Comptia Tech + Certification 2.9 Performance-Based: Basic Capabilities of a Small Wireless Network

A technician is configuring a wireless network in a small office. The office has several older laptops that support a wireless standard that was the first to use MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology to improve speed and was also capable of operating on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

Which of the following wireless standards is the technician configuring to ensure backward compatibility and a decent level of performance?

802.11n, which introduced MIMO and operated on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to achieve speeds up to 600 Mbps.

A user has a wireless router that is a few years old. The user wants to set up a wireless network that provides good range and is compatible with most devices, including older laptops and smartphones. The router's packaging lists support for a standard that uses channel bonding and can operate on either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.

What wireless standard is the user's router capable of using?

802.11n, which introduced significant improvements in speed and range over older standards and is widely compatible.

A user is installing a new wireless router for their home and wants to maximize the speed for streaming 4K video and transferring large files. The user's new router is labeled "Gigabit Wi-Fi" and is designed to operate exclusively on the less-congested 5 GHz frequency band.

Which wireless standard is the user's new router using?

802.11ac, which introduced gigabit wireless speeds and operates only on the 5 GHz frequency band.

A technician is upgrading a corporate wireless network to a standard that supports higher throughput for video conferencing and large file transfers. The technician decides to use an access point that operates on the 5 GHz band with wider channels and more spatial streams to achieve gigabit-level speeds.

What wireless standard is the technician deploying?

802.11ac, which is known for its high data rates and use of wider channels on the 5 GHz band.

An IT administrator is deploying a new wireless network in a busy university library. The network needs to support hundreds of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones, all connecting at the same time without significant performance degradation. The administrator chooses a standard that uses OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) to improve efficiency in high-density environments.

What wireless standard is the administrator implementing?

802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), which is designed to improve performance and efficiency in high-density, multi-device environments.

A user purchases a brand-new wireless router labeled "Wi-Fi 6" and notices that it supports a technology that allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously with the router without waiting in a queue. This improves the overall network efficiency and reduces latency for all connected devices.

What wireless standard is the user's router using?

802.11ax, which introduced advanced features like OFDMA and improved MU-MIMO for more efficient multi-device communication.

A user is troubleshooting a slow wireless connection on their laptop. They are connected to a modern 802.11ax router but are only getting a fraction of the advertised speed. The technician asks the user about the distance from the router, the number of other devices on the network, and the presence of any physical obstructions.

What is the technician trying to determine?

Various factors affecting the actual throughput and performance of the wireless network, which are often lower than the theoretical maximum speed.

A network administrator is explaining to a client why their wireless network's performance is not matching the "maximum theoretical speed" listed on the router's box.

Which of the following is a primary reason for the discrepancy between theoretical and actual wireless network speeds?

Factors like signal interference, distance from the access point, physical obstructions, and the number of connected devices all reduce the actual throughput.

A technician is troubleshooting a weak Wi-Fi signal in a two-story house. The router is on the first floor, and a laptop on the second floor is experiencing slow speeds and frequent disconnections.

What is the most likely cause of the poor signal quality on the second floor?

Signal attenuation, which is caused by the signal having to pass through physical obstructions like walls, floors, and furniture.

A user reports that their wireless internet connection is very fast when they are in the same room as the access point, but the speed drops significantly as they move to a different room.

What physical phenomenon is the user experiencing?

Attenuation, which is the natural weakening of a wireless signal as it travels through space and encounters obstructions.

A network administrator is tasked with upgrading a company's wireless network from an older 802.11g standard to a newer, more efficient standard.

Which of the following is a key reason for the upgrade?

Newer standards offer significantly higher data transfer rates and better performance in crowded environments.

A user has a new smartphone that supports the 802.11ax standard, but their home router is an older model that only supports 802.11g. The user finds that their smartphone's Wi-Fi speed is much slower than expected.

What is the most likely reason for this?

The network will operate at the speed of the oldest standard supported by both the router and the client, which in this case is the slower 802.11g.

A technician is configuring a wireless network for a customer who lives in a dense apartment building. The customer reports that their current wireless speeds are slow and unreliable.

Which of the following is the most effective action the technician can take to improve the customer's network performance?

Configure the router to use the 5 GHz band, which is less crowded and provides higher speeds, at the cost of a shorter range.

A user has a wireless router that operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The user is unsure which one to connect their device to.

What is a key trade-off between these two bands that the user should be aware of?

The 2.4 GHz band provides better range and signal penetration but is slower and more prone to interference; the 5 GHz band is faster but has a shorter range.

A technician is troubleshooting a slow wireless connection in a crowded apartment building. The technician notices that the user's router is set to use the 2.4 GHz band, and a Wi-Fi analyzer shows that all of the neighboring wireless networks are also operating on this band.

What is the most likely cause of the slow connection?

The high number of wireless networks operating on the 2.4 GHz band is causing channel congestion and signal interference.

A user wants to set up a wireless network in their large, multi-story house. They are more concerned with ensuring their signal reaches all parts of the house than with achieving the fastest possible speeds.

Which frequency band should the user configure their router to use?

The 2.4 GHz band, as its lower frequency waves can travel farther and penetrate solid objects like walls and floors more effectively.

A user reports that their wireless network is experiencing frequent lag spikes and disconnections while streaming video. The technician advises them to connect their streaming device to the 5 GHz band of their dual-band router.

What is the primary benefit of making this change?

The 5 GHz band is less susceptible to interference and congestion from other wireless devices, such as microwaves and Bluetooth devices, providing a more stable connection.

A technician is configuring a wireless network for a user who needs a fast and reliable connection for online gaming. The technician recommends using the 5 GHz frequency band.

What is the main reason for this recommendation?

The 5 GHz band offers higher data transfer speeds and more available channels, reducing congestion and latency.

A company is upgrading its wireless network to support the newest devices and provide a significant increase in bandwidth and efficiency. A technician installs a new access point that supports the 802.11ax standard in the 6 GHz band.

What is the main advantage of using the 6 GHz band for this upgrade?

It provides a brand-new, uncongested spectrum with a large number of non-overlapping channels, enabling higher speeds and lower latency.

A user purchases a new "Wi-Fi 6E" router and a compatible laptop. The user notices that their laptop can connect to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands but not the 6 GHz band.

What is the most likely reason for this connection failure?

The user's laptop is an older model that does not have a Wi-Fi radio that is compatible with the 6 GHz frequency.