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220-1201 Practice Question: That their wireless earbuds produce choppy audio…
A user reports that their wireless earbuds produce choppy audio when they walk to the other side of their office, but work fine when near the phone. The office has many metal filing cabinets and concrete walls. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the audio degradation?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that interference from common household devices (like microwaves) is the default cause of Bluetooth issues, but the question's specific mention of 'metal filing cabinets and concrete walls' is a clear clue that physical obstruction is the primary factor.
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
✓
Physical obstructions are blocking the Bluetooth signal.
Bluetooth signals (typically in the 2.4 GHz ISM band) are highly susceptible to physical obstructions, especially metal filing cabinets and concrete walls, which can absorb or reflect the signal. When the user moves to the other side of the office, the increased distance and these dense materials cause significant attenuation and multipath interference, resulting in choppy audio. The earbuds work fine near the phone because the signal path is clear and short, confirming that the degradation is due to obstruction rather than a device fault.
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 earbuds' battery is low.
Why it's wrong here
A low battery in wireless earbuds typically manifests as complete disconnections, intermittent dropouts regardless of proximity, or a failure to connect altogether, rather than consistent choppiness that specifically worsens with distance. Bluetooth devices are designed to maintain a stable power output for signal transmission until the battery level becomes critically low, at which point connectivity usually fails entirely rather than degrading progressively with range.
- ✗
The phone's Bluetooth antenna is weak.
Why it's wrong here
A weak or faulty Bluetooth antenna on the phone would result in poor signal strength and connectivity issues across all distances, including very short ranges. The problem would not specifically emerge or worsen only when distance increases, as the antenna's inherent inefficiency affects its ability to transmit and receive effectively at any range, making close-range performance equally problematic.
- ✗
There is interference from a nearby microwave oven.
Why it's wrong here
Microwave ovens operate in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, the same frequency range used by Bluetooth, and can indeed cause significant interference leading to choppy audio or disconnections. However, this interference is typically intermittent, occurring only when the microwave is actively running. The scenario describes a consistent, distance-related issue, which points away from temporary appliance-specific interference.
- ✓
Physical obstructions are blocking the Bluetooth signal.
Why this is correct
Bluetooth signals, operating in the 2.4 GHz band, are line-of-sight and are significantly attenuated, absorbed, or reflected by physical obstructions. Materials like concrete walls, metal structures (e.g., filing cabinets), and even water (including the human body) can weaken the signal. As the distance increases and more obstacles are encountered between the device and the earbuds, the signal strength diminishes, leading to reduced range and choppy audio.
Go deeper
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