hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: That their laptop's Wi-Fi connection drops every…
A user reports that their laptop's Wi-Fi connection drops every 10 minutes, but reconnects immediately. The technician notices that the laptop is connected to a 5 GHz SSID. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the characteristics of 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz; candidates may incorrectly blame microwave interference (2.4 GHz) or DHCP lease times instead of recognizing range limitations of 5 GHz.
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 user is at the edge of the 5 GHz coverage area.
The most likely cause of intermittent Wi-Fi drops that reconnect immediately on a 5 GHz SSID is that the user is at the edge of the 5 GHz coverage area. 5 GHz signals have shorter range and poorer wall penetration than 2.4 GHz, so the laptop may lose connection and then quickly reconnect when the signal briefly improves or when it roams. This matches the symptom of drops every 10 minutes.
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The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
An outdated Wi-Fi driver typically manifests as persistent connectivity issues, complete inability to connect, or system instability (e.g., blue screens), rather than predictable, timed disconnections every 10 minutes. Driver problems usually cause a more constant or random failure pattern, not a regular, intermittent drop and re-connection cycle.
- ✗
The access point is configured with a short DHCP lease time.
Why it's wrong here
DHCP lease renewal is a background process where the client proactively requests to renew its IP address before the current lease expires. This renewal occurs via a unicast communication and does not interrupt the network connection or cause a noticeable disconnection for the user, regardless of the lease duration.
- ✓
The user is at the edge of the 5 GHz coverage area.
Why this is correct
5 GHz Wi-Fi signals have a significantly shorter range and are more susceptible to attenuation by walls and other obstacles compared to 2.4 GHz. Being at the edge of the 5 GHz coverage area means the signal strength (RSSI) is weak and prone to fluctuations, causing the laptop to periodically lose connection and re-associate as the signal briefly drops below a usable threshold.
- ✗
There is interference from a microwave oven.
Why it's wrong here
Microwave ovens operate within the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, typically around 2.45 GHz. Consequently, their electromagnetic interference would only affect 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks, not 5 GHz networks, which utilize a distinct and higher frequency spectrum, making them immune to microwave oven interference.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Battery Care and Replacement
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
Laptop
A portable personal computer that integrates a display, keyboard, touchpad, battery, and internal components into a single clamshell device for mobile computing.
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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
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.