N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
A company is extending its network to a new building located 200 meters away. The link must support 1 Gbps speeds. Which cabling type should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume Cat6 can exceed 100 meters because it supports higher frequencies (250 MHz vs. 100 MHz for Cat5e), but the 100-meter distance limit for 1000BASE-T is a physical layer standard constraint, not a cable grade limitation.
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
✓
Single-mode fiber
Single-mode fiber (SMF) is the correct choice because it supports 1 Gbps speeds over distances far exceeding 200 meters, typically up to 5 km or more using 1000BASE-LX optics. Copper cabling like Cat5e and Cat6 is limited to a maximum segment length of 100 meters for 1 Gbps (1000BASE-T), making them unsuitable for this 200-meter link.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cat5e
Why it's wrong here
Category 5e (Cat5e) unshielded twisted-pair cabling is designed to support Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) but is strictly limited to a maximum segment length of 100 meters (328 feet) per the TIA/EIA-568 standards. Attempting to transmit 1 Gbps data over Cat5e at 200 meters would result in significant signal attenuation, increased bit error rates, and unreliable network connectivity, making it unsuitable for this extended distance.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking for a cost-effective cabling solution for a 1 Gbps link within 100 meters (e.g., connecting two floors in the same building) would make Cat5e correct.
- ✗
Cat6
Why it's wrong here
Category 6 (Cat6) cabling, while offering improved performance over Cat5e, still adheres to the 100-meter distance limitation for 1 Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T). Although Cat6 can support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBASE-T) over shorter distances (up to 55 meters), its maximum reach for 1 Gbps remains 100 meters. Therefore, deploying Cat6 for a 200-meter link would exceed its specified operational range for 1 Gbps, leading to performance degradation and potential link failure.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct for a link under 100 meters requiring 1 Gbps, such as connecting a server to a switch within the same data center.
- ✓
Single-mode fiber
Why this is correct
Single-mode fiber is the optimal choice for extending a 1 Gbps network 200 meters. It utilizes a very small core (typically 9 microns) that allows only a single path for light to travel, significantly minimizing modal dispersion. This characteristic enables single-mode fiber to support high bandwidths, such as 1 Gbps, over distances ranging from several kilometers to tens of kilometers, far exceeding the 200-meter requirement with superior reliability.
- ✗
Coaxial cable
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial cable is primarily designed for radio frequency (RF) transmission, commonly used in cable television (CATV) and broadband internet services, not for standard Ethernet networking. While some older Ethernet standards like 10BASE2 and 10BASE5 used coaxial cable, they operated at much lower speeds (10 Mbps) and are obsolete. Modern 1 Gbps Ethernet infrastructure relies on twisted-pair or fiber optic cabling, making coaxial cable an inappropriate and unsupported medium for this application.
When this WOULD be correct
Coaxial cable would be correct for a question requiring a connection for cable TV or broadband internet (e.g., DOCSIS) over distances up to 500 meters, or for legacy Ethernet (10BASE2/10BASE5) at 10 Mbps.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Single-mode fiberCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Single-mode fiber is the optimal choice for extending a 1 Gbps network 200 meters. It utilizes a very small core (typically 9 microns) that allows only a single path for light to travel, significantly minimizing modal dispersion. This characteristic enables single-mode fiber to support high bandwidths, such as 1 Gbps, over distances ranging from several kilometers to tens of kilometers, far exceeding the 200-meter requirement with superior reliability.
✗Cat5eWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Cat5e supports 1 Gbps only up to 100 meters; the required distance is 200 meters, exceeding its maximum segment length.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for a cost-effective cabling solution for a 1 Gbps link within 100 meters (e.g., connecting two floors in the same building) would make Cat5e correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may remember that Cat5e supports 1 Gbps and overlook the distance limitation, assuming it works for any length.
✗Cat6Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Cat6 cabling has a maximum recommended distance of 100 meters for 1 Gbps, but the link requires 200 meters, exceeding this limit.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct for a link under 100 meters requiring 1 Gbps, such as connecting a server to a switch within the same data center.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume Cat6 is sufficient for 1 Gbps without considering the distance limitation, as it is a common choice for high-speed Ethernet in shorter runs.
✗Coaxial cableWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Coaxial cable cannot support 1 Gbps speeds over 200 meters; it is typically limited to lower speeds and shorter distances, and is not suitable for modern high-speed Ethernet.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Coaxial cable would be correct for a question requiring a connection for cable TV or broadband internet (e.g., DOCSIS) over distances up to 500 meters, or for legacy Ethernet (10BASE2/10BASE5) at 10 Mbps.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may recall coaxial cable being used for networking in the past or for long-distance video transmission, mistakenly believing it can handle gigabit speeds over long runs.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Physical Network Infrastructure
Key term
Unshielded Twisted Pair
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) is a type of copper cabling used in Ethernet networks, where pairs of wires are twisted together to reduce electrical interference, without additional metallic shielding.
Key term
Segment
A segment is a division of a larger network, such as a collision domain, broadcast domain, or a portion of a TCP data stream, used to organize traffic and improve performance.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This N10-009 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 N10-009 exam.