hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a new wireless network…
A technician is setting up a new wireless network in a crowded office building. Users report that their laptops frequently disconnect from the Wi-Fi and have slow speeds, even when close to the access point. The technician scans the area and sees many overlapping Wi-Fi networks. What is the best solution to improve performance?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the instinct to 'turn up the power' when users report weak or slow Wi-Fi — candidates pick Option A without recognizing that in a congested environment, more power increases interference rather than fixing it.
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
✓
Change the access point to a less congested channel.
In a crowded RF environment with many overlapping Wi-Fi networks, co-channel and adjacent-channel interference is the primary cause of disconnects and slow speeds even at close range. Moving the access point to a less congested channel — ideally a non-overlapping 1, 6, or 11 in the 2.4 GHz band, or a clear channel in 5 GHz — directly reduces interference and restores throughput. This addresses the root cause rather than the symptom.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the transmit power of the access point.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the transmit power of an access point amplifies its signal, potentially extending its range. However, this action does not address channel congestion; instead, it can exacerbate the problem by increasing the noise floor for neighboring networks and causing more co-channel or adjacent-channel interference. Stronger signals from a congested source will only make it harder for other devices and networks to communicate effectively, leading to worse performance.
- ✓
Change the access point to a less congested channel.
Why this is correct
Changing the access point to a less congested channel is a highly effective solution for improving wireless network performance in crowded environments. Wireless networks operate on specific frequency channels, and when multiple networks use the same or overlapping channels, they interfere with each other, causing reduced throughput and instability. By selecting a channel with minimal existing traffic or interference, the access point can transmit and receive data more efficiently, leading to improved connection stability and speed.
- ✗
Disable SSID broadcast to hide the network.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling SSID broadcast is a security measure intended to make a network less visible to casual users, not a method to reduce channel congestion. While it hides the network's name from standard client scans, the wireless signal continues to be transmitted on the same frequency channel, occupying the same airwaves. Therefore, it has no impact on mitigating interference from other networks or alleviating the amount of traffic already present on that specific channel.
- ✗
Replace the access point with a higher-gain antenna model.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing an access point with a higher-gain antenna model primarily serves to extend the physical range and directivity of the wireless signal. While this might improve signal strength for clients at a greater distance, it does not alter the operating channel or reduce the amount of data traffic on that channel. In fact, by projecting a stronger signal further, a higher-gain antenna could potentially increase interference with more distant networks, thereby worsening overall channel congestion rather than resolving it.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.