Why is a 150m Cat 6 link causing slow speeds and intermittent connectivity?
A technician is troubleshooting a computer issue for a user who works in a new annex of an office building. The user is reporting slow speeds and intermittent connectivity. The computer is connected via a Cat 6 cable to a distribution switch that is 492ft (150m) away. Which of the following should the technician implement to correct the issue?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
The question tests your knowledge of Ethernet cabling distance limitations and the proper use of fiber for long runs, with the trap being that upgrading the copper cable or adjusting settings cannot overcome the 100m copper limit.
This exam question covers Ethernet cable distance limits, specifically that Cat 6 copper cabling is limited to 100 meters. The correct fix for a 150m connection is to install an access switch and run fiber to the distribution switch, as confirmed by community consensus.
Choosing to 'Run a Cat 7 cable' is the most common mistake because Cat 7 is faster and newer, but it still has the same 100-meter copper distance limitation, so it would not fix the signal degradation.
Community Discussion (4 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Option B is correct because a 150m Cat 6 cable run exceeds the maximum 100-meter distance for Ethernet over copper cabling, causing severe signal attenuation and packet loss. Installing an access switch near the annex shortens the copper segment to a compliant distance, then using fiber for the long backbone run to the distribution switch is the industry-standard solution. As comment [2] notes, the symptoms of slow speeds and intermittent connectivity occur because the Cat 6 run exceeds the maximum recommended length, and fiber is required for longer distances.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A (increasing bandwidth allocation) does nothing to fix a physical-layer attenuation problem; the signal is already degraded, so allocating more bandwidth cannot improve reliability. Option C (running a Cat 7 cable) is incorrect because Cat 7 is still a copper cable and must also adhere to the same 100-meter Ethernet distance limit, as highlighted indirectly by comment [1] that the issue is the distance exceeding the recommended maximum for copper. Option D (enabling jumbo frames) only affects larger packet sizes and cannot mitigate the exceeding distance limit; in fact, it could worsen performance over a degraded link.Community Comment Notes
Comment [1] clearly states that the 492ft (150m) distance exceeds the recommended maximum for Ethernet over copper, while comment [2] explains the signal degradation over extended distance and the correct solution. Comment [3] agrees that the cable length is too long for Cat 6, and comment [4] reinforces that no copper cable choice would help at that distance, emphasizing that fiber is needed to avoid attenuation.Official Reference
Exam Strategy
Remember the 100-meter rule for all twisted-pair copper cabling (Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A, Cat 7). On exam day, any question mentioning a copper cable run longer than 100m should immediately point to installing an access switch and using fiber for the long-distance segment.