easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A client reports that their new 802.11ac laptop…
A client reports that their new 802.11ac laptop cannot connect to the office Wi-Fi, while older 802.11n devices work fine. The access point is a dual-band model. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common trick in exams tests the understanding of 802.11ac's 5 GHz-only operation for its core features, even though 802.11ac *devices* are typically dual-band. The trap here is to consider why an 802.11ac device might fail to connect when 802.11n devices succeed, pointing to a 5 GHz specific issue like a disabled radio, rather than general connectivity problems.
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 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled.
The 802.11ac standard operates exclusively on the 5 GHz band. While most 802.11ac devices are dual-band and support 2.4 GHz (802.11n/g/b) for backward compatibility, a new 802.11ac laptop might be configured to prioritize or exclusively attempt to connect to the 5 GHz network, or the user might be specifically trying to connect to a 5 GHz SSID. If the access point's 5 GHz radio is disabled, the 802.11ac laptop would be unable to connect to its preferred 5 GHz network. Older 802.11n clients, which can operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, would still be able to connect using the 2.4 GHz radio (which must be active since they are working). This scenario makes the disabled 5 GHz radio the most likely cause for the 802.11ac laptop's inability to connect to the expected Wi-Fi service.
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 laptop's Wi-Fi antenna is damaged.
Why it's wrong here
If the laptop's Wi-Fi antenna were damaged, the device would likely be unable to detect or connect to *any* wireless network, regardless of the 802.11 standard (ac, n, g, b). Since the problem is specific to the 802.11ac laptop and implies other devices *can* connect, a general antenna failure on the laptop is not the most plausible cause. This issue points to a specific incompatibility or configuration problem rather than a complete hardware failure affecting all Wi-Fi functionality.
- ✓
The 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled.
Why this is correct
The 802.11ac standard exclusively operates on the 5 GHz frequency band. If the access point's 5 GHz radio is disabled, the 802.11ac laptop would be unable to detect or connect to the network using its native 802.11ac capabilities. However, older 802.11n devices, which commonly operate on the 2.4 GHz band (and sometimes 5 GHz), would still be able to connect if the 2.4 GHz radio remains active, explaining why other devices work. This scenario perfectly aligns with the problem description.
- ✗
The laptop's drivers are not compatible with 802.11n.
Why it's wrong here
An 802.11ac-capable laptop's wireless adapter drivers are inherently designed to support backward compatibility with previous Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b. Therefore, a driver incompatibility specifically preventing connection to an 802.11n network, while still being an 802.11ac device, is highly improbable. The issue described is that the *new 802.11ac laptop* cannot connect, implying it should be able to utilize its advanced capabilities or fall back to older ones.
- ✗
The access point is set to 802.11b-only mode.
Why it's wrong here
If the access point were configured for 802.11b-only mode, it would exclusively broadcast on the 2.4 GHz band using the 802.11b protocol. This setting would prevent *all* newer devices, including both 802.11ac and 802.11n laptops, from connecting, as they require at least 802.11g or 802.11n for optimal performance and often cannot connect to a pure 802.11b network. This contradicts the problem statement, which implies that other (likely 802.11n) devices *can* connect.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1201 exam.