Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A network engineer is explaining to a manager why wireless networks often have lower throughput than wired Ethernet. Which of the following best describes the primary reason for this difference?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Wireless uses a different MAC method that requires waiting for an acknowledgment, reducing available bandwidth.
While acknowledgments are used in some wireless protocols, the core overhead comes from collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), not just waiting for ACKs. This option is partially accurate but not the best description.
B
Distractor review
Wireless operates at half-duplex, while wired Ethernet typically operates at full-duplex.
This is true, but it is an effect of the physical layer and not the primary reason for lower throughput. The MAC layer overhead in CSMA/CA is the main factor.
C
Best answer
Wireless uses CSMA/CA which involves a collision avoidance mechanism that adds overhead, whereas wired Ethernet uses CSMA/CD which only responds after collision.
Correct. CSMA/CA requires proactive steps to avoid collisions, reducing the effective data rate. CSMA/CD is more efficient in wired networks because it transmits immediately and handles collisions after they occur.
D
Distractor review
Wireless signals are subject to interference, but the MAC protocol is identical to Ethernet.
The MAC protocols are different. Wired Ethernet uses CSMA/CD; wireless uses CSMA/CA. Interference does affect throughput, but the MAC protocol difference is the primary reason for the throughput disparity.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?
Question 2
A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?
Question 3
A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?
Question 4
A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?
Question 5
A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?
Question 6
A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Wireless uses CSMA/CA which involves a collision avoidance mechanism that adds overhead, whereas wired Ethernet uses CSMA/CD which only responds after collision. — Wireless networks use CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) to minimize collisions due to the half-duplex nature of the medium. This involves mechanisms like Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) and random backoff, which add significant overhead. In contrast, wired Ethernet uses CSMA/CD (Collision Detection), which is more efficient in low-collision environments because it allows transmission immediately and only reacts after a collision is detected.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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