CWNP CWNA-108 Certified Wireless Network Administrator Exam Practice Test

TVHT stands for Television Very High Throughput and it is a PHY defined by the 802.11af amendment. It uses the TV white space (TVWS) spectrum in the VHF and UHF bands between 54 and 790 MHz, which are not in use by broadcast video signals at the time. It can provide long-range and low-power connectivity for WLAN devices.

The power level at the Intentional Radiator (IR) is 250 mW. The IR is the point where the RF signal leaves the transmitter and enters the antenna system. To calculate the power level at the IR, we need to consider the output power level of the transmitter, the loss of the cable, and the gain of the antenna. The formula is:

Power level at IR (dBm) = Output power level (dBm) - Cable loss (dB) + Antenna gain (dBi)

We can convert the output power level of 50 mW to dBm by using the formula:

Power level (dBm) = 10 * log10(Power level (mW))

Therefore, 50 mW = 10 * log10(50) = 16.99 dBm

We can plug in the values into the formula:

Power level at IR (dBm) = 16.99 - 3 + 16 = 29.99 dBm

We can convert the power level at IR from dBm to mW by using the inverse formula:

Power level (mW) = 10^(Power level (dBm) / 10)

Therefore, 29.99 dBm = 10^(29.99 / 10) = 999.96 mW

However, since we need to round off the answer to the nearest integer value, we get:

Power level at IR (mW) = 1000 mW

References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 67; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 57.

WLAN bridges must use a channel with acceptable SNR at both transceivers to maintain the desired data rate bi-directionally. A WLAN bridge is a device that connects two or more networks using the 802.11 protocol. A WLAN bridge must have a clear and strong signal between the two endpoints to ensure reliable and fast data transmission. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a measure of the quality of the signal, which depends on the distance, interference, obstacles, and antenna gain between the transceivers. A higher SNR means a better signal quality and a higher data rate. A lower SNR means a worse signal quality and a lower data rate. Therefore, a WLAN bridge must use a channel with acceptable SNR at both transceivers to maintain the desired data rate bi-directionally1.

S1G is one of the 802.11 PHYs that is more likely to be used in an industrial deployment but not likely to be used in standard office deployments. This is because S1G stands for Sub-1 GHz, which means it operates in the frequency bands below 1 GHz, such as 900 MHz and 868 MHz. These bands offer better penetration and range than the higher frequency bands used by other 802.11 PHYs, such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This makes S1G suitable for industrial applications that require robust and reliable wireless communication in harsh environments, such as factories, warehouses, mines, and smart grids. S1G also supports low-power and low-data-rate devices, such as sensors, actuators, and meters, which are common in industrial Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios. VHT, OFDM, and HT are other 802.11 PHYs that are more commonly used in standard office deployments, as they offer higher data rates and capacity than S1G, but have lower range and penetration. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 3: Radio Frequency Technologies, page 751

Patch and panel antennas are directional antenna types that are commonly used by indoor Wi-Fi devices in a MIMO multiple spatial stream implementation. These antennas have a flat rectangular shape and can be mounted on walls or ceilings to provide coverage in a specific direction. They have a moderate gain and a relatively wide beamwidth, making them suitable for multipath environments where signals can reflect off different surfaces and create multiple spatial streams. Patch and panel antennas can also support polarization diversity, which means they can transmit and receive both horizontally and vertically polarized waves, increasing the MIMO performance. References: 1, Chapter 2, page 72; 2, Section 2.4

OFDM is a modulation method that divides the channel bandwidth into multiple subcarriers, each carrying a single data symbol. This allows for higher data rates and more robust transmissions in multipath environments. OFDM was first introduced in the 802.11a standard, which operates in the 5 GHz band and supports data rates up to 54 Mbps. Later, the 802.11g standard adopted OFDM for the 2.4 GHz band, and the 802.11n and 802.11ac standards enhanced OFDM with features such as MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), channel bonding, and higher-order modulation schemes to achieve data rates up to 600 Mbps and 6.9 Gbps, respectively. These standards are collectively known as the ERP (Extended Rate PHY), HT (High Throughput), and VHT (Very High Throughput) PHYs . References: [CWNA-109 Study Guide], Chapter 4: Radio Frequency Signal and Antenna Concepts, page 163; [CWNA-108 Study Guide], Chapter 4: Radio Frequency Signal and Antenna Concepts, page 157.

To calculate the EIRP at the antenna element, we need to add the transmitter output power, subtract the cable loss, and add the antenna gain. All these values need to be converted to dBm first, if they are not already given in that unit. In this case, we have:

Transmitter output power = 50 mW = 10 log (50) dBm = 16.99 dBm Cable loss = 3 dB Antenna gain = 9 dBi

EIRP = Transmitter output power - Cable loss + Antenna gain EIRP = 16.99 - 3 + 9 EIRP = 22.99 dBm

Rounding up to the nearest integer, we get 23 dBm as the EIRP at the antenna element12. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Radio Frequency Fundamentals, page 92; CWNA-108 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Radio Frequency Fundamentals, page 88.

https://www.wlanmall.com/what-is-a-wireless-bridge/

Wireless bridging is a WLAN technology role that allows two or more networks to be connected wirelessly over a distance. A wireless bridge consists of two or more APs that are configured to operate in bridge mode and use directional antennas to establish a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint link. Wireless bridging can support high data rates and is suitable for scenarios where running cables is impractical or expensive. To create a wireless link between two buildings on a single campus that supports at least 150 Mbps data rates, wireless bridging is an appropriate solution678. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 6: Wireless LAN Devices and Topologies, page 271; CWNA-108 Study Guide, Chapter 6: Wireless LAN Devices and Topologies, page 265; Wi-Fi Wireless Bridging Explained.

