iSACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certification Practice Exam

What component in a Local Area Network (LAN) helps extend transmission distance?

1. Switches

2. Routers

3. Bridges

4. Repeaters

The correct answer is: Repeaters

In a Local Area Network (LAN), devices known as repeaters play a crucial role in extending transmission distance. They function by receiving signals and regenerating them for further transmission, thus overcoming the limitations of distance that may affect network connectivity and performance. In scenarios where data needs to travel longer distances than the maximum allowed without degradation, repeaters effectively boost the signal strength, ensuring that data integrity is maintained over extended cable lengths. While switches are used to connect devices within the same network and manage data traffic more effectively, they do not inherently extend the distance of the transmission. They process data at the data link layer but do not amplify signals. Similarly, routers are critical for directing traffic between different networks but also do not serve the purpose of extending transmission distances within a LAN. Bridges do connect two or more network segments and help manage traffic, but their primary function is to filter traffic and improve performance between segments rather than extending the actual distance of transmission. By focusing specifically on the need to increase the range of transmission without loss, repeaters emerge as the essential component in a LAN that directly addresses distance limitations, making them the correct choice for this question.