220-1101 Question 193
Single answerCopperA technician is installing a new desktop workstation in a warehouse office. The network switch is located about 85 meters (279 feet) away through the ceiling space, and the cable route will run alongside fluorescent lighting and electric motors used for conveyor equipment. The workstation only needs a standard 1 Gbps Ethernet connection. Which copper cabling choice is MOST appropriate for this installation?
- A
Cat 5e UTP terminated with RJ45 connectors
- B
Cat 6 STP terminated with RJ45 connectors
- C
RG-6 coaxial cable terminated with F-connectors
- D
Cat 3 UTP terminated with RJ11 connectors
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The key factors in this scenario are distance, required bandwidth, and environmental interference. Standard Ethernet over copper has a maximum channel length of 100 meters, so an 85-meter run is acceptable. Because the cable will be routed near fluorescent lights and electric motors, EMI is a real concern. In such environments, shielded twisted pair is more appropriate than UTP. Cat 6 STP easily supports 1 Gbps Ethernet and uses standard RJ45 connectors. This aligns with common structured cabling best practices and Ethernet standards used in enterprise installations, where the installer should choose cable type based not only on speed and distance but also on the electrical environment.
- A. Incorrect.
Cat 5e UTP can support 1 Gbps Ethernet up to 100 meters under normal conditions, so the distance itself is acceptable. However, this scenario specifically mentions a route alongside fluorescent lighting and electric motors, both of which can introduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is more susceptible to interference than shielded twisted pair, so while Cat 5e UTP might work in a clean office environment, it is not the most appropriate choice for this installation.
- B. Correct.
Cat 6 STP terminated with RJ45 connectors is the best choice. The run is within the 100-meter maximum Ethernet copper distance, the workstation only needs 1 Gbps, and shielded twisted pair (STP) provides better protection from EMI in industrial or electrically noisy environments such as areas near motors and fluorescent lighting. RJ45 is the correct connector type for standard Ethernet over twisted-pair copper cabling.
- C. Incorrect.
RG-6 coaxial cable with F-connectors is commonly used for cable television, cable modems, and some broadband applications, not for a standard desktop Ethernet drop to a workstation. Although coaxial cable provides shielding, it is not the correct medium or connector type for a typical 1 Gbps Ethernet connection in this context.
- D. Incorrect.
Cat 3 UTP with RJ11 connectors is associated with older telephone and low-speed data applications, not modern Gigabit Ethernet workstation connections. In addition, RJ11 is a telephone connector, whereas Ethernet twisted-pair cabling uses RJ45. This option reflects a common misconception between phone cabling and network cabling.