In an 802.11 2.4 GHz system, channels 1 and 5 are considered non-overlapping. In the 2.4 GHz band, there are 14 channels defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard, but only 11 of them are available in North America and most other regions. Each channel has a bandwidth of 22 MHz, but they are spaced only 5 MHz apart from each other. This means that adjacent channels overlap with each other and cause interference. To avoid interference, it is recommended to use only non-overlapping channels, which are channels that do not share any frequency range with each other. In the 2.4 GHz band, there are only three non-overlapping channels: channel 1, channel 6, and channel 11. However, some devices can use channel bonding to combine two adjacent channels into one wider channel of 40 MHz, which can provide higher throughput but also more interference. In this case, there are only two non-overlapping channels: channel 1+5 and channel 6+10. References: 1, Chapter 3, page 86; 2, Section 3.2

The two IEEE amendments that should be supported to provide the management frame protection and fast secure roaming security features are 802.11r and 802.11w12.

• 802.11r (Fast BSS Transition): This amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard permits continuous connectivity aboard wireless devices in motion, with fast and secure client transitions from one Basic Service Set to another1.
• 802.11w (Management Frame Protection): This amendment increases the security of its management frames2.

An isotropic radiator is a theoretical point source of electromagnetic radiation that radiates equally in all directions. It has no physical dimensions and no preferred direction of radiation. It is used as a reference for antenna gain because it represents the ideal case of a perfect omnidirectional antenna12

Antenna gain is a measure of how well an antenna concentrates its radiated power in a certain direction. It is expressed in decibels (dB) relative to a reference antenna. When the reference antenna is an isotropic radiator, the antenna gain is denoted by dBi, which stands for decibels relative to isotropic12

For example, an antenna with a gain of 3 dBi means that it radiates 3 dB more power in its main direction than an isotropic radiator would. Conversely, an antenna with a gain of -3 dBi means that it radiates 3 dB less power in its main direction than an isotropic radiator would12

The WLAN feature that would allow the network administrator to control the network resources that can be accessed by each employee based on their department is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). RBAC is a method of assigning different permissions and policies to users or groups based on their roles in the organization. RBAC can be implemented by using VLANs, ACLs, or firewalls to restrict access to certain network segments or resources. RBAC can also be integrated with 802.1X/EAP authentication to dynamically assign roles and VLANs to users based on their credentials. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 403; [Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Wireless Networks], page 1.

A BSS (Basic Service Set) is a WLAN use case that represents an 802.11-based network that uses an AP (Access Point) and has several connecting clients. The AP acts as a central point of coordination and communication for the clients, which can include iPhones, iPads, laptops, desktops, or any other devices that have Wi-Fi capabilities. A BSS can be identified by a unique BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier), which is usually the MAC address of the AP’s radio interface. A BSS can also be associated with an SSID (Service Set Identifier), which is a human-readable name that identifies the network. References: , Chapter 1, page 23; , Section 1.1

The RF energy that exists in the environment from intentional and unintentional RF radiators that forms the baseline above which the intentional signal of your WLAN must exist is the best explanation of the noise floor noted in the report. The noise floor is a term that describes the level of background noise or interference in a wireless channel or band. The noise floor is measured in dBm (decibel-milliwatts) and it represents the minimum signal strength that can be detected or received by a wireless device. The noise floor is influenced by various factors, such as the sensitivity of the receiver, the antenna gain, the cable loss, and the ambient RF environment. The ambient RF environment consists of intentional and unintentional RF radiators that emit RF energy in the wireless spectrum. Intentional RF radiators are devices that are designed to transmit RF signals for communication purposes, such as Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, or cordless phones. Unintentional RF radiators are devices that are not designed to transmit RF signals but generate electromagnetic radiation as a by-product of their operation, such as USB 3 devices, PC power supplies, or fluorescent lights. The noise floor affects WLAN performance and quality because it determines the minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that is required for a successful wireless transmission. SNR is the difference between the signal strength of the desired signal and the noise floor of the channel. SNR is also measured in dB and it indicates how much the signal stands out from the noise. A higher SNR means a better signal quality and a lower bit error rate. A lower SNR means a worse signal quality and a higher bit error rate. Therefore, to achieve a reliable WLAN connection, the intentional signal of your WLAN must exist above the noise floor by a certain margin that depends on the data rate and modulation scheme used. The other options are not accurate or complete explanations of the noise floor noted in the report. The noise caused by elevators, microwave ovens, and video transmitters is not the noise floor but rather examples of interference sources that contribute to the noise floor. The extra energy radiated by access points and client devices beyond that intended for the signal is not the noise floor but rather an example of spurious emissions that cause interference to other devices or channels. The energy radiated by flooring materials that causes interference in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands is not the noise floor but rather an example of attenuation or reflection that reduces or changes the direction of the signal. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 5: Radio Frequency Signal and Antenