Question 811 of 1,020

Common Networking Hardware →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

WAP Connectivity LED Troubleshooting

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of common networking hardware. 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 small office has a network with a single switch and a wireless access point (WAP). Users on the wired network can access the internet, but wireless users cannot. The WAP shows a solid green power LED and a blinking amber activity LED. What is the most likely cause?

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.

A
The WAP is configured with the wrong SSID.
Why wrong: An incorrect SSID would prevent wireless clients from finding the network, but the WAP's activity LED would still show normal operation if it were connected to the switch.
B
The Ethernet cable from the WAP to the switch is faulty or not securely connected.
A faulty or disconnected Ethernet cable would prevent the WAP from communicating with the switch, causing the activity LED to blink amber (indicating errors) and no internet access for wireless users.
C
The switch port is configured as a trunk port.
Why wrong: A trunk port is used for VLAN tagging and would not inherently block traffic; it might still pass data if the WAP is configured correctly. This is less likely than a physical layer issue.
D
The WAP's wireless radio is disabled in the firmware.
Why wrong: If the wireless radio were disabled, the WAP would likely show no activity LED or a steady amber light, not a blinking one. The blinking amber suggests physical layer activity.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a faulty or unsecured Ethernet cable between the WAP and the switch. This is correct because the solid green power LED confirms the access point has electricity, while the blinking amber activity LED indicates the WAP is detecting traffic but failing to establish a successful link to the wired network—a classic sign of a physical layer issue. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to interpret WAP connectivity LED troubleshooting in a mixed wired/wireless environment; a common trap is assuming the blinking amber light means data is flowing, when it actually signals a bad connection or duplex mismatch. Remember the memory tip: green means power is good, amber blinking means the cable is stinking.

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 Ethernet cable from the WAP to the switch is faulty or not securely connected.

The solid green power LED indicates the WAP is receiving power, and the blinking amber activity LED typically signals a Layer 1 issue, such as a faulty or loose Ethernet cable. Since wired users have internet access, the switch and upstream connectivity are fine, isolating the problem to the link between the WAP and the switch. A faulty cable prevents the WAP from communicating with the network, so wireless clients cannot reach the internet even though the WAP is powered on.

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 WAP is configured with the wrong SSID.
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect SSID would prevent wireless clients from finding the network, but the WAP's activity LED would still show normal operation if it were connected to the switch.
✓
The Ethernet cable from the WAP to the switch is faulty or not securely connected.
Why this is correct
A faulty or disconnected Ethernet cable would prevent the WAP from communicating with the switch, causing the activity LED to blink amber (indicating errors) and no internet access for wireless users.
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 switch port is configured as a trunk port.
Why it's wrong here
A trunk port is used for VLAN tagging and would not inherently block traffic; it might still pass data if the WAP is configured correctly. This is less likely than a physical layer issue.
✗
The WAP's wireless radio is disabled in the firmware.
Why it's wrong here
If the wireless radio were disabled, the WAP would likely show no activity LED or a steady amber light, not a blinking one. The blinking amber suggests physical layer activity.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between LED indicators (power vs. activity vs. link) to trick candidates into assuming a powered device is fully functional, when in fact the blinking amber LED specifically points to a Layer 1 or Layer 2 issue like a bad cable.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
An incorrect SSID would prevent wireless clients from finding the network, but the WAP's activity LED would still show normal operation if it were connected to the switch.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The blinking amber activity LED on most enterprise WAPs (e.g., Cisco, Ubiquiti) indicates that the Ethernet port is detecting link pulses but experiencing errors (e.g., CRC errors, collisions, or excessive retransmissions), often due to a damaged cable, incorrect pinout, or duplex mismatch. In contrast, a solid green LED means the port is powered and linked at the correct speed, while a blinking green LED shows normal traffic. A faulty cable can cause intermittent connectivity, leading to the amber blink pattern as the switch and WAP attempt to negotiate but fail to establish a stable link.

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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.

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?

Common Networking Hardware — This question tests Common Networking Hardware — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The Ethernet cable from the WAP to the switch is faulty or not securely connected. — The solid green power LED indicates the WAP is receiving power, and the blinking amber activity LED typically signals a Layer 1 issue, such as a faulty or loose Ethernet cable. Since wired users have internet access, the switch and upstream connectivity are fine, isolating the problem to the link between the WAP and the switch. A faulty cable prevents the WAP from communicating with the network, so wireless clients cannot reach the internet even though the WAP is powered on.

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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