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220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their laptop frequently…
A user complains that their laptop frequently disconnects from the Wi-Fi when they move to the conference room, which is 50 feet from the access point through two walls. The network uses 5 GHz. What is the MOST likely cause of the disconnects?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is to assume that 5 GHz is always superior because it is faster, without recognizing its trade-off in range and penetration through physical obstacles.
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
✓
5 GHz signals have poor penetration through walls.
The 5 GHz band offers higher data rates and less interference than 2.4 GHz, but it has significantly poorer wall penetration due to its shorter wavelength. At 50 feet through two walls, the signal attenuation is severe enough to cause frequent disconnects, especially if the walls contain dense materials like concrete or metal studs.
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 overloaded with too many clients.
Why it's wrong here
Overloading would cause slow speeds for all clients, not just disconnects at a specific location.
- ✗
The laptop's power management settings are turning off the Wi-Fi adapter.
Why it's wrong here
Power management could cause disconnects, but it would likely happen randomly, not consistently when moving to a specific room.
- ✓
5 GHz signals have poor penetration through walls.
Why this is correct
5 GHz is more susceptible to attenuation from obstacles, so moving through two walls can cause signal loss and disconnects.
- ✗
The conference room has a metal door that blocks the signal.
Why it's wrong here
A metal door could block signals, but the scenario mentions two walls, not a door, and this is less likely than general attenuation.
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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.