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220-1201 Practice Question: During a site survey for a new branch office, you…
During a site survey for a new branch office, you measure signal strength in the conference room and find it is -85 dBm. The client devices require at least -67 dBm for reliable video conferencing. Which action is most appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is to think that increasing transmit power or changing channels can fix a weak signal problem. The correct solution for inadequate RSSI is to add more APs to reduce distance and path loss.
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
✓
Install an additional access point in the conference room ceiling.
The measured signal strength of -85 dBm is well below the -67 dBm threshold required for reliable video conferencing. Installing an additional access point in the conference room ceiling is the most appropriate action because it reduces the distance and obstacles between the client devices and the AP, directly improving the received signal strength (RSSI) to meet the application's requirements. Simply increasing transmit power on the existing AP may cause co-channel interference and may not overcome path loss from distance or obstructions, while changing channels or replacing client antennas does not address the fundamental lack of signal coverage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the transmit power of the existing access point to maximum.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the transmit power of an existing access point to its maximum setting can extend its signal range, but often results in a non-linear improvement in signal strength over distance. More critically, high transmit power can lead to significant co-channel and adjacent-channel interference with other access points, degrading overall network performance and potentially creating an imbalanced link where clients can hear the AP but the AP cannot hear the clients effectively. This approach is unlikely to reliably bridge a substantial signal gap from -85 dBm to the required -67 dBm for demanding applications like video conferencing, especially in environments with physical obstructions.
- ✗
Replace the client devices with ones that have better antennas.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing numerous client devices, such as laptops or smartphones, with models featuring superior antennas is an impractical and cost-prohibitive solution for addressing a widespread signal strength issue in a new office branch. While better client antennas might slightly improve reception, this approach fails to resolve the fundamental problem of insufficient Wi-Fi coverage or poor access point placement, which is the actual cause of the -85 dBm signal strength. The network infrastructure, not the end-user devices, should be optimized for robust connectivity.
- ✓
Install an additional access point in the conference room ceiling.
Why this is correct
Installing an additional access point (AP) directly within the conference room, particularly in the ceiling, is the most effective solution for ensuring robust Wi-Fi coverage and achieving the required -67 dBm signal strength for high-bandwidth applications like video conferencing. This strategy creates a dedicated coverage cell, minimizing signal attenuation from walls and obstructions, and directly addresses the localized weak signal issue by bringing the signal source closer to the client devices. Proper placement in the ceiling also optimizes signal propagation and reduces potential interference.
- ✗
Change the channel on the existing AP to a less congested one.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the Wi-Fi channel on the existing access point to a less congested one primarily mitigates co-channel or adjacent-channel interference from other wireless networks or devices. While reducing interference can improve data throughput and reliability, it does not inherently increase the raw signal strength (RSSI) received by client devices. A signal strength of -85 dBm indicates a fundamental coverage gap due to distance or obstructions, which a channel change alone cannot overcome to reach the required -67 dBm for demanding applications.
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Key term
Received Signal Strength Indicator
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a measurement of how strong a wireless signal is when it reaches a receiving device, like a laptop connecting to Wi-Fi.
Key term
Access Point
An access point is a device that creates a wireless local area network, usually by connecting to a wired network and broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal for computers, phones, and tablets to join.
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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.