Exam N10-008 topic 1 question 102 discussion

I don't get why your immediate thought would be A. C seems like a much more logical route to start with.

You have three equal possibles and one eliminated answer. Whoever wrote this question needs a big punch in the mouth.

The correct answer is: C. The power level is too high for the AP on the far side. When an access point's transmit power is set too high, it can cause devices to connect to it even when there are closer access points available. This is because the devices "hear" the stronger signal from the far-side AP, leading to inefficient connections.

Reading the comments, I do not know who to believe lol

Incorrect channel is correct.

This one's a doozy, & requires galaxy brain mode, so here's why it's A. :) If users are losing signal strength close to the nearest AP, it is likely that the signal's standard is misconfigured, the most common wireless standard is 802.11g (Wi-Fi 3) that operates in the 2.4 GHz range & is not compatible with other standards. Incorrect channel assignment would have conflicting connection that intermediately connects & disconnects (not entirely disconnected) due to congestions of channels not configured far enough apart. If outside AP was far above the power level, it's connection would not affect the amount of bandwidth devices would receive based on that wireless frequency strength. Interference on the far side would not mean the farther out AP would suddenly have a better connection.

This one's a doozy, & requires galaxy brain mode, & here's why it's A. :) If users are losing signal strength close to the nearest AP, it is likely that the signal's standard is misconfigured, the most common wireless standard is 802.11g (Wi-Fi 3) that operates in the 2.4 GHz range & is not compatible with other standards. Incorrect channel assignment would have conflicting connection that intermediately connects & disconnects (not entirely disconnected) due to congestions of channels not configured far enough apart. If outside AP was far above the power level, it's connection would not affect the amount of bandwidth devices would receive based on that wireless frequency strength. Interference on the far side would not mean the farther out AP would suddenly have a better connection.

The issue you’re describing sounds like it could be due to improper wireless signal strength or coverage from the Access Points (APs). The handheld devices in the warehouse may be connecting to an AP on the far side of the warehouse because it has a stronger signal or less interference than the nearest APs.

When I ask GPT-3.5: "A network technician is investigating an issue with handheld devices in a warehouse. Devices have not been connecting to the nearest APs, but they have been connecting to an AP on the far side of the warehouse. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue: (A) The nearest APs are configured for 802.11g, (B) An incorrect channel assignment is on the nearest APs, or (C) The power level is too high for the AP on the far side?" GPT: "Given the context provided, the MOST likely cause of the issue with handheld devices connecting to an AP on the far side of the warehouse rather than the nearest APs is: (B) An incorrect channel assignment on the nearest APs. When access points (APs) in a wireless network use overlapping channels, they can interfere with each other and cause connectivity problems. If the nearest APs are using the same or overlapping channels, it could lead to interference and make it difficult for devices to establish a reliable connection. As a result, devices might opt to connect to the AP on the far side of the warehouse, which might be on a less congested channel.

Power level is too high

Question never stated what wireless standard was being used on any of the aps. If the far side strong than the near side ap then the device won't switch over.

Pure evil, but I will go with incorrect channel. Probably with interference.

The most likely cause of this issue is that the power level is too high for the AP on the far side. Handheld devices tend to connect to the AP with the strongest signal, and in this case, the AP on the far side of the warehouse has a stronger signal due to its higher power level. This is often referred to as the "sticky client" problem. The nearest APs may be correctly configured, but they are not able to overcome the signal strength of the AP on the far side. To resolve this issue, the power level on the AP on the far side may need to be adjusted to be more in line with the power levels of the nearest APs.

Devices have NOT been connecting to the nearest APs, there's something wrong with the nearest APs, configuration or something else. Handheld devices may not have been able to connect using 802.11g. Even if the far away APs are stronger, the devices would still connect to the nearest APs at some point. Which in this case it never did even once.

An incorrect channel assignment is on the nearest APs would most likely cause a device to connect to the AP thats further away. The power levels of the further APs would not cause someone to not connect to the nearest AP, they would atleast connect and then MAYBE disconnect and reconnect to the furthest AP, if that were the case.

In WiFi the client devices decide which access point they want to associate with and when to switch to next. (This is contrary to the mobile telephone network, where access points decide which one will serve which client.) Many devices are very reluctant to roam to another AP. They hold on to the first chosen one even when there is a much stronger AP next to the device. Only when the connection breaks will they associate with the next AP – and keep that connection to the end. This results in clients using far away access points with poor connections. By lowering the transmit power the connection will break sooner and the client will roam to a better access point. This behaviour affects access point utilisation as well. In the worst scenario the access point by the entrance covers the entire office just barely. When users arrive their devices will associate with the entrance AP and keep using it for the rest of the day. The entrance AP is overloaded while other APs are idle.

It is a trick question. D can't be, that's clear. Also C is unlikely, because the other AP is FAR away, therefore the signal would need to be very, very strong. B, the channel could only be an issue, if other APs would use the same. Therefore, it is most likely, that the handhold devices can't handle 2.4GHZ. But this is a wild Comptia construct, to increase the rates of failures. Very ugly...