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220-1201 Practice Question: A small office experiences intermittent Wi-Fi…
A small office experiences intermittent Wi-Fi drops on laptops but not on desktops connected via Ethernet. The wireless network uses 2.4 GHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common pitfall in CompTIA A+ is to attribute intermittent wireless drops to driver or configuration issues, but the key clue is that only wireless clients are affected while wired desktops work fine. This points to RF interference, such as from a microwave oven operating in the 2.4 GHz band.
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
✓
A microwave oven is operating near the access point.
Microwave ovens operate at approximately 2.45 GHz, which falls within the 2.4 GHz ISM band used by Wi-Fi. When a microwave is running near an access point, it generates strong electromagnetic interference that can cause intermittent signal degradation or drops, affecting wireless clients like laptops but not wired desktops.
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 access point is overheating.
Why it's wrong here
Overheating would likely affect all devices, not just wireless laptops, and is less common than interference.
- ✓
A microwave oven is operating near the access point.
Why this is correct
Microwave ovens operate at 2.4 GHz and can cause significant interference, leading to intermittent drops on Wi-Fi but not on wired connections.
- ✗
The laptops have outdated Bluetooth drivers.
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth also uses 2.4 GHz but driver issues would not cause intermittent drops across multiple laptops consistently.
- ✗
The Ethernet switch is failing.
Why it's wrong here
A failing switch would affect all devices, including desktops, and is unrelated to wireless-only issues.
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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.