16. Which piece of network equipment extends the cable range and allows connections to be made by increasing the signal strength?
Answer: D
Repeater extends the cable range and increases the signal strength.
A repeater is a device that receives a signal and retransmits it at a higher power, effectively extending the distance that a signal can travel over a network cable.
A) Switch
A switch is a networking device that connects devices within a local area network (LAN) and forwards data based on MAC addresses. It does not extend cable range or amplify signal strength, making it incorrect in this context.
B) Router
A router connects different networks and routes data between them. While it can manage traffic and connect to various devices, it does not enhance the signal strength of a cable connection, thus it is not the correct answer.
C) Firewall
A firewall is a security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It does not serve to extend cable range or increase signal strength, rendering it incorrect for this question.
D) Repeater
A repeater is specifically designed to regenerate and amplify signals in a network, allowing for longer cable runs. It effectively extends the cable range by boosting the signal, making it the correct answer to the question.
Conclusion
The repeater is the only device among the options that directly addresses the need to extend cable range and increase signal strength. Other options like switches, routers, and firewalls serve different functions in a network and do not provide the amplification needed for longer cable connections. Thus, the repeater is definitively the correct choice.