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220-1201 Practice Question: A customer calls to say their new smart TV can…
A customer calls to say their new smart TV can see the 2.4 GHz network but not the 5 GHz network, even though the router is dual-band. The technician checks the router settings and confirms both bands are enabled and broadcasting. What is the most likely reason the TV cannot see the 5 GHz network?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap in this question is that candidates often overthink and look for advanced reasons like hidden SSIDs or DFS channels, when the most straightforward explanation is a hardware compatibility issue: the TV's wireless adapter simply does not support the 5 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
✓
The TV’s wireless adapter does not support 5 GHz
The most common reason a device sees only the 2.4 GHz band is that its wireless adapter lacks 5 GHz support. Many older or budget smart TVs ship with single-band 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi chipsets, so even though the router broadcasts both bands, the TV’s hardware cannot detect or connect to the 5 GHz network.
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 5 GHz SSID is hidden
Why it's wrong here
A hidden SSID merely suppresses the broadcast of its network name, preventing it from appearing in a standard list of available networks by its given identifier. However, the network itself is still actively transmitting and discoverable by devices performing a wireless scan. These devices typically display it as an 'Unnamed Network' or 'Hidden Network,' meaning the TV would still detect its presence, even if it couldn't immediately identify it by name, which contradicts the symptom of not seeing the network at all.
- ✓
The TV’s wireless adapter does not support 5 GHz
Why this is correct
A TV's wireless adapter is engineered to operate within specific frequency bands, either 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or both. If the smart TV is equipped solely with a 2.4 GHz wireless radio, it fundamentally lacks the necessary hardware components, such as the appropriate antenna and chipset, to tune into and process signals transmitted on the 5 GHz frequency band. Consequently, it would be physically incapable of detecting or connecting to any 5 GHz network, regardless of the router's configuration, perfectly explaining why it would not appear in the TV's network list.
- ✗
The 5 GHz channel is set to a DFS channel
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels are specific 5 GHz channels that share spectrum with radar systems, requiring Wi-Fi access points to monitor for radar signals before and during use. Upon detecting radar activity, the access point must temporarily cease transmission on that channel and switch to an alternative, non-DFS channel to avoid interference. While this process can introduce a brief service interruption or delay in network availability, the network remains discoverable and will eventually re-establish itself on an alternative channel, meaning the TV would not experience complete invisibility of the network.
- ✗
The router’s 5 GHz radio is faulty
Why it's wrong here
A malfunction in the router's 5 GHz radio would prevent *any* device from detecting or connecting to the 5 GHz network, as this component is solely responsible for transmitting and receiving signals on that band. If other 5 GHz-capable devices, such as smartphones or laptops, can successfully see and connect to the network, it confirms that the router's 5 GHz radio is operational and broadcasting correctly. Therefore, the problem being isolated specifically to the smart TV indicates a client-side compatibility or configuration issue rather than a router hardware failure.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a technology that lets devices like laptops and phones connect to the internet or communicate with each other wirelessly using radio waves.
Key term
Router
A router is a networking device that connects different networks together and directs data traffic between them by choosing the best path for data to travel.
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JA
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.