Quick Answer
The answer is Cat5e and fiber optic. Cat5e, or Category 5 enhanced, is a twisted-pair copper cable that supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) up to 100 meters, making it the most common Ethernet cable type for wired networks due to its balance of cost and performance. Fiber optic cables, meanwhile, use light to transmit data over much longer distances and at higher speeds, immune to electromagnetic interference. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between common physical media types; a typical trap is confusing Cat5e with older Cat5 or assuming fiber is only for backbone use. Remember that both copper and glass are valid for Ethernet, but coaxial and phone lines are not. A helpful memory tip: think of Cat5e as the everyday workhorse and fiber as the long-distance speedster.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. 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.
Which TWO of the following are common types of network cables used in wired Ethernet networks?
HDMI
Why wrong: HDMI is an audio/video interface, not for network data.
Coaxial
Why wrong: Coaxial is used for cable internet and TV, not standard Ethernet LAN cabling.
Cat5e
Cat5e is a standard twisted-pair cable for Ethernet networks.
USB
Why wrong: USB is for connecting peripherals, not Ethernet networking.
Fiber optic
Fiber optic is a common high-speed Ethernet cable type.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Cat5e
Cat5e (Category 5 enhanced) is a twisted-pair copper cable standard that supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) up to 100 meters. It is one of the most common cable types for wired Ethernet networks because it provides sufficient bandwidth (up to 1000 Mbps) and is backward compatible with older 10/100 Mbps standards.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
HDMI
Why it's wrong here
HDMI is an audio/video interface, not for network data.
Coaxial
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial is used for cable internet and TV, not standard Ethernet LAN cabling.
Cat5e
Why this is correct
Cat5e is a standard twisted-pair cable for Ethernet networks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
USB
Why it's wrong here
USB is for connecting peripherals, not Ethernet networking.
Fiber optic
Why this is correct
Fiber optic is a common high-speed Ethernet cable type.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse coaxial cable's historical use in Ethernet (e.g., 10BASE2) with modern wired Ethernet standards, forgetting that today's common Ethernet deployments use twisted-pair (Cat5e/Cat6) or fiber, not coax.
Detailed technical explanation
Cat5e uses four twisted pairs of copper wire with a characteristic impedance of 100 ohms, and its performance is defined by TIA/EIA-568 standards; it reduces crosstalk compared to Cat5 through stricter specifications. Fiber optic cables (e.g., single-mode or multimode) use light pulses for data transmission, offering immunity to electromagnetic interference and longer distances (up to 40 km for single-mode) than copper, making them ideal for backbone and data center connections. A real-world scenario: a network engineer might choose Cat5e for cost-effective desktop connections but switch to fiber for runs exceeding 100 meters or in high-EMI environments like factories.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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
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FAQ
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Cat5e — Cat5e (Category 5 enhanced) is a twisted-pair copper cable standard that supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) up to 100 meters. It is one of the most common cable types for wired Ethernet networks because it provides sufficient bandwidth (up to 1000 Mbps) and is backward compatible with older 10/100 Mbps standards.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This FC0-U61 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 FC0-U61 exam.
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