Your 10BASE2 (thin coax) Ethernet segment is already at 185 m (the maximum standard segment length). You plan to add another 100 m of the same cable, bringing the total to 285 m. The network protocol in use is NetBEUI (irrelevant to the physical layer). Which single device should you add to stay within physical limits while extending the coax segment?

Introduction / Context:
10BASE2 (thin Ethernet, RG-58 coax) has a strict maximum segment length of 185 m between terminators. Exceeding this without regeneration leads to attenuation and collision-domain issues. When you need more distance on the same physical medium and wish to remain within the same collision domain, a physical-layer device is the correct tool.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Existing 10BASE2 segment length: 185 m (already at the limit).
• Desired additional length: 100 m → total 285 m.
• No desire to change collision domains or perform Layer-2/Layer-3 segmentation.
• Upper-layer protocol (NetBEUI) does not affect the physical constraint.

Concept / Approach:
A repeater (or an active hub for the appropriate medium) regenerates and reshapes the signal, effectively starting a new compliant segment while preserving one collision domain. T-connectors are only passive taps in 10BASE2 chains. Routers and gateways segment at higher layers and are unnecessary if you only need to extend the same segment physically. A bridge would create a new collision domain and requires appropriate media interfaces; the simplest, standards-aligned solution for same-medium extension is a repeater placed between segments, observing Ethernet’s repeater and segment-count rules.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
10BASE2 design guidelines allow multiple segments interconnected by repeaters, within the classic Ethernet repeater rules. This maintains timing for CSMA/CD and keeps collisions detectable across the extended shared medium.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• T-connector: passive; cannot extend beyond the 185 m limit.
• Router/Gateway: unnecessary segmentation and protocol handling for a simple physical-layer extension.
• Bridge: introduces a new collision domain; not required if the goal is one continuous 10BASE2 domain.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing passive tap hardware with active signal regeneration; forgetting terminators (50-ohm) at both ends of each coax segment; overlooking repeater count and topology rules in classic Ethernet.

Final Answer:
Repeater