220-1101 Networking Practice Question
A technician is adding a wireless access point (AP) in an outbuilding connected via Ethernet to the main office network (192.168.1.0/24). After configuring the AP with a static IP of 192.168.1.250, clients can connect to Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet. The main office devices have no issues. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a static IP on the AP itself is sufficient for client internet access, when in fact the AP's DHCP server must be disabled to avoid conflicting with the main network's DHCP scope.
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 new AP has its DHCP server enabled
The most likely cause is that the new AP has its DHCP server enabled. When the AP assigns IP addresses to clients via its own DHCP, those clients receive an IP address from a different subnet or scope than the main office network (192.168.1.0/24). This prevents them from reaching the default gateway (e.g., 192.168.1.1) and thus the internet, while the AP itself remains reachable on its static IP. Disabling the AP's DHCP server and allowing clients to obtain addresses from the main network's DHCP server resolves the issue.
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 SSID on the new AP differs from the main network's SSID
Why it's wrong here
The SSID is merely the broadcast name of a wireless network; clients connecting to a differently named SSID will still receive an IP address from the AP's DHCP server if it is enabled, which is the true source of the problem. If the AP were properly configured in bridge mode and the main router were issuing IPs, a different SSID would simply create an isolated named network that still routes out through the same gateway. The name mismatch does not affect Layer 3 connectivity; the fault lies in the AP allocating IP addresses with an incorrect default gateway or DNS, not in the client's inability to locate the main network.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician is troubleshooting why clients cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. The main office uses SSID 'OfficeNet', and the new AP is set to 'GuestNet'. Clients expecting 'OfficeNet' cannot see the new AP, causing connectivity failure.
- ✓
The new AP has its DHCP server enabled
Why this is correct
If the AP's DHCP server is active, it will assign IP addresses that may not have the correct default gateway or DNS settings, or it may conflict with the main DHCP server, preventing proper routing to the internet.
- ✗
The Ethernet cable connecting the AP is a crossover cable
Why it's wrong here
A crossover cable swaps the transmit and receive pairs for direct device-to-device connections, but virtually all modern switches and access points implement Auto-MDIX, which automatically detects and corrects the wire pairing. Even if Auto-MDIX were absent, a crossover cable would only prevent a link from establishing — it would not cause the AP to issue erroneous IP settings or interfere with routing once the link is up. Therefore, the cable type is irrelevant to the reported internet loss; the AP's DHCP server is the actual cause.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician connects two switches directly without Auto-MDIX and uses a straight-through cable; the link fails. The correct answer would be that a crossover cable is required.
- ✗
The switch feeding the AP is not configured for VLAN 1
Why it's wrong here
VLAN 1 is the default native VLAN on virtually all managed switches, and 'not configured for VLAN 1' usually means the port remains in its default state, which forwards untagged traffic exactly as an unmanaged switch would. An unmanaged switch has no VLAN configuration at all and transparently forwards Ethernet frames, so the AP can still reach the router and obtain the correct routing information. Even if the port were placed in an untagged VLAN other than VLAN 1, the AP would still pass traffic unless the router or AP were configured for a specific tagged VLAN. The absence of VLAN configuration would not create bad IP assignments or prevent internet access; it would only matter in a segmented network, which is not the scenario here.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where the AP is on a separate VLAN (e.g., VLAN 10) and the switch port is not configured as a trunk or access port for that VLAN, the AP would be unable to communicate with the network, causing connectivity failure.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The new AP has its DHCP server enabledCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
If the AP's DHCP server is active, it will assign IP addresses that may not have the correct default gateway or DNS settings, or it may conflict with the main DHCP server, preventing proper routing to the internet.
✗The SSID on the new AP differs from the main network's SSIDWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The SSID being different does not prevent internet access; it only affects client visibility. Clients can still connect and obtain IP addresses, so the issue lies elsewhere.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician is troubleshooting why clients cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. The main office uses SSID 'OfficeNet', and the new AP is set to 'GuestNet'. Clients expecting 'OfficeNet' cannot see the new AP, causing connectivity failure.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that mismatched SSIDs cause routing or internet issues, confusing SSID with network segmentation or gateway configuration.
✗The Ethernet cable connecting the AP is a crossover cableWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A crossover cable is only needed for connecting similar devices directly (e.g., PC to PC) without a switch. Here, the AP connects to a switch, so a straight-through cable is standard; a crossover cable would still work due to Auto-MDIX on modern switches, so it wouldn't cause internet access failure.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician connects two switches directly without Auto-MDIX and uses a straight-through cable; the link fails. The correct answer would be that a crossover cable is required.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may recall that crossover cables are used for certain device-to-device connections and incorrectly assume that APs require crossover cables to connect to a network switch.
✗The switch feeding the AP is not configured for VLAN 1Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The switch feeding the AP not being configured for VLAN 1 would only affect traffic if VLANs were in use. The question states the main office network is 192.168.1.0/24 and clients can connect to Wi-Fi but not access the internet, indicating a routing or DHCP issue, not VLAN misconfiguration.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where the AP is on a separate VLAN (e.g., VLAN 10) and the switch port is not configured as a trunk or access port for that VLAN, the AP would be unable to communicate with the network, causing connectivity failure.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may overthink VLAN configurations, assuming that any network issue involving a switch port must be VLAN-related, even when no VLANs are mentioned in the question.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.