- A
Coaxial cable (RG-6)
Why wrong: Coaxial cable is used for cable internet, not DSL.
- B
Telephone cable (RJ-11)
DSL operates over standard telephone lines using RJ-11 connectors.
- C
Fiber optic cable
Why wrong: Fiber optic cable is used for fiber internet, not DSL.
- D
Ethernet cable (RJ-45)
Why wrong: Ethernet cable is used to connect the router to a modem or LAN devices, not directly to a DSL wall jack.
Question 304 of 1,020
DSL Router to Wall Jack Cable Type
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of internet connection types. 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 configuring a new SOHO router for a client who has a DSL internet connection. What type of cable will the technician use to connect the router to the wall jack?
Quick Answer
The answer is a telephone cable with an RJ-11 connector. This is correct because DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, transmits data over existing copper telephone lines, so the router must connect to the wall jack using the same standard phone cable that carries the voice signal. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish WAN connection types, and a common trap is confusing the RJ-11 telephone cable with an RJ-45 Ethernet cable or coaxial cable used for cable internet. Remember that DSL is delivered over phone lines, so the physical connection must match that medium. A simple memory tip is to think of the “D” in DSL as standing for “Dial-up’s big brother”—both use the same RJ-11 phone cable to reach the wall jack.
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
✓
Telephone cable (RJ-11)
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) transmits data over standard copper telephone lines using frequencies above the voice band. The wall jack for DSL is a standard RJ-11 phone jack, so the technician must use a telephone cable with RJ-11 connectors to connect the router's DSL port to the wall jack.
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.
- ✗
Coaxial cable (RG-6)
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial cable is used for cable internet, not DSL.
- ✓
Telephone cable (RJ-11)
Why this is correct
DSL operates over standard telephone lines using RJ-11 connectors.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Fiber optic cable
Why it's wrong here
Fiber optic cable is used for fiber internet, not DSL.
- ✗
Ethernet cable (RJ-45)
Why it's wrong here
Ethernet cable is used to connect the router to a modem or LAN devices, not directly to a DSL wall jack.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between the WAN-side connection type (DSL requiring RJ-11) and the LAN-side connection type (Ethernet requiring RJ-45), causing candidates to mistakenly choose Ethernet cable because they think of the router's LAN ports.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DSL uses frequency-division multiplexing to separate voice (0–4 kHz) from data (typically 25 kHz to 1.1 MHz for ADSL). The RJ-11 cable carries both the POTS signal and the DSL signal, and a microfilter is often placed between the phone and the wall jack to prevent interference. In VDSL2 deployments, the frequency range can extend up to 30 MHz, but the physical connector remains RJ-11.
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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Internet Connection Types — study guide chapter
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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: Telephone cable (RJ-11) — DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) transmits data over standard copper telephone lines using frequencies above the voice band. The wall jack for DSL is a standard RJ-11 phone jack, so the technician must use a telephone cable with RJ-11 connectors to connect the router's DSL port to the wall jack.
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.
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
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.
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