hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a customer's…
A technician is troubleshooting a customer's smart home setup where the thermostat, lights, and door lock are controlled via a smartphone app. The devices communicate directly with each other without a central hub, but the range is limited to about 30 meters. Which network type is being used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between PAN and LAN by describing a small number of devices in a home, leading candidates to incorrectly choose LAN because they associate 'local' with any home network, but the key clue is the short range and direct device-to-device communication without a hub.
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)
This scenario describes a Personal Area Network (PAN) because the devices (thermostat, lights, door lock) communicate directly with each other over a short range of approximately 30 meters without a central hub. This is characteristic of PAN technologies like Zigbee or Z-Wave, which use mesh networking to extend range and allow direct device-to-device communication within a limited area.
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 confined geographical area, such as a home or office building, typically spanning up to a few hundred meters. While a smart home utilizes a LAN for internet connectivity and broader device management, the term primarily refers to the network infrastructure connecting multiple devices to a central router or switch. It is not specifically designed for the direct, short-range, peer-to-peer communication often found between individual smart home gadgets.
- ✗
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why it's wrong here
A Wide Area Network (WAN) interconnects multiple LANs over vast geographical distances, spanning cities, countries, or even continents. It relies on long-haul telecommunication links provided by carriers to facilitate communication between widely separated locations. A WAN is entirely unsuitable for the localized, direct device-to-device communication required by smart home gadgets within a single residence, as its purpose is large-scale, long-distance data transmission.
- ✓
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why this is correct
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is specifically designed for very short-range communication, typically within a few meters, connecting personal devices. Technologies like Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave are commonly used to establish these direct, often peer-to-peer, connections between smart home gadgets, wearables, or peripherals without requiring extensive infrastructure. This network type is ideal for the direct interaction between smart home devices, such as sensors, lights, and controllers, within a limited personal space.
- ✗
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 encompassing an entire city or a large campus. MANs are often used by internet service providers or large organizations to connect multiple branch offices or provide high-speed connectivity services across a urban area. This network type is vastly over-scaled and functionally irrelevant for the localized communication needs of smart home devices within a single customer's residence.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Types and Features
Key term
Personal Area Network
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a small network that connects devices within a person's immediate workspace, typically within a range of about 10 meters.
Key term
PAN
A Personal Area Network is a small network used for connecting devices close to one person, usually within a range of about 10 meters.
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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.