Quick Answer
The answer is 100 meters. Cat6 cable supports 1 Gbps Ethernet up to a maximum distance of 100 meters, which includes the combined length of horizontal cabling from the patch panel to the wall jack and the patch cords at each end. This 100-meter limit is a fundamental standard for twisted-pair copper cabling, derived from the IEEE 802.3 specification for 1000BASE-T, ensuring signal integrity and minimal attenuation over that span. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this concept tests your knowledge of Ethernet distance limitations and cable categories; a common trap is confusing the 55-meter limit for Cat6 at 10 Gbps with the 100-meter limit for 1 Gbps. To remember, think of the classic “100 for 1” rule: Cat6 carries 1 Gbps for 100 meters, while 10 Gbps cuts that distance nearly in half to 55 meters.
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cabling. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is asked to run a new network cable from a patch panel to a cubicle 80 meters away. The cable must support at least 1 Gbps. The technician has Cat6 cable on hand. What is the maximum distance this cable will support for 1 Gbps?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
55 meters
Why wrong: 55 meters is the limit for 10 Gbps on Cat6, not 1 Gbps.
100 meters
Cat6 supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, so 80 meters is within spec.
150 meters
Why wrong: No twisted pair Ethernet standard supports 150 meters; the maximum is 100 meters.
200 meters
Why wrong: 200 meters is beyond the limit for copper Ethernet; fiber would be needed for that distance.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
100 meters
Cat6 supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, so 80 meters is fine. The question tests knowledge of distance limits for different categories. Cat6 also supports 10 Gbps up to 55 meters, but for 1 Gbps, the limit is 100 meters.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
55 meters
Why it's wrong here
55 meters is the limit for 10 Gbps on Cat6, not 1 Gbps.
100 meters
Why this is correct
Cat6 supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, so 80 meters is within spec.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
150 meters
Why it's wrong here
No twisted pair Ethernet standard supports 150 meters; the maximum is 100 meters.
200 meters
Why it's wrong here
200 meters is beyond the limit for copper Ethernet; fiber would be needed for that distance.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Cabling — This question tests Cabling — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: 100 meters — Cat6 supports 1 Gbps up to 100 meters, so 80 meters is fine. The question tests knowledge of distance limits for different categories. Cat6 also supports 10 Gbps up to 55 meters, but for 1 Gbps, the limit is 100 meters.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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