220-1101 Question 163
Single answerPersonal area network (PAN)A technician is setting up a sales representative's tablet to use a wireless headset and occasionally share internet access from the representative's smartphone while traveling. The representative wants both connections to work only within a few feet of the device and does not want to join hotel or office Wi-Fi unless necessary. Which wireless network type best fits this requirement?
- A
Personal area network (PAN)
- B
Local area network (LAN)
- C
Metropolitan area network (MAN)
- D
Wide area network (WAN)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is Personal Area Network (PAN). In A+ Core 1, PAN refers to a short-range network centered on an individual, commonly implemented with Bluetooth and other nearby device-to-device technologies. This fits real-world tasks such as pairing headsets, keyboards, wearables, and using short-range tethering between personal devices. By contrast, LAN refers to a network in a home or office, MAN refers to city-scale networking, and WAN refers to carrier or internet-scale networking. CompTIA's networking objectives commonly distinguish these network types by scope and practical use, and the key clue here is the requirement for direct, very short-range connectivity around one user rather than joining building-wide or geographically dispersed networks.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A personal area network (PAN) is designed for short-range connectivity around an individual user, typically using technologies such as Bluetooth. Connecting a wireless headset to a tablet is a classic PAN use case, and phone tethering over short-range wireless can also fall into this category in CompTIA A+ objectives. The scenario specifically emphasizes operation within a few feet of the user rather than connecting to a broader building or carrier network.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A local area network (LAN) connects devices within a limited area such as a home, office, or school, usually through Ethernet or Wi-Fi infrastructure. Although the user may sometimes access a LAN through hotel or office Wi-Fi, the scenario specifically says the user wants to avoid those networks unless necessary and instead use direct short-range personal device connections.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A metropolitan area network (MAN) spans a city or campus-sized geographic area and is not appropriate for direct device-to-device connections such as pairing a headset to a tablet. Someone might choose this because it sounds like a medium-sized network, but MANs are far larger in scope than the short-range setup described.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A wide area network (WAN) covers large geographic areas and typically connects multiple LANs over long distances, often using carrier services or the internet. While the smartphone's cellular provider operates a WAN, that is not the wireless network type that best describes the short-range connection between the user's personal devices in this scenario.