CPCT Network Topology & Configuration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A technician notices that a Cat 6A cable installation produces excessive crosstalk between adjacent cables at high frequencies. Which mitigation technique is MOST effective for 10GBase-T installations?
- Increasing the cable bend radius beyond 4× the cable diameter
- Maintaining a minimum cable separation of 50mm between Cat 6A cables
- Using alien crosstalk (ANEXT) compliant cable and installation practices (Correct answer)
- Re-terminating the cables with T568A wiring instead of T568B
Correct answer: Using alien crosstalk (ANEXT) compliant cable and installation practices
Alien crosstalk (ANEXT) between adjacent Cat 6A cables is mitigated by using ANEXT-compliant augmented Cat 6A cable and following proper installation spacing practices.
Question 2: In a bus topology, what type of connector is required at each end of the cable to prevent signal reflections?
- RJ-45 plug
- 50-ohm terminator (Correct answer)
- Barrel connector
- Type-F connector
Correct answer: 50-ohm terminator
Bus topologies require 50-ohm terminators at each end of the coaxial cable to absorb signals and prevent reflections that cause data errors.
Question 3: Which TIA/EIA standard defines the color-coding and administration for telecommunications cabling systems?
- TIA-568-C
- TIA-569-B
- TIA-606-B (Correct answer)
- TIA-607-B
Correct answer: TIA-606-B
TIA-606-B covers the administration standard for telecommunications infrastructure, including labeling, color-coding, and record-keeping.
Question 4: A building's horizontal cabling run measures 88 meters from the TR to the work area outlet. According to TIA-568, what is the maximum additional length allowed for patch cords and equipment cords combined?
- 2 meters
- 5 meters
- 12 meters (Correct answer)
- 20 meters
Correct answer: 12 meters
TIA-568 allows a 100-meter channel with up to 10 meters for patch cords; since 88m is used for horizontal cabling, 12 meters remain for cords (but cord allowance caps at 10m total).
Question 5: Which network topology is characterized by each device connecting to exactly two other devices, forming a single continuous path?
- Star topology
- Ring topology (Correct answer)
- Bus topology
- Tree topology
Correct answer: Ring topology
In a ring topology, each device connects to exactly two neighbors, forming a closed loop through which data travels in one or both directions.
Question 6: A CPCT technician is installing fiber in a campus environment. Which fiber topology type allows signal regeneration at intermediate nodes to extend the reach beyond a single fiber span?
- Point-to-point topology
- Daisy-chain (series) topology (Correct answer)
- Passive optical network (PON)
- Distributed backbone topology
Correct answer: Daisy-chain (series) topology
A daisy-chain topology passes the signal through intermediate nodes that can regenerate or amplify it, extending the usable distance across multiple spans.
Question 7: What does the term 'work area' refer to in TIA-568 structured cabling terminology?
- The telecommunications room containing patch panels
- The space between the building entrance and the TR
- The area served by a horizontal cabling outlet where end devices connect (Correct answer)
- The pathway used for backbone cable routing
Correct answer: The area served by a horizontal cabling outlet where end devices connect
In TIA-568, the work area is the space where end-user equipment (computers, phones, etc.) connects to the structured cabling system via horizontal outlets.
CPCT Network Topology & Configuration 3
A technician notices that a Cat 6A cable installation produces excessive crosstalk between adjacent cables at high frequencies.
Which mitigation technique is MOST effective for 10GBase-T installations?