easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A small office experiences intermittent Wi-Fi…
A small office experiences intermittent Wi-Fi drops on laptops but not on desktops connected via Ethernet. The wireless network uses 2.4 GHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common pitfall in CompTIA A+ is to attribute intermittent wireless drops to driver or configuration issues, but the key clue is that only wireless clients are affected while wired desktops work fine. This points to RF interference, such as from a microwave oven operating in the 2.4 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
✓
A microwave oven is operating near the access point.
Microwave ovens operate at approximately 2.45 GHz, which falls within the 2.4 GHz ISM band used by Wi-Fi. When a microwave is running near an access point, it generates strong electromagnetic interference that can cause intermittent signal degradation or drops, affecting wireless clients like laptops but not wired desktops.
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 overheating.
Why it's wrong here
Overheating would degrade the access point's service to all associated clients, including any wireless desktops, and typically produces total rather than intermittent loss. It is tempting because thermal faults do cause dropped associations; checking AP temperature is the right choice when every wireless client on that AP fails simultaneously and the device reports thermal alarms.
- ✓
A microwave oven is operating near the access point.
Why this is correct
Microwave ovens emit radio-frequency energy around 2.45 GHz, directly overlapping the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. This interference degrades signal quality only for wireless clients, explaining why laptops drop while Ethernet-connected desktops remain unaffected. Intermittent operation matches the oven's duty cycle, making it the most likely cause.
- ✗
The laptops have outdated Bluetooth drivers.
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth drivers do not govern Wi-Fi radio operation, so they cannot cause intermittent wireless drops; the 2.4 GHz band's channel overlap and interference from neighbouring access points or microwaves is the likely culprit. Bluetooth driver updates address pairing or peripheral faults, which would be the correct fix only if Bluetooth devices themselves misbehaved.
- ✗
The Ethernet switch is failing.
Why it's wrong here
A failing Ethernet switch would disrupt the wired desktops too, yet those remain stable, so the fault lies in the wireless path. It is tempting because switch faults cause intermittent connectivity generally; verifying switch health is the right choice when both wired and wireless clients lose connectivity or when uplink errors affect the AP itself.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Home and SOHO Network Setup
Key term
Access Point
An access point is a device that creates a wireless local area network, usually by connecting to a wired network and broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal for computers, phones, and tablets to join.
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.
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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.