FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
Which wireless standard is commonly known as Wi-Fi 5 and operates on the 5 GHz band?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the mapping between IEEE numbers and marketing names, so candidates who memorize only '802.11ac = fast' may confuse it with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) under exam pressure.
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
✓
802.11ac
802.11ac is the IEEE standard marketed as Wi-Fi 5, and it operates primarily on the 5 GHz band (with some early dual-band implementations). It introduced wider channels (up to 160 MHz), MU-MIMO, and higher-order modulation to boost throughput over 802.11n. This makes 802.11ac the correct answer for Wi-Fi 5 on 5 GHz.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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802.11ax
Why it's wrong here
802.11ax is Wi-Fi 6, not Wi-Fi 5, so it fails the naming criterion even though it operates on 5 GHz and 6 GHz. It is tempting because it is the newer, faster 5 GHz-capable standard, and would be correct if the question asked about Wi-Fi 6.
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802.11g
Why it's wrong here
802.11g operates in the 2.4 GHz band with a 54 Mbps maximum rate, so it fails both the 5 GHz and Wi-Fi 5 criteria. It is tempting because it was a widely deployed mainstream standard, and would be correct if the question asked about a 2.4 GHz legacy network.
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802.11n
Why it's wrong here
802.11n is Wi-Fi 4, supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so it fails the Wi-Fi 5 designation despite operating on 5 GHz. It is tempting because it introduced 5 GHz mainstream use and MIMO, and would be correct if the question asked about Wi-Fi 4.
- ✓
802.11ac
Why this is correct
802.11ac is the IEEE standard marketed as Wi-Fi 5, satisfying the stem's naming constraint. It operates exclusively on the 5 GHz band, using wider channels and MU-MIMO to deliver higher throughput than 802.11n. This directly matches both requirements: the Wi-Fi 5 designation and 5 GHz operation.
About these practice questions
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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 FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.