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220-1201 Practice Question: A customer reports that their laptop frequently…
A customer reports that their laptop frequently disconnects from the Wi-Fi in their home office, but works fine in other rooms. The office is located in a detached garage, and the wireless router is in the main house. Which wireless networking technology would best solve this issue without running cables?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CompTIA A+ exam often tests the misconception that upgrading to a newer standard (like 802.11ac) or switching to 5 GHz alone will fix range issues, when in fact these technologies are more susceptible to attenuation and require a strong signal to deliver their benefits.
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
✓
Wireless mesh network
A wireless mesh network is the best solution because it extends Wi-Fi coverage to the detached garage without running cables. Mesh nodes communicate wirelessly with each other, creating a seamless network that overcomes the range and obstruction issues caused by the distance and building materials between the main house and garage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
5 GHz frequency band
Why it's wrong here
5 GHz attenuates faster through exterior walls than 2.4 GHz, so moving the laptop to that band worsens the detached-garage disconnects rather than fixing them. It is tempting because 5 GHz is less congested and faster at short range, making it the correct pick when interference, not distance or wall penetration, causes the dropouts.
- ✓
Wireless mesh network
Why this is correct
A wireless mesh network uses multiple access points that relay traffic between each other wirelessly, extending coverage into the detached garage without cabling. The nodes backhaul over Wi-Fi, so the laptop maintains a stable connection rather than dropping when the router's signal weakens across the distance.
- ✗
Powerline networking adapters
Why it's wrong here
Powerline adapters carry Ethernet over the home's existing electrical wiring, so they only help where both outlets share a circuit and the garage is on the same distribution board; a detached garage often sits on a separate circuit, and the adapters provide no Wi-Fi themselves. They are tempting because they avoid new cabling, but a wireless bridge or mesh node with a directional link actually extends Wi-Fi coverage.
- ✗
802.11ac standard
Why it's wrong here
802.11ac governs throughput and modulation on 5 GHz, not range through a detached garage's exterior wall; the laptop already associates, so the standard is not the limiting factor. It is tempting because 802.11ac is the current mainstream Wi-Fi generation, and it would be the right answer when the requirement is higher throughput at close range.
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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.