Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
AP-1 5 GHz power: 8 dBm AP-2 5 GHz power: 8 dBm AP-3 5 GHz power: 23 dBm AP-4 5 GHz power: 8 dBm Users report problems mainly near AP-3's area boundary.
A controller-based WLAN uses 5 GHz in an open office. Clients keep disconnecting when users roam between APs, but signal strength remains strong. Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely problem?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3.
One AP is far louder than the rest, which often causes roaming instability.
B
Distractor review
The SSID must use 2.4 GHz only for roaming to work.
Roaming works on 5 GHz and is usually preferred there.
C
Distractor review
WPA2 cannot support roaming between APs.
WPA2 supports roaming.
D
Distractor review
The WLAN needs a different DHCP scope on each AP.
APs do not need separate DHCP scopes for client roaming.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is assuming that roaming issues are caused by encryption protocols like WPA2 or by requiring 2.4 GHz operation only. Candidates may also mistakenly believe that DHCP scopes must be unique per AP to support roaming. These misconceptions distract from the real issue: transmit power mismatch causing asymmetric coverage. The APs transmitting at much higher power than clients cause sticky client problems, where clients do not roam properly despite strong signal strength. Understanding this subtle power imbalance is critical to avoid selecting incorrect answers related to encryption or DHCP.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Transmit power mismatch in WLANs occurs when access points transmit at significantly higher power levels than client devices, especially in the 5 GHz band. This imbalance creates asymmetric coverage where the client can receive a strong signal from the AP, but the AP cannot reliably receive the weaker client transmissions. The result is a coverage area that appears strong from the client perspective but is effectively unreliable for two-way communication. In controller-based WLANs, roaming decisions rely on clients detecting weaker signals and switching to a stronger AP. However, if the APs transmit at much higher power than clients, clients may not detect the need to roam because their received signal strength indicator (RSSI) remains high. This causes sticky client behavior, where clients stay connected to an AP despite better signal availability from neighboring APs. Proper transmit power calibration ensures balanced coverage and stable roaming. Exam traps often arise from misunderstanding roaming dependencies. For example, some may incorrectly assume roaming only works on 2.4 GHz or that WPA2 encryption prevents roaming. In reality, WPA2 supports roaming, and 5 GHz is preferred for roaming due to less interference. The practical impact of transmit power mismatch is that clients disconnect or experience poor performance despite strong RSSI readings, highlighting the importance of symmetric transmit power settings in WLAN design and troubleshooting.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
- Clients use signal strength (RSSI) to decide when to roam, but high AP power with low client power leads to sticky clients that delay roaming.
- Roaming in WLANs depends on balanced transmit power to ensure both client and AP can communicate reliably at cell edges.
- 5 GHz frequency bands provide higher throughput and less interference but require careful power tuning to avoid coverage gaps or overlaps.
- WPA2 supports seamless roaming and does not inherently cause disconnections during AP handoffs in controller-based WLANs.
- DHCP scopes are centralized and shared in controller-based WLANs; separate DHCP scopes per AP are unnecessary for roaming.
- Transmit power settings must be consistent across APs to prevent coverage holes or excessive overlap that disrupts client roaming.
- Sticky client issues occur when clients remain associated to an AP despite better signal availability from neighboring APs due to power imbalance.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 2
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Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
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Question 5
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Question 6
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3. — The APs are transmitting at much higher power than the clients, creating a coverage imbalance. Clients may hear the AP well enough to stay associated too long, while the AP cannot reliably hear the weaker client at the same cell edge. That leads to sticky-client and roaming issues even when RSSI looks strong.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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