- A
The Bluetooth mouse is out of range.
Why wrong: Out-of-range would cause mouse disconnection, not Wi-Fi drops.
- B
Interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band.
Both technologies use the 2.4 GHz ISM band; interference can cause Wi-Fi packet loss and disconnections.
- C
The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is outdated.
Why wrong: While possible, the correlation with Bluetooth mouse activity points to interference, not a driver issue.
- D
The Bluetooth mouse uses a proprietary frequency.
Why wrong: Standard Bluetooth mice use the 2.4 GHz band, not proprietary frequencies.
Question 394 of 1,020
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Interference on 2.4 GHz
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device connection methods. 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 user complains that their laptop's Wi-Fi connection drops frequently when a Bluetooth mouse is active. The laptop is a recent model with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band, which is the most likely cause of the laptop’s connection drops. Both technologies share the same unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum, and when a Bluetooth mouse is active, its frequency-hopping transmissions can collide with Wi-Fi data packets, especially on older or poorly shielded hardware that lacks effective coexistence mechanisms. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of radio frequency interference and the limitations of shared spectrum—a common trap is blaming the mouse’s battery or driver instead of recognizing the fundamental frequency conflict. Remember that 2.4 GHz is a crowded highway: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are like two drivers merging without a traffic light. A quick memory tip is “Bluetooth hops, Wi-Fi drops”—if the mouse is active and the Wi-Fi cuts out, think frequency overlap first.
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
✓
Interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band.
The most likely cause is interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) share the same 2.4 GHz ISM band, and Bluetooth uses adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) to avoid collisions, but when a Bluetooth device is active, it can still cause co-channel interference with Wi-Fi, leading to dropped connections. This is a well-known issue, especially with older or poorly shielded hardware.
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 Bluetooth mouse is out of range.
Why it's wrong here
Out-of-range would cause mouse disconnection, not Wi-Fi drops.
- ✓
Interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band.
Why this is correct
Both technologies use the 2.4 GHz ISM band; interference can cause Wi-Fi packet loss and 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.
- ✗
The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, the correlation with Bluetooth mouse activity points to interference, not a driver issue.
- ✗
The Bluetooth mouse uses a proprietary frequency.
Why it's wrong here
Standard Bluetooth mice use the 2.4 GHz band, not proprietary frequencies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the issue is a driver problem (Option C) because it's a common troubleshooting step, but the CompTIA A+ exam tests the specific technical relationship between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sharing the 2.4 GHz band, requiring knowledge of RF interference rather than generic software fixes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Bluetooth uses adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) across 79 channels (1 MHz each) in the 2.4 GHz band, while Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) uses wider channels (20/40 MHz). When both are active, Bluetooth hops can land on the Wi-Fi channel, causing packet loss and retransmissions, which manifests as dropped connections. In real-world scenarios, this is exacerbated when the laptop's antennas are poorly isolated or when the Wi-Fi network is on a congested channel.
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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Mobile Device Connection Methods — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Mobile Device Connection Methods — This question tests Mobile Device Connection Methods — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band. — The most likely cause is interference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) share the same 2.4 GHz ISM band, and Bluetooth uses adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) to avoid collisions, but when a Bluetooth device is active, it can still cause co-channel interference with Wi-Fi, leading to dropped connections. This is a well-known issue, especially with older or poorly shielded hardware.
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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