hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a smartphone that…
A technician is troubleshooting a smartphone that cannot connect to any Wi-Fi network. The technician has already verified that the device's Wi-Fi adapter is enabled and that other devices can connect to the same networks. What should the technician check next?
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
✓
Check if the device has a static IP address configured.
A static IP address can prevent a device from obtaining a valid IP from the DHCP server, causing connection failure. This is a common issue when a device has been manually configured with an IP that is not in the network's range or is already in use.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Check if the device has a static IP address configured.
Why this is correct
An incorrectly configured static IP address on a smartphone can prevent it from obtaining network access, even if it successfully associates with a Wi-Fi access point. If the static IP is outside the subnet range, duplicates another device's IP, or has an incorrect gateway/DNS, the device will fail to communicate with the router and the internet. This effectively makes it appear as if the device cannot connect to any Wi-Fi network, as it cannot establish proper network layer communication. The technician must verify the IP settings are set to DHCP or configured correctly for the specific network.
- ✗
Check the device's MAC address filter on the router.
Why it's wrong here
MAC address filtering is a security feature configured on a specific wireless access point or router, designed to permit or deny network access based on a device's unique hardware address. If a smartphone cannot connect to *any* Wi-Fi network, it is highly improbable that every single network it attempts to join has MAC filtering enabled and configured to block that specific device. This issue would typically manifest as an inability to connect to a *particular* network, not a universal failure across all Wi-Fi environments.
- ✗
Check if the device's date and time are correct.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect date and time settings on a smartphone primarily impact secure communication protocols, such as HTTPS and VPNs, by causing certificate validation failures. While this can prevent access to certain websites or services, it does not typically prevent the device from successfully associating with a Wi-Fi access point and obtaining an IP address. The initial Wi-Fi connection process operates at lower network layers, which are generally unaffected by the device's system clock.
- ✗
Check if the device's Bluetooth is interfering.
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, which overlaps with the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi channels, potentially causing electromagnetic interference. While active Bluetooth connections can lead to intermittent Wi-Fi performance degradation, slow speeds, or dropped connections, they are unlikely to cause a complete and persistent inability for a device to connect to *any* Wi-Fi network whatsoever. A total failure to connect suggests a more fundamental issue than localized radio interference.
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Mobile Device Types and Features
Key term
DHCP server
A DHCP server is a network device or service that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
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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.