N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
A network technician is installing a new wireless access point in a warehouse. The AP requires PoE+ (802.3at) for full operation. The technician connects the AP using a Cat5e cable run of 200 feet to a switch that only supports 802.3af (PoE). The AP powers on but has intermittent connectivity issues. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume the AP powers on means it is fully operational, but The N10-009 exam often tests the nuance that PoE+ devices may partially power up with PoE, only to exhibit intermittent issues due to insufficient power budget.
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 switch does not support the required PoE standard
The switch only supports 802.3af (PoE), which provides up to 15.4W per port, while the AP requires 802.3at (PoE+) for full operation, which supplies up to 30W. Although the AP powers on, it may not receive sufficient power to operate all radios or features, leading to intermittent connectivity issues. The cable length of 200 feet is within the 100-meter (328-foot) limit for Cat5e, so length is not the problem.
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 cable length exceeds the maximum for PoE
Why it's wrong here
The maximum specified cable length for standard Ethernet, including Power over Ethernet (PoE), is 100 meters (approximately 328 feet) for Category 5e or higher cabling. A cable run of 200 feet is well within this established limit, ensuring both data integrity and sufficient power delivery over the copper conductors. Exceeding this length would typically result in complete signal loss or severe degradation, not intermittent power issues at a distance well within specification.
When this WOULD be correct
A network technician runs a PoE camera on a 150-meter Cat5e cable and the camera fails to power on. In this case, the cable length exceeds the 100-meter limit for Ethernet, making it the most likely cause.
- ✓
The switch does not support the required PoE standard
Why this is correct
The problem describes intermittent connectivity after cabling, strongly suggesting a power delivery issue. The 802.3af PoE standard provides up to 15.4W to a powered device, while 802.3at (PoE+) delivers up to 30W. If the wireless access point requires 802.3at for full functionality but is connected to an 802.3af-only switch, it will receive insufficient power. This power deficit can cause the AP to operate erratically, reboot intermittently, or experience connectivity drops, especially under load, rather than failing completely.
- ✗
The AP is experiencing interference from metal racks
Why it's wrong here
While metal racks can indeed cause wireless signal interference through reflection, absorption, or multipath distortion, this typically impacts the quality and range of the Wi-Fi signal, leading to slow speeds or dropped client connections. The described symptom of intermittent connectivity *after cabling* points more directly to a fundamental power or link establishment issue with the AP itself, rather than environmental RF interference affecting client communication. Interference would primarily affect wireless performance, not the AP's core operational stability.
When this WOULD be correct
In a scenario where a wireless AP is placed near large metal structures (e.g., in a warehouse with metal shelving) and experiences frequent disconnections or low throughput, with no power-related symptoms, interference from metal racks would be the most likely cause.
- ✗
The AP is configured with the wrong SSID
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect Service Set Identifier (SSID) would prevent client devices from discovering or successfully authenticating to the wireless network in the first place. Clients would simply not see the desired network name or would fail to connect if they attempted to join. This configuration error would not typically manifest as intermittent connectivity *after* the device powers on and appears to be functioning, but rather as a complete inability for clients to establish a wireless link.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician installs an AP but clients cannot see the network; after checking, the AP is broadcasting but with a mismatched SSID that clients are not configured to use. The correct answer would be that the AP is configured with the wrong SSID.
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 N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The switch does not support the required PoE standardCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
The problem describes intermittent connectivity after cabling, strongly suggesting a power delivery issue. The 802.3af PoE standard provides up to 15.4W to a powered device, while 802.3at (PoE+) delivers up to 30W. If the wireless access point requires 802.3at for full functionality but is connected to an 802.3af-only switch, it will receive insufficient power. This power deficit can cause the AP to operate erratically, reboot intermittently, or experience connectivity drops, especially under load, rather than failing completely.
✗The cable length exceeds the maximum for PoEWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The maximum cable length for PoE (both 802.3af and 802.3at) over Cat5e is 100 meters (328 feet), so 200 feet is well within limits and not the cause of the issue.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A network technician runs a PoE camera on a 150-meter Cat5e cable and the camera fails to power on. In this case, the cable length exceeds the 100-meter limit for Ethernet, making it the most likely cause.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may incorrectly assume that longer cable runs reduce power delivery or that PoE has stricter distance limits, leading them to blame cable length when the real issue is the PoE standard mismatch.
✗The AP is experiencing interference from metal racksWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question states the AP powers on but has intermittent connectivity, and the switch only supports 802.3af. The issue is insufficient power delivery, not interference. Metal racks could cause RF interference, but that would typically result in poor signal or disconnections, not intermittent connectivity tied to power constraints.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where a wireless AP is placed near large metal structures (e.g., in a warehouse with metal shelving) and experiences frequent disconnections or low throughput, with no power-related symptoms, interference from metal racks would be the most likely cause.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate warehouses with metal racks and assume interference is the default cause of connectivity issues, overlooking the power standard mismatch that is explicitly described in the question.
✗The AP is configured with the wrong SSIDWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The SSID configuration affects client connectivity and network identification, not power delivery or intermittent connectivity caused by insufficient PoE power.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician installs an AP but clients cannot see the network; after checking, the AP is broadcasting but with a mismatched SSID that clients are not configured to use. The correct answer would be that the AP is configured with the wrong SSID.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse configuration issues with power problems, assuming that incorrect SSID settings can cause intermittent connectivity rather than complete lack of access.
Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Wireless Standards and Configuration
Key term
Wireless access point
A wireless access point is a networking device that allows Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect to a wired network, typically a local area network (LAN), acting as a bridge between wireless and wired communication.
Key term
RX
RX (Receive / Receiver) is the signal path or hardware component that accepts incoming data from a network medium.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every N10-009 question from scratch — 464 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This N10-009 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 N10-009 exam.