- A
The dish is not aligned properly.
Why wrong: If the modem shows 'online', the dish is aligned and receiving signal; misalignment would prevent sync.
- B
The router's MTU setting is too high.
Satellite connections require a lower MTU (e.g., 1400) to avoid fragmentation; a default MTU of 1500 can cause connectivity issues.
- C
The modem's firmware is outdated.
Why wrong: Outdated firmware might cause issues, but the modem is online, indicating basic functionality; MTU mismatch is more specific.
- D
The user's browser is incompatible.
Why wrong: Browser incompatibility would not prevent all web browsing; it would affect specific sites or features.
Question 733 of 1,020
Adjusting MTU for Satellite Internet Connections
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of internet connection types. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 configuring a new satellite internet connection for a rural home. After aligning the dish, the modem shows 'online' but the user cannot browse the web. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the router’s MTU setting is too high, which is the most likely cause of the connectivity issue. Satellite internet connections typically require a lower Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) than the default 1500 used by most terrestrial networks, because the higher latency and signal overhead of satellite links cause packets to fragment or drop when the MTU is set too high. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how WAN technologies like satellite differ from standard broadband, and it often appears as a troubleshooting trap where the modem shows online but no data passes. A common memory tip is to think “satellite shrinks the packet”—remember that satellite providers usually need an MTU between 1400 and 1450 to avoid fragmentation and packet loss, so if web browsing fails after the dish is aligned, check the MTU first.
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
✓
The router's MTU setting is too high.
The modem shows 'online', indicating the satellite link is established, but the user cannot browse the web. This points to a Layer 3 or Layer 4 issue rather than a physical alignment problem. Satellite internet often uses a high MTU (e.g., 1500 bytes), but the link may have a lower effective MTU due to encapsulation overhead (e.g., PPPoE or VPN). If the router's MTU is set too high, packets larger than the path MTU will be fragmented or dropped, causing web pages to fail to load while the modem remains online.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The dish is not aligned properly.
Why it's wrong here
If the modem shows 'online', the dish is aligned and receiving signal; misalignment would prevent sync.
- ✓
The router's MTU setting is too high.
Why this is correct
Satellite connections require a lower MTU (e.g., 1400) to avoid fragmentation; a default MTU of 1500 can cause connectivity issues.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The modem's firmware is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated firmware might cause issues, but the modem is online, indicating basic functionality; MTU mismatch is more specific.
- ✗
The user's browser is incompatible.
Why it's wrong here
Browser incompatibility would not prevent all web browsing; it would affect specific sites or features.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that an 'online' status guarantees full internet connectivity, when in reality it only confirms Layer 1 and Layer 2 synchronization, leaving higher-layer issues like MTU misconfiguration as the hidden culprit.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
If the modem shows 'online', the dish is aligned and receiving signal; misalignment would prevent sync.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Satellite internet often uses a technology called TCP acceleration or performance enhancing proxies (PEPs) that modify TCP behavior over high-latency links. These PEPs can be sensitive to MTU mismatches; if the router's MTU exceeds the satellite link's path MTU (commonly 1400-1450 bytes due to encapsulation), packets are fragmented or dropped, causing TCP connections to stall. A practical test is to ping with the 'don't fragment' flag set (e.g., ping -f -l 1472) to find the correct MTU, then adjust the router's MTU accordingly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Internet Connection Types — This question tests Internet Connection Types — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The router's MTU setting is too high. — The modem shows 'online', indicating the satellite link is established, but the user cannot browse the web. This points to a Layer 3 or Layer 4 issue rather than a physical alignment problem. Satellite internet often uses a high MTU (e.g., 1500 bytes), but the link may have a lower effective MTU due to encapsulation overhead (e.g., PPPoE or VPN). If the router's MTU is set too high, packets larger than the path MTU will be fragmented or dropped, causing web pages to fail to load while the modem remains online.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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