COMPTIA A+ Practice Exam

The maximum speed of IEEE 1394a, more commonly known as FireWire 400, is 400 Mbps (megabits per second). This standard was widely used in the early 2000s for connecting digital devices like camcorders, external hard drives, and other multimedia devices. Its ability to transfer data at this speed made it suitable for applications that required high-bandwidth, such as video editing and transfer.

Understanding the context of this standard is essential. IEEE 1394b, an update to the original FireWire standard, increased the maximum speed to 800 Mbps. Therefore, while the choices for higher speeds reflect advancements in connectivity standards, they pertain to later versions (like 1394b) or different technologies altogether. Recognizing the specific standard in question is crucial to arriving at the correct maximum speed associated with IEEE 1394a.