they think of the router's LAN ports.
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
✓
Telephone cable (RJ-11)
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) transmits data over standard copper telephone lines using frequencies above the voice band. The wall jack for DSL is a standard RJ-11 phone jack, so the technician must use a telephone cable with RJ-11 connectors to connect the router's DSL port to the wall jack.
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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Coaxial cable (RG-6)
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial cable, specifically RG-6, is the standard cabling used to deliver broadband internet services via cable television infrastructure. It connects a cable modem to a wall outlet, which then connects to the cable provider's network. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology, however, operates over traditional copper telephone lines and does not utilize coaxial cabling for its last-mile connection to the internet service provider. Therefore, it is incorrect for connecting a DSL router to the wall jack.
- ✓
Telephone cable (RJ-11)
Why this is correct
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology leverages the existing copper twisted-pair infrastructure of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to provide internet access. A DSL modem or SOHO router with integrated DSL modem functionality connects to the telephone wall jack using a standard telephone cable terminated with an RJ-11 connector. This cable carries the modulated DSL signal, separating it from voice traffic via a splitter or microfilter, allowing simultaneous voice and data communication over the same line.
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Fiber optic cable
Why it's wrong here
Fiber optic cable transmits data using light pulses, offering significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency compared to traditional copper-based technologies. While it is the backbone for modern fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) internet services, DSL specifically relies on the older copper telephone line infrastructure. A DSL router would not have a fiber optic port for direct connection to the wall, as DSL technology is fundamentally incompatible with fiber optic last-mile delivery.
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Ethernet cable (RJ-45)
Why it's wrong here
An Ethernet cable, terminated with an RJ-45 connector, is primarily used for local area network (LAN) connections and to link a standalone DSL modem to a router's WAN port. It transmits digital data packets over twisted-pair copper wires within a network. However, a DSL wall jack provides an analog telephone line signal, which requires an RJ-11 connector and a DSL modem to demodulate the signal, not a direct RJ-45 Ethernet connection.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Internet Connection Types
Key term
Digital Subscriber Line
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology that uses ordinary copper telephone wires to provide high-speed internet access to homes and businesses.
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
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