220-1201 Networking Practice Question
A technician is configuring a wireless access point for a small office. The office needs to support both older laptops that only support 2.4 GHz and newer devices that support 5 GHz. The technician wants to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. Which two of the following should the technician configure? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that wider channels or disabling SSID broadcast are necessary for performance, when in fact they can cause problems; the key is dual-band support and non-overlapping 2.4 GHz channels.
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
✓
Set the 2.4 GHz band to use channel 1, 6, or 11.
Enabling both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands ensures compatibility with older and newer devices. Setting the 2.4 GHz band to channel 1, 6, or 11 minimizes interference. These two steps provide the best balance of compatibility and performance for a mixed-device office. Other options either reduce security or are not required.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable SSID broadcast on both bands to improve security.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling SSID broadcast does not improve security and can cause connection issues for legitimate users. It also does not help with performance or compatibility. The requirement is to support both older and newer devices, so hiding the SSID would complicate connections. This is not a recommended practice for this scenario.
- ✓
Set the 2.4 GHz band to use channel 1, 6, or 11.
Why this is correct
In the 2.4 GHz spectrum, channels 1, 6, and 11 are the only non-overlapping channels. Using one of these minimizes interference from neighboring networks. This is a best practice for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi deployment. It ensures stable performance for older devices.
- ✗
Set the access point to use WEP encryption for backward compatibility.
Why it's wrong here
WEP is outdated and insecure; it should never be used. Older devices that only support 2.4 GHz may still support WPA2 or WPA3, so WEP is unnecessary. Using WEP would compromise network security. It does not contribute to optimal performance or compatibility.
- ✗
Configure the 5 GHz band to use channel 36 at 80 MHz width.
Why it's wrong here
While 80 MHz width can increase throughput, it also increases the chance of interference and may not be supported by all devices. In a small office with potential neighboring networks, using 80 MHz on 5 GHz can cause co-channel interference. The question asks for optimal performance and compatibility; wider channels are not always optimal. This is not a required configuration.
- ✓
Enable both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on the access point.
Why this is correct
Enabling both bands ensures that older 2.4 GHz-only devices can connect while newer 5 GHz-capable devices can use the less congested 5 GHz band for better performance. This provides compatibility and optimal throughput. It is a standard practice in mixed-device environments to dual-band operation.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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