The answer is weak signal strength or physical distance from the access point. The 4-way handshake is the process where a WPA2-PSK client and the access point exchange keys to authenticate and establish encryption; if the signal drops or becomes too weak during this exchange, the handshake times out, forcing the laptop to disconnect and attempt reconnection. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to differentiate between signal issues and configuration errors—a common trap is to blame the encryption type or a driver problem, but the specific “handshake timeout” error in the router logs points directly to physical layer problems like distance or interference. Remember the memory tip: “Timeout means too far out”—if the handshake fails, check the signal first, not the settings.
220-1202 Wireless Security Protocols Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of wireless security protocols. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A customer reports that their laptop frequently disconnects from the office Wi-Fi and reconnects after a few seconds. The network uses WPA2-PSK with AES encryption. The technician checks the router logs and sees repeated '4-way handshake timeout' errors. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop is too far from the access point, causing intermittent signal loss.
The 4-way handshake timeout errors indicate that the laptop cannot complete the WPA2 authentication process, often due to signal interference or weak signal strength. While other options could cause connectivity issues, the specific handshake timeout points to a problem with the wireless signal or authentication process.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 is using an outdated WEP encryption protocol.
Why it's wrong here
WEP is not used with WPA2-PSK, so this is incorrect.
✗
The router's DHCP lease time is set too short.
Why it's wrong here
DHCP lease time affects IP address assignment, not the 4-way handshake.
✓
The laptop is too far from the access point, causing intermittent signal loss.
Why this is correct
Weak signal can cause the 4-way handshake to time out, leading to disconnections.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The router is configured for WPA2-Enterprise instead of WPA2-PSK.
Why it's wrong here
WPA2-Enterprise would require a RADIUS server, but the logs show PSK handshake errors, not authentication server issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
WPA2-Enterprise would require a RADIUS server, but the logs show PSK handshake errors, not authentication server issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Wireless Security Protocols — This question tests Wireless Security Protocols — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The laptop is too far from the access point, causing intermittent signal loss. — The 4-way handshake timeout errors indicate that the laptop cannot complete the WPA2 authentication process, often due to signal interference or weak signal strength. While other options could cause connectivity issues, the specific handshake timeout points to a problem with the wireless signal or authentication process.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user reports that their laptop frequently disconnects from the office Wi-Fi and reconnects after a few seconds. The network uses WPA2-Enterprise with PEAP-MSCHAPv2. Other users do not experience this issue. What is the most likely cause?
medium
A.The laptop's wireless driver is outdated.
✓ B.The RADIUS server is rejecting the laptop's certificate intermittently.
C.The office Wi-Fi channel is congested.
D.The laptop's power saving mode is turning off the Wi-Fi adapter.
Why B: PEAP-MSCHAPv2 is prone to authentication timeouts if the RADIUS server is slow or if the client's certificate validation fails. This can cause periodic disconnects. The issue is specific to the client's configuration or certificate trust.
Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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