Question 245 of 1,020

Network Types →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Infrastructure Mode WLAN Explained

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of network types. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 user complains that their laptop frequently disconnects from the Wi-Fi when they move from their desk to a conference room 30 meters away. The office uses a single wireless access point (AP). Which network type is being used, and what is the most likely cause of the disconnection?

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
Ad hoc network; the laptop is trying to connect directly to other devices.
Why wrong: Ad hoc networks are device-to-device without an AP, but the scenario mentions a single AP, so this is infrastructure mode.
B
Infrastructure mode WLAN; the AP's signal strength is insufficient at that distance.
Infrastructure mode uses an AP; 30 meters can exceed the effective range, especially with obstacles, causing disconnections.
C
Mesh network; the laptop is roaming between mesh nodes.
Why wrong: A mesh network uses multiple nodes to extend coverage, but the scenario specifies a single AP.
D
PAN network; the laptop is using Bluetooth, which has limited range.
Why wrong: Bluetooth PANs have a range of about 10 meters, but the user is on Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is infrastructure mode WLAN, and the most likely cause of the disconnection is insufficient signal strength from the access point at that distance. In an infrastructure mode wireless LAN, all client devices communicate through a central access point rather than directly with each other, which means the effective range of the network is limited by the AP’s transmit power and environmental obstacles. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of basic WLAN topologies and the practical limitations of radio frequency propagation—a common trap is confusing infrastructure mode with ad hoc mode, where devices connect peer-to-peer without an AP. To remember, think of infrastructure mode as a “hub-and-spoke” model: every device must stay within the spoke’s reach of the central hub. A quick memory tip: “Infrastructure = In the middle (AP), so distance matters.”

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

✓

Infrastructure mode WLAN; the AP's signal strength is insufficient at that distance.

The correct answer is B because the scenario describes an infrastructure mode WLAN, where devices connect through a single access point. The disconnection at 30 meters is most likely due to insufficient signal strength from that AP, as typical consumer-grade Wi-Fi (e.g., 2.4 GHz) has an effective indoor range of about 30–40 meters, and obstacles or interference can further reduce it.

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.

✗
Ad hoc network; the laptop is trying to connect directly to other devices.
Why it's wrong here
Ad hoc networks are device-to-device without an AP, but the scenario mentions a single AP, so this is infrastructure mode.
✓
Infrastructure mode WLAN; the AP's signal strength is insufficient at that distance.
Why this is correct
Infrastructure mode uses an AP; 30 meters can exceed the effective range, especially with obstacles, causing disconnections.
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.
✗
Mesh network; the laptop is roaming between mesh nodes.
Why it's wrong here
A mesh network uses multiple nodes to extend coverage, but the scenario specifies a single AP.
✗
PAN network; the laptop is using Bluetooth, which has limited range.
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth PANs have a range of about 10 meters, but the user is on Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the distinction between infrastructure mode and ad hoc or mesh networks, trapping candidates who confuse a single-AP setup with a mesh or who incorrectly attribute disconnections to roaming rather than signal strength.

Trap categories for this question

Scenario analysis trap
Ad hoc networks are device-to-device without an AP, but the scenario mentions a single AP, so this is infrastructure mode.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

In infrastructure mode, the AP acts as a central hub using the 802.11 standard, and client devices associate via a BSSID. Signal attenuation follows the inverse-square law, so at 30 meters, the received signal strength (RSSI) may drop below the receiver sensitivity threshold (e.g., -80 dBm), causing disassociation. Real-world factors like walls or interference from neighboring networks can exacerbate this, making range planning critical for enterprise deployments.

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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.

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?

Network Types — This question tests Network Types — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Infrastructure mode WLAN; the AP's signal strength is insufficient at that distance. — The correct answer is B because the scenario describes an infrastructure mode WLAN, where devices connect through a single access point. The disconnection at 30 meters is most likely due to insufficient signal strength from that AP, as typical consumer-grade Wi-Fi (e.g., 2.4 GHz) has an effective indoor range of about 30–40 meters, and obstacles or interference can further reduce it.

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.

About these practice questions

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A technician is troubleshooting a customer's home network where the desktop PC is wired to the router, but the wireless printer intermittently disappears from the network. The printer is connected via Wi-Fi to the same router. After checking, the technician finds that the printer's IP address is in the 169.254.x.x range. Which network type is the printer attempting to use, and what does this indicate?

hard

A.Peer-to-peer network; the printer is sharing directly with the PC.
✓ B.WLAN with DHCP failure; the printer has self-assigned an APIPA address.
C.PAN network; the printer is using Bluetooth.
D.Ad hoc network; the printer is connecting directly to the PC.

Why B: The 169.254.x.x IP address range is reserved for Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA), which a device assigns to itself when it fails to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. Since the printer is connected via Wi-Fi to the same router, this indicates a DHCP failure on the WLAN, causing the printer to use a self-assigned APIPA address and intermittently disappear from the network.

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