- A
The laptop's Wi-Fi antenna is damaged.
Why wrong: Antenna damage would prevent connection to any network, not just 802.11ac, and other devices work fine.
- B
The 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled.
802.11ac requires 5 GHz; if that radio is off, the laptop cannot see the network, while 2.4 GHz-only 802.11n devices still connect.
- C
The laptop's drivers are not compatible with 802.11n.
Why wrong: The laptop is 802.11ac, which is backward compatible with 802.11n, so driver incompatibility is unlikely.
- D
The access point is set to 802.11b-only mode.
Why wrong: 802.11b-only mode would prevent all 802.11n and ac devices from connecting, contradicting the report that older 802.11n devices work.
Question 840 of 1,020
220-1201 Wireless Networking Technologies Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of wireless networking technologies. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A client reports that their new 802.11ac laptop cannot connect to the office Wi-Fi, while older 802.11n devices work fine. The access point is a dual-band model. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled.
The 802.11ac standard operates exclusively on the 5 GHz band. If the access point's 5 GHz radio is disabled, the laptop cannot see or connect to the Wi-Fi network, even though older 802.11n clients can still connect using the 2.4 GHz radio. This is the most likely cause because the laptop is new and otherwise functional, and the AP is dual-band but may have its 5 GHz radio turned off by default or misconfiguration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 laptop's Wi-Fi antenna is damaged.
Why it's wrong here
Antenna damage would prevent connection to any network, not just 802.11ac, and other devices work fine.
- ✓
The 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled.
Why this is correct
802.11ac requires 5 GHz; if that radio is off, the laptop cannot see the network, while 2.4 GHz-only 802.11n devices still connect.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The laptop's drivers are not compatible with 802.11n.
Why it's wrong here
The laptop is 802.11ac, which is backward compatible with 802.11n, so driver incompatibility is unlikely.
- ✗
The access point is set to 802.11b-only mode.
Why it's wrong here
802.11b-only mode would prevent all 802.11n and ac devices from connecting, contradicting the report that older 802.11n devices work.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trick in exams tests the misconception that 802.11ac is backward compatible with 2.4 GHz, leading candidates to overlook the fact that 802.11ac requires 5 GHz for its core features, and the trap here is that the AP's 5 GHz radio being disabled is the most direct and likely cause, not a driver or antenna issue.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
802.11ac uses wider channels (80 or 160 MHz) and MU-MIMO, which are only supported in the 5 GHz band due to spectrum availability and regulatory constraints. Even if the AP is dual-band, the 5 GHz radio can be disabled via the AP's configuration interface (e.g., under 'Radio Settings' or 'Wireless > 5 GHz > Enable'), often to reduce interference or power consumption. A real-world scenario is a misconfigured controller-based AP where the 5 GHz radio is globally disabled for a specific SSID or VLAN, causing only 2.4 GHz clients to connect.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Wireless Networking Technologies — This question tests Wireless Networking Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 5 GHz radio on the access point is disabled. — The 802.11ac standard operates exclusively on the 5 GHz band. If the access point's 5 GHz radio is disabled, the laptop cannot see or connect to the Wi-Fi network, even though older 802.11n clients can still connect using the 2.4 GHz radio. This is the most likely cause because the laptop is new and otherwise functional, and the AP is dual-band but may have its 5 GHz radio turned off by default or misconfiguration.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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