Drag and drop the wireless terms on the left to the correct descriptions on the right.
Options: A: SSID: The network name broadcast by an access point to identify the wireless network. B: BSSID: The MAC address of the access point's radio interface, used to uniquely identify a BSS. C: RSSI: A measurement of the power level of the received radio signal, indicating signal strength. D: DFS: A mechanism that allows wireless devices to avoid interference with radar systems by dynamically selecting channels.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Uses only the 5 GHz band and supports up to 160 MHz channel bonding
Introduces OFDMA and supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands
Uses Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) for secure pre-shared key authentication
A single AP and its associated clients, identified by a BSSID
Centralized management device that handles AP configuration, roaming, and security policies
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is confusing BSSID with SSID—BSSID is the MAC address, not the network name. Another trap is thinking RSSI is a percentage, but it is a relative measurement of signal power, often represented as a negative dBm value.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSID: The network name broadcast by an access point to identify the wireless network.
SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the network name broadcast by an access point to identify the wireless network, allowing clients to distinguish between different networks. BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) is the MAC address of the AP's radio interface, uniquely identifying a specific BSS. RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) measures the power level of the received radio signal, indicating signal strength. DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) is a mechanism that allows wireless devices to avoid interference with radar systems by dynamically selecting channels. Each term correctly matches the provided description.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SSID: The network name broadcast by an access point to identify the wireless network.
Why this is correct
The Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the human-readable network name broadcast by an access point in beacon frames and probe responses, allowing clients to identify a WLAN. It is a 0–32 byte string that is not unique, as multiple access points can share the same SSID to create a seamless roaming environment. Unlike the BSSID, the SSID is not used in the 802.11 frame addressing scheme; it only serves as a logical identifier for network selection.
BSSID: The MAC address of the access point's radio interface, used to uniquely identify a BSS.
Why this is correct
The Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) is the MAC address of the access point's radio interface, uniquely identifying a Basic Service Set. In infrastructure mode, each radio within an AP has its own BSSID, and when multiple virtual APs (SSIDs) are configured, they are differentiated by locally administered MAC addresses that may end in a specific OUI pattern. The BSSID is used as the source address in beacon frames and as the destination address for client frames sent to the AP.
RSSI: A measurement of the power level of the received radio signal, indicating signal strength.
Why this is correct
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is an arbitrary integer value that represents the power level of a received radio signal, often mapped to dBm on Cisco equipment. It is measured at the receiver's antenna and is a key factor in determining signal coverage, but it does not directly indicate data rate or signal-to-noise ratio. Because RSSI is vendor-specific, the reported values are useful mainly for relative comparisons rather than absolute performance guarantees.
DFS: A mechanism that allows wireless devices to avoid interference with radar systems by dynamically selecting channels.
Why this is correct
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is a regulatory mechanism, especially in the 5 GHz band, that requires wireless devices to detect the presence of radar signals and automatically switch to a different channel. This is mandated by bodies such as the FCC and ETSI to prevent Wi-Fi from interfering with military and meteorological radar systems. After radar is detected, the access point must vacate the channel for a specified time (often 30 seconds) and choose another channel, causing a short service interruption.
Quick reference
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
AP
An AP (Access Point) bridges wireless clients to a wired network, acting as a central transceiver and controller for Wi-Fi communications.
Key term
BSSID
A BSSID is the MAC address of an access point's radio interface, uniquely identifying a wireless cell in a WLAN.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.