The answer is a transmit power mismatch creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3. This is the most likely cause of WLAN roaming problems because when the AP transmits at much higher power than the client, the client hears the AP strongly and stays associated too long, while the AP cannot reliably hear the weaker client signal at the cell edge. This imbalance leads to sticky-client behavior and disconnections during roaming, even though the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) appears strong. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of asymmetric coverage and its impact on client roaming, often appearing as a trap where strong downlink RSSI misleads you into thinking coverage is fine. A common memory tip is “loud AP, quiet client equals sticky client”—if the AP shouts but the client whispers, roaming breaks.
CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: a transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.. 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.
A controller-based WLAN uses 5 GHz in an open office. Clients keep disconnecting when users roam between APs, but signal strength remains strong. Based on the exhibit, what is the most likely problem?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3.
The APs are transmitting at much higher power than the clients, creating a coverage imbalance. Clients may hear the AP well enough to stay associated too long, while the AP cannot reliably hear the weaker client at the same cell edge. That leads to sticky-client and roaming issues even when RSSI looks strong.
Key principle: A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3.
Why this is correct
One AP is far louder than the rest, which often causes roaming instability.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
✗
The SSID must use 2.4 GHz only for roaming to work.
Why it's wrong here
Roaming works on 5 GHz and is usually preferred there.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where a question specifies that a WLAN is configured to only operate on the 2.4 GHz band and clients are experiencing roaming issues, then stating that the SSID must use 2.4 GHz only for roaming would be correct, as it would imply that the configuration limits roaming capabilities.
In a different question setup where the focus is on a legacy network using WEP or an outdated protocol that does not support roaming, stating that WPA2 cannot support roaming would be correct. For example, if the question specified a network using WEP and asked about roaming capabilities, this option could be valid.
✗
The WLAN needs a different DHCP scope on each AP.
Why it's wrong here
APs do not need separate DHCP scopes for client roaming.
When this WOULD be correct
In a different scenario where the question specifies that each AP is on a separate subnet and requires distinct DHCP scopes for clients to connect, this option would be correct. For example, if the question described a network with multiple VLANs and DHCP servers, then having different DHCP scopes would be necessary for proper client assignment.
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.
✓A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
One AP is far louder than the rest, which often causes roaming instability.
✗The SSID must use 2.4 GHz only for roaming to work.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Roaming works perfectly well on 5 GHz; in fact, 5 GHz is often preferred due to less interference and higher throughput. Forcing 2.4 GHz only would not solve roaming issues and could degrade performance.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where a question specifies that a WLAN is configured to only operate on the 2.4 GHz band and clients are experiencing roaming issues, then stating that the SSID must use 2.4 GHz only for roaming would be correct, as it would imply that the configuration limits roaming capabilities.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that 2.4 GHz has better range and thus might be better for roaming, but roaming is about handoff between APs, not range. The 5 GHz band supports roaming just as effectively.
✗WPA2 cannot support roaming between APs.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
WPA2 fully supports roaming between APs. Roaming issues are typically caused by configuration problems like power mismatch, not by the security protocol.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different question setup where the focus is on a legacy network using WEP or an outdated protocol that does not support roaming, stating that WPA2 cannot support roaming would be correct. For example, if the question specified a network using WEP and asked about roaming capabilities, this option could be valid.
Why candidates choose this
Some might confuse WPA2 with older security methods that had roaming limitations, or think that encryption keys need to be renegotiated causing delays, but WPA2 handles this efficiently.
✗The WLAN needs a different DHCP scope on each AP.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Clients obtain IP addresses from a DHCP server, not from individual APs. APs do not assign DHCP scopes; they forward DHCP requests. Separate DHCP scopes per AP are unnecessary and would not affect roaming.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a different scenario where the question specifies that each AP is on a separate subnet and requires distinct DHCP scopes for clients to connect, this option would be correct. For example, if the question described a network with multiple VLANs and DHCP servers, then having different DHCP scopes would be necessary for proper client assignment.
Why candidates choose this
Students might think that each AP needs its own subnet for clients to roam, but in a controller-based WLAN, clients typically stay on the same subnet across APs, and DHCP is handled centrally.
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
A common exam trap is assuming that roaming issues are caused by encryption protocols like WPA2 or by requiring 2.4 GHz operation only. Candidates may also mistakenly believe that DHCP scopes must be unique per AP to support roaming. These misconceptions distract from the real issue: transmit power mismatch causing asymmetric coverage. The APs transmitting at much higher power than clients cause sticky client problems, where clients do not roam properly despite strong signal strength. Understanding this subtle power imbalance is critical to avoid selecting incorrect answers related to encryption or DHCP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Transmit power mismatch in WLANs occurs when access points transmit at significantly higher power levels than client devices, especially in the 5 GHz band. This imbalance creates asymmetric coverage where the client can receive a strong signal from the AP, but the AP cannot reliably receive the weaker client transmissions. The result is a coverage area that appears strong from the client perspective but is effectively unreliable for two-way communication.
In controller-based WLANs, roaming decisions rely on clients detecting weaker signals and switching to a stronger AP. However, if the APs transmit at much higher power than clients, clients may not detect the need to roam because their received signal strength indicator (RSSI) remains high. This causes sticky client behavior, where clients stay connected to an AP despite better signal availability from neighboring APs. Proper transmit power calibration ensures balanced coverage and stable roaming.
Exam traps often arise from misunderstanding roaming dependencies. For example, some may incorrectly assume roaming only works on 2.4 GHz or that WPA2 encryption prevents roaming. In reality, WPA2 supports roaming, and 5 GHz is preferred for roaming due to less interference. The practical impact of transmit power mismatch is that clients disconnect or experience poor performance despite strong RSSI readings, highlighting the importance of symmetric transmit power settings in WLAN design and troubleshooting.
KKey Concepts to Remember
A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
Clients use signal strength (RSSI) to decide when to roam, but high AP power with low client power leads to sticky clients that delay roaming.
Roaming in WLANs depends on balanced transmit power to ensure both client and AP can communicate reliably at cell edges.
5 GHz frequency bands provide higher throughput and less interference but require careful power tuning to avoid coverage gaps or overlaps.
WPA2 supports seamless roaming and does not inherently cause disconnections during AP handoffs in controller-based WLANs.
DHCP scopes are centralized and shared in controller-based WLANs; separate DHCP scopes per AP are unnecessary for roaming.
Transmit power settings must be consistent across APs to prevent coverage holes or excessive overlap that disrupts client roaming.
Sticky client issues occur when clients remain associated to an AP despite better signal availability from neighboring APs due to power imbalance.
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.
Key takeaway
A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
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. A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review a transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A transmit power mismatch is creating asymmetric coverage around AP-3. — The APs are transmitting at much higher power than the clients, creating a coverage imbalance. Clients may hear the AP well enough to stay associated too long, while the AP cannot reliably hear the weaker client at the same cell edge. That leads to sticky-client and roaming issues even when RSSI looks strong.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review a transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients., then practise related 200-301 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
A transmit power mismatch between access points and clients creates asymmetric coverage, causing clients to hear APs well but APs to poorly hear clients.
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