Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Current 2.4 GHz plan: AP1 channel 1 AP2 channel 2 AP3 channel 3
Exhibit: Users complain of slow wireless performance in a dense office even though signal strength is strong. Multiple APs are using channels 1, 2, and 3 on 2.4 GHz. Which change is most appropriate?
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
Distractor review
Reduce all AP transmit power to zero
That would eliminate service rather than solve the channel plan.
B
Best answer
Move to non-overlapping channels such as 1, 6, and 11
That is the standard corrective action on 2.4 GHz.
C
Distractor review
Change every AP to the same channel for consistency
That increases contention.
D
Distractor review
Disable WPA2 security
Security is not the root of the RF overlap issue.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting options that seem to simplify the problem but actually worsen wireless performance. For example, reducing all AP transmit power to zero effectively turns off the wireless service, which is not a solution. Another tempting mistake is configuring all APs to the same channel for consistency, but this increases contention and collisions, degrading throughput. Disabling WPA2 security might seem like a quick fix but does not address RF interference and compromises network security. The key trap is misunderstanding how channel overlap and interference affect wireless performance in dense environments.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
In wireless networking, especially on the 2.4 GHz band, channels overlap significantly because each channel is 22 MHz wide but spaced only 5 MHz apart. This overlap causes co-channel and adjacent-channel interference when multiple access points (APs) operate on nearby channels, leading to degraded throughput and increased latency. Cisco CCNA 200-301 emphasizes understanding how channel overlap impacts wireless performance and the importance of selecting non-overlapping channels to reduce interference. The standard practice for 2.4 GHz wireless networks is to use only the three non-overlapping channels: 1, 6, and 11. These channels are spaced far enough apart to avoid overlap and minimize interference. When APs are assigned to overlapping channels like 1, 2, and 3, their signals interfere, causing retransmissions and contention. Cisco recommends planning channel assignments carefully in dense deployments to ensure each AP uses one of the non-overlapping channels, improving overall network efficiency and user experience. A common exam trap is to assume that reducing transmit power or unifying all APs on the same channel will solve performance issues. However, reducing power to zero disables the AP, and using the same channel increases contention and collisions. Disabling security protocols like WPA2 is unrelated to RF interference and compromises network integrity. Understanding the physical layer behavior of wireless channels and applying proper channel planning is essential for Cisco exam success and real-world network optimization.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Wireless access points operating on overlapping 2.4 GHz channels cause co-channel and adjacent-channel interference, degrading network performance.
- The 2.4 GHz band has only three non-overlapping channels: 1, 6, and 11, which minimize interference when properly assigned.
- Assigning multiple APs to overlapping channels such as 1, 2, and 3 increases contention and reduces throughput in dense wireless environments.
- Reducing transmit power to zero disables wireless service and does not solve channel interference or improve network performance.
- Using the same channel for all APs increases contention and collisions, worsening wireless performance in dense deployments.
- Disabling WPA2 security does not address RF interference or channel overlap issues and compromises network security.
- Proper channel planning on 2.4 GHz is critical in dense office environments to ensure optimal wireless performance and minimal interference.
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.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Wireless access points operating on overlapping 2.4 GHz channels cause co-channel and adjacent-channel interference, degrading network performance.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Move to non-overlapping channels such as 1, 6, and 11 — In 2.4 GHz, overlapping channels cause co-channel and adjacent-channel interference. The common non-overlapping choices are 1, 6, and 11. Moving away from overlapping channels usually improves performance in a dense deployment.
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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