55. Which piece of network equipment extends the cable range and allows connections to be made by increasing the signal strength?
Answer: C
Repeater extends the cable range by increasing the signal strength.
A repeater is designed specifically to extend the range of a network by amplifying the signal, allowing for longer cable lengths and better connectivity.
A) Firewall
A firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It does not extend cable range or increase signal strength, making it incorrect for this question.
B) Router
A router is a device that forwards data packets between computer networks and can connect different networks together. While it manages traffic and directs data, it does not specifically amplify signals or extend cable range, thus it is not the correct answer.
C) Repeater
A repeater is a network device specifically designed to regenerate and amplify signals in order to extend the distance over which data can be transmitted. This makes it the correct choice for extending cable range by increasing the signal strength.
D) Switch
A switch is a device that connects devices within a single network and forwards data based on MAC addresses. It does not amplify signals or extend range, so it is not applicable to the question of increasing signal strength.
Conclusion
The repeater is the only device explicitly designed to extend network cable range by amplifying signals. The firewall, router, and switch each serve different functions that do not involve increasing signal strength or extending cable distances, confirming that the repeater is the definitive correct answer.