CCNA Switching and Network Access Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
Avoid assuming that increasing power or adding more APs will solve interference issues without considering channel overlap.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reduce all AP transmit power to zero
Why it's wrong here
Reducing transmit power to zero effectively disables the AP radios, removing all RF coverage and preventing clients from associating, so the wireless network becomes completely unavailable rather than faster. Moreover, even if power were merely lowered, that alone would not resolve overlapping channel usage; a channel plan with properly spaced frequencies and adjusted power is required to mitigate interference.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where an exam question asks about troubleshooting a wireless network that is experiencing interference and requires a drastic reduction in signal strength to mitigate overlapping signals, setting AP transmit power to zero could be a valid solution to eliminate interference.
- ✓
Move to non-overlapping channels such as 1, 6, and 11
Why this is correct
In the 2.4 GHz ISM band, adjacent channel interference is unavoidable if channels are spaced closer than 25 MHz, so planning APs on the three non-overlapping channels 1, 6, and 11 ensures that overlapping coverage cells do not transmit on the same or partially overlapping frequencies. This eliminates co-channel and adjacent-channel contention, allowing the CSMA/CA medium access protocol to work efficiently and restoring throughput for users.
- ✗
Change every AP to the same channel for consistency
Why it's wrong here
Setting every AP to the same channel makes all access points share a single medium, causing every device in the coverage area to contend with every other via CSMA/CA, which dramatically increases collisions, backoff delays, and retransmissions as cell sizes overlap. Consistent configurations should apply to SSID and security settings, but channel reuse must distribute the limited non-overlapping frequencies to neighboring APs so that adjacent cells operate on orthogonal channels to avoid contention.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a question asks about simplifying network management in a small, isolated environment with minimal interference, setting all APs to the same channel could be beneficial. This would ensure consistent performance and easier troubleshooting in a low-density setting.
- ✗
Disable WPA2 security
Why it's wrong here
Disabling WPA2 removes authentication and encryption but leaves the channel assignments unchanged, so the RF overlap and contention between APs still degrade throughput exactly as before. This action also exposes all client traffic to eavesdropping and hijacking, which violates network security best practices and is completely unrelated to the physical-layer channel planning problem causing the slowness.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question focuses on a network that is experiencing connectivity issues due to excessive security protocols, disabling WPA2 could be a correct answer. For example, if the question states that users are unable to connect to the network due to WPA2 misconfigurations, then disabling it temporarily for troubleshooting could be appropriate.
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.
✓Move to non-overlapping channels such as 1, 6, and 11Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
In the 2.4 GHz ISM band, adjacent channel interference is unavoidable if channels are spaced closer than 25 MHz, so planning APs on the three non-overlapping channels 1, 6, and 11 ensures that overlapping coverage cells do not transmit on the same or partially overlapping frequencies. This eliminates co-channel and adjacent-channel contention, allowing the CSMA/CA medium access protocol to work efficiently and restoring throughput for users.
✗Reduce all AP transmit power to zeroWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Reducing all AP transmit power to zero would completely disable the wireless network, making it impossible for users to connect or experience any performance, which does not address the issue of slow performance in a dense office environment.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where an exam question asks about troubleshooting a wireless network that is experiencing interference and requires a drastic reduction in signal strength to mitigate overlapping signals, setting AP transmit power to zero could be a valid solution to eliminate interference.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe that reducing transmit power will alleviate congestion and improve performance in a dense environment, not recognizing that it would instead eliminate connectivity altogether.
✗Change every AP to the same channel for consistencyWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Changing every AP to the same channel would lead to co-channel interference, exacerbating the slow wireless performance issue rather than resolving it. In a dense office environment, this configuration would reduce overall throughput and increase contention among devices.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a question asks about simplifying network management in a small, isolated environment with minimal interference, setting all APs to the same channel could be beneficial. This would ensure consistent performance and easier troubleshooting in a low-density setting.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may be tempted by the idea that uniformity in channel assignment could simplify network management and reduce complexity, leading them to overlook the potential for increased interference in a dense environment.
✗Disable WPA2 securityWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Disabling WPA2 security would not address the issue of slow wireless performance in a dense office environment; instead, it would compromise network security and potentially allow unauthorized access, worsening the situation.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question focuses on a network that is experiencing connectivity issues due to excessive security protocols, disabling WPA2 could be a correct answer. For example, if the question states that users are unable to connect to the network due to WPA2 misconfigurations, then disabling it temporarily for troubleshooting could be appropriate.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose this option due to a misunderstanding of the relationship between security settings and performance, mistakenly believing that reducing security might improve connectivity in congested environments.
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?”
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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.