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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is installing new cabling for a…
A technician is installing new cabling for a security camera system that uses PoE. The cameras are located 120 meters from the switch. The technician has Cat6 cable available. What should the technician do to ensure reliable operation?
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
✓
Install a PoE extender or a switch at the 100-meter mark.
This question tests knowledge of Ethernet distance limits and solutions. The correct answer is to use a PoE extender or a switch at the midpoint, as 120 meters exceeds the 100-meter limit for Ethernet, and PoE may also have voltage drop issues.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a higher category cable like Cat6a to extend the distance.
Why it's wrong here
Using a higher category cable like Cat6a does not inherently extend the maximum allowable distance for standard Ethernet deployments beyond 100 meters. While Cat6a offers improved performance for higher bandwidths and reduced crosstalk, the 100-meter (328 feet) limitation is a fundamental specification defined by the IEEE 802.3 standards for twisted-pair copper Ethernet, primarily due to signal attenuation and timing constraints. Upgrading cable category alone will not overcome this physical limitation without active devices.
- ✓
Install a PoE extender or a switch at the 100-meter mark.
Why this is correct
Installing a Power over Ethernet (PoE) extender or a network switch at approximately the 100-meter mark is the correct solution for extending both data and power delivery beyond the standard Ethernet distance limit. A PoE extender functions as a repeater, regenerating the electrical signal for data and re-injecting power to the connected device, effectively allowing the cable run to continue for another 100 meters. A switch would similarly regenerate the data signal and can provide new PoE power, acting as an intermediate node.
- ✗
Use a single-mode fiber optic cable instead.
Why it's wrong here
While single-mode fiber optic cable can certainly overcome significant distance limitations, it is not a direct or simple replacement for a Cat6 copper installation in this context. Implementing fiber would necessitate a complete change in infrastructure, requiring specialized fiber optic transceivers, media converters at both ends to interface with copper-based devices, and different installation tools and expertise. This approach introduces additional complexity and cost compared to extending the existing copper infrastructure.
- ✗
The cable run is acceptable because Cat6 supports up to 150 meters.
Why it's wrong here
The assertion that a Cat6 cable run is acceptable up to 150 meters is incorrect according to industry standards. For Fast Ethernet (100BASE-TX), Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T), and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) copper cabling, the maximum segment length is strictly defined as 100 meters (328 feet) by the IEEE 802.3 standards. Exceeding this length significantly increases the risk of signal degradation, packet loss, and unreliable network performance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: PC Hardware Issues
Key term
Switch
A switch is a networking device that connects devices on a local area network and uses MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient.
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.
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JA
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.