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CCNA Practice Question: A network administrator is troubleshooting a…

This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of 200-301 exam topics. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

Exhibit

WLC# show ap radio summary

AP Name          Slot  Radio  Channel  Power  Clients  Channel Util  Noise  Interference
AP-1             0     802.11b  1       17     12       15%           -95    10%
AP-1             1     802.11a  36      15     8        85%           -87    70%
AP-2             0     802.11b  6       17     10       12%           -94    8%
AP-2             1     802.11a  36      15     9        82%           -88    68%
AP-3             0     802.11b  11      17     14       14%           -96    9%
AP-3             1     802.11a  40      15     7        30%           -90    15%
AP-4             0     802.11b  1       17     11       13%           -95    10%
AP-4             1     802.11a  36      15     8        80%           -87    72%

A network administrator is troubleshooting a wireless connectivity issue in a large office. Users on the 5 GHz band report intermittent disconnections and slow performance, while 2.4 GHz clients are unaffected. The office uses a Cisco 9800 WLC with APs that support 802.11ac Wave 2. The administrator checks the WLC's RF profile and notices a high number of channel utilization reports on channel 36. What is the most likely cause of the problem?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

Change some APs to use channels 40, 44, or 48 to reduce co-channel interference.

The exhibit shows that AP-1, AP-2, and AP-4 are all using channel 36 on the 5 GHz radio, with very high channel utilization (80-85%) and interference (68-72%). This indicates co-channel interference (CCI) because multiple APs are overlapping on the same channel, causing contention and degrading performance. The correct solution is to change some APs to non-overlapping channels (e.g., 40, 44, 48) to reduce CCI. Option B correctly identifies this. Option A is incorrect because DFS channels are not involved. Option C is wrong because 802.11ac uses 80 MHz channels, but the problem is not channel width but channel reuse. Option D is incorrect because the issue is on 5 GHz, not 2.4 GHz.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✗

    Enable DFS channels to avoid radar interference.

    Why it's wrong here

    DFS channels are used to avoid radar, but the exhibit shows no radar events and the problem is co-channel interference, not DFS avoidance.

  • ✓

    Change some APs to use channels 40, 44, or 48 to reduce co-channel interference.

    Why this is correct

    Co-channel interference occurs when multiple APs use the same frequency channel, causing contention. Changing some APs to non-overlapping channels reduces this.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    Increase the channel width to 160 MHz to improve throughput.

    Why it's wrong here

    Wider channels increase throughput but also increase interference and are more susceptible to CCI; the problem is channel reuse, not width.

  • ✗

    Disable the 2.4 GHz radios to force all clients to 5 GHz.

    Why it's wrong here

    The 2.4 GHz band is not the issue; disabling it would remove a working band and not solve the 5 GHz CCI.

Option-by-option analysis

Why each answer is right or wrong

Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.

✓Change some APs to use channels 40, 44, or 48 to reduce co-channel interference.Correct answer▾

Why this is correct

Co-channel interference occurs when multiple APs use the same frequency channel, causing contention. Changing some APs to non-overlapping channels reduces this.

✗Enable DFS channels to avoid radar interference.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

DFS is not relevant here; the high utilization is due to multiple APs on the same channel.

✗Increase the channel width to 160 MHz to improve throughput.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

Wider channels would worsen the interference, not fix it.

✗Disable the 2.4 GHz radios to force all clients to 5 GHz.Wrong answer — click to see why▾

Why this is wrong here

The problem is specific to 5 GHz channel 36; disabling 2.4 GHz does not address the root cause.

Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Trap categories for this question

  • Command / output trap

    DFS channels are used to avoid radar, but the exhibit shows no radar events and the problem is co-channel interference, not DFS avoidance.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
  • Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

  • Underline the problem statement mentally.
  • 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.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 200-301 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Change some APs to use channels 40, 44, or 48 to reduce co-channel interference. — The exhibit shows that AP-1, AP-2, and AP-4 are all using channel 36 on the 5 GHz radio, with very high channel utilization (80-85%) and interference (68-72%). This indicates co-channel interference (CCI) because multiple APs are overlapping on the same channel, causing contention and degrading performance. The correct solution is to change some APs to non-overlapping channels (e.g., 40, 44, 48) to reduce CCI. Option B correctly identifies this. Option A is incorrect because DFS channels are not involved. Option C is wrong because 802.11ac uses 80 MHz channels, but the problem is not channel width but channel reuse. Option D is incorrect because the issue is on 5 GHz, not 2.4 GHz.

What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?

Identify which 200-301 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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