Question 149 of 1,020

Mobile Device Network Connectivity →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the smartphone is too far from the office access point for 5 GHz Wi-Fi. This is correct because the 5 GHz band offers faster speeds but has a significantly shorter range and is more easily attenuated by walls, doors, and other physical obstacles compared to the 2.4 GHz band. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of wireless frequency characteristics and their real-world limitations, often appearing as a scenario where a device works at home but fails at a larger office. A common trap is assuming the smartphone’s hardware is faulty or that the network password is wrong, but the key clue is that other devices connect fine, isolating the issue to the client’s distance. Remember the memory tip: “5 GHz is fast but doesn’t last—2.4 GHz goes through the floor and door.”

220-1101 Mobile Device Network Connectivity Practice Question

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device network connectivity. 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 smartphone can connect to Wi-Fi at home but fails to connect to the company's 5 GHz Wi-Fi network in the office. Other devices connect fine. What is the most likely cause?

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.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Read the full wireless explanation →

A
The smartphone's Wi-Fi antenna is damaged.
Why wrong: If the antenna were damaged, the phone would likely fail on all Wi-Fi networks, not just the 5 GHz one at the office.
B
The office access point is configured for 2.4 GHz only.
Why wrong: The scenario says other devices connect fine, so the access point is broadcasting 5 GHz. The issue is specific to the customer's device location.
C
The smartphone is too far from the office access point for 5 GHz.
5 GHz has shorter range and lower penetration through obstacles. The customer may be in a location where the 5 GHz signal is too weak, while 2.4 GHz still works.
D
The smartphone's Wi-Fi driver needs updating.
Why wrong: A driver issue would likely cause problems on all Wi-Fi networks, not just the 5 GHz band at the office.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 smartphone is too far from the office access point for 5 GHz.

The 5 GHz band has shorter range and is more easily blocked by walls and obstacles. The customer's device may be too far from the access point or there may be interference, causing the connection to fail while 2.4 GHz remains available.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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 smartphone's Wi-Fi antenna is damaged.
Why it's wrong here
If the antenna were damaged, the phone would likely fail on all Wi-Fi networks, not just the 5 GHz one at the office.
✗
The office access point is configured for 2.4 GHz only.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario says other devices connect fine, so the access point is broadcasting 5 GHz. The issue is specific to the customer's device location.
✓
The smartphone is too far from the office access point for 5 GHz.
Why this is correct
5 GHz has shorter range and lower penetration through obstacles. The customer may be in a location where the 5 GHz signal is too weak, while 2.4 GHz still works.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The smartphone's Wi-Fi driver needs updating.
Why it's wrong here
A driver issue would likely cause problems on all Wi-Fi networks, not just the 5 GHz band at the office.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Trap categories for this question

Scenario analysis trap
The scenario says other devices connect fine, so the access point is broadcasting 5 GHz. The issue is specific to the customer's device location.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Read the ACL from top to bottom.
Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related 220-1201 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

Mobile Device Network Connectivity — This question tests Mobile Device Network Connectivity — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The smartphone is too far from the office access point for 5 GHz. — The 5 GHz band has shorter range and is more easily blocked by walls and obstacles. The customer's device may be too far from the access point or there may be interference, causing the connection to fail while 2.4 GHz remains available.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

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?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201

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's smartphone intermittently disconnects from a known Wi-Fi network when they move to a different room. The network uses a single access point. What is the most likely cause?

medium

✓ A.The smartphone is connecting to the 5 GHz band, which has poor wall penetration.
B.The access point is overloaded with too many clients.
C.The smartphone's MAC address is being filtered.
D.The smartphone's battery saver mode is turning off Wi-Fi.

Why A: This tests understanding of Wi-Fi signal propagation. 5 GHz signals attenuate quickly through walls and obstacles, causing disconnections when moving away from the access point, while 2.4 GHz has better range.

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