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Question 1,243 of 1,052
hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
CCNA Practice Question: Is troubleshooting a wireless performance issue…
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
AP Name : AP9130-01 MAC Address : aabb.cc00.0100 Admin State : ENABLED Operational State : UP Channel Width : 80 MHz Channel : 36 DFS Status : DFS-NON-COMPLIANT Primary Channel : 36 Secondary Channel : 40 Radio Band : 5 GHz Client Count : 25 Utilization : 75% Interference : HIGH Power Level : 1 (Maximum) Antenna Type : Internal Antenna Gain : 4 dBi 802.11 Protocol : 802.11ac Beacon Interval : 100 TU DTIM Period : 2 Supported Data Rates : 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54 Mbps MCS Rates : 0-9 (HT), 0-9 (VHT) QoS Parameters : WMM Enabled Security : WPA2-PSK Rogue Detection : Enabled
A network engineer is troubleshooting a wireless performance issue in a dense office environment. Clients on the 5 GHz band are experiencing low throughput even though they are close to the AP. The AP is a Cisco 9130AXI running IOS-XE 17.9. The engineer runs a 'show ap dot11 5ghz summary' command. Based on the output, what is the most likely cause of the poor performance?
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.
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
✓
The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode instead of 802.11ax, and the 80 MHz channel bonding is causing high interference in the dense environment.
The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode, which supports channel bonding up to 80 MHz (or 160 MHz with certain configurations). However, the output shows 'DFS Status: DFS-NON-COMPLIANT' and 'Interference: HIGH'. The AP is using channel 36 with a secondary channel 40, but DFS non-compliance indicates that the AP is not properly adhering to DFS rules, which can cause it to avoid certain channels or reduce power. More critically, the high interference on the 80 MHz channel suggests that the channel bonding is causing co-channel interference, especially in a dense environment with many clients. The poor throughput is likely due to the AP using 802.11ac with 80 MHz channel bonding in a high-interference environment, whereas 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) with OFDMA and better interference mitigation would perform better. The correct answer is that the AP is using 802.11ac instead of 802.11ax, and the channel bonding is exacerbating interference.
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.
- ✗
The AP is using an incorrect channel width of 80 MHz, which is not supported by 802.11ac.
Why it's wrong here
802.11ac does support 80 MHz channel bonding (and up to 160 MHz), so this is not the issue.
- ✓
The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode instead of 802.11ax, and the 80 MHz channel bonding is causing high interference in the dense environment.
Why this is correct
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) uses OFDMA to reduce interference and improve efficiency in dense environments. The AP is using 802.11ac with 80 MHz channel bonding, which is more prone to interference, leading to poor throughput.
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.
- ✗
The AP has DFS non-compliance, which prevents it from using channel 36 and causes the radio to operate at reduced power.
Why it's wrong here
DFS non-compliance means the AP is not properly detecting radar, but it does not necessarily reduce power; it may cause the AP to avoid certain channels. The power level is set to maximum (1), so power reduction is not the issue.
- ✗
The AP is using WPA2-PSK instead of WPA3, which causes lower throughput due to weaker encryption.
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.
✓The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode instead of 802.11ax, and the 80 MHz channel bonding is causing high interference in the dense environment.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) uses OFDMA to reduce interference and improve efficiency in dense environments. The AP is using 802.11ac with 80 MHz channel bonding, which is more prone to interference, leading to poor throughput.
✗The AP is using an incorrect channel width of 80 MHz, which is not supported by 802.11ac.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
802.11ac supports 80 MHz channel bonding, so this is not incorrect.
✗The AP has DFS non-compliance, which prevents it from using channel 36 and causes the radio to operate at reduced power.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
DFS non-compliance does not directly reduce power; it may cause channel avoidance, but the power is set to maximum.
✗The AP is using WPA2-PSK instead of WPA3, which causes lower throughput due to weaker encryption.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
WPA2-PSK does not cause throughput degradation; the issue is interference and protocol mode.
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.
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: The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode instead of 802.11ax, and the 80 MHz channel bonding is causing high interference in the dense environment. — The AP is operating in 802.11ac mode, which supports channel bonding up to 80 MHz (or 160 MHz with certain configurations). However, the output shows 'DFS Status: DFS-NON-COMPLIANT' and 'Interference: HIGH'. The AP is using channel 36 with a secondary channel 40, but DFS non-compliance indicates that the AP is not properly adhering to DFS rules, which can cause it to avoid certain channels or reduce power. More critically, the high interference on the 80 MHz channel suggests that the channel bonding is causing co-channel interference, especially in a dense environment with many clients. The poor throughput is likely due to the AP using 802.11ac with 80 MHz channel bonding in a high-interference environment, whereas 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) with OFDMA and better interference mitigation would perform better. The correct answer is that the AP is using 802.11ac instead of 802.11ax, and the channel bonding is exacerbating interference.
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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