CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question

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 5 GHz band offers more non-overlapping channels than the 2.4 GHz band.

  Why this is correct

  In the 2.4 GHz ISM band, channels are spaced 5 MHz apart and use 20/40 MHz widths, yielding only three non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11) in most regulatory domains. The 5 GHz U-NII band provides far more available 20 MHz channels — e.g., 24 in the FCC region — enabling channel reuse planning without co-channel interference. This is a key reason 5 GHz offers higher aggregate capacity.

• ✓

  The 2.4 GHz band generally provides longer range than 5 GHz for the same transmit power.

  Why this is correct

  Because radio frequency path loss increases with frequency, a higher-frequency 5 GHz signal suffers greater attenuation than 2.4 GHz over the same distance and through walls, foliage, and other obstacles. Therefore, for an equal transmit power and antenna gain, a 2.4 GHz deployment will cover a larger coverage area with acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. That's why 2.4 GHz is often used for broader coverage, while 5 GHz is preferred for capacity.

• ✓

  Both bands can be used simultaneously by dual-band access points.

  Why this is correct

  Dual-band access points contain two independent radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) that operate concurrently without interfering with each other, each with its own MAC, PHY, and antenna interfaces. This allows an AP to deliver legacy 802.11b/g/n clients on 2.4 GHz while simultaneously servicing faster 802.11ac/ax clients on 5 GHz. The radios are coordinated only for channel selection and power, not for transmission scheduling, enabling simultaneous operation.

• ✗

  The 2.4 GHz band supports higher data rates than the 5 GHz band.

  Why it's wrong here

  Data rates depend on modulation, coding rate, channel width, and spatial streams, not solely on frequency. The 5 GHz band permits wider channels (up to 160 MHz in 802.11ac/ax) and higher modulation schemes like 256-QAM and 1024-QAM, enabling per-stream rates of 866 Mbps or more. The 2.4 GHz band is limited to 20/40 MHz channels and legacy support, capping 802.11n at 150 Mbps per stream. Hence, the 5 GHz band supports higher, not lower, data rates.

• ✗

  The 5 GHz band experiences more interference from Bluetooth devices.

  Why it's wrong here

  Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band using frequency-hopping spread spectrum, so its transmissions collide with and degrade Wi-Fi links on 2.4 GHz. Because 5 GHz occupies the U-NII bands well above 5 GHz, Bluetooth signals do not appear there, so 5 GHz actually suffers less interference from Bluetooth devices. It is the 2.4 GHz band that experiences more Bluetooth interference, making this statement false.

• ✗

  Both bands require a license for operation in enterprise environments.

  Why it's wrong here

  Both the 2.4 GHz ISM band and the 5 GHz U-NII bands in most countries including the United States are license-free, meaning users do not need an individual license to operate Wi-Fi, as long as they conform to regulatory limits on transmit power, out-of-band emissions, and DFS in certain 5 GHz sub-bands. While regulatory authorities enforce technical standards, no enterprise license is required for standard WLANs. This is a fundamental principle of the Wi-Fi use of unlicensed spectrum.

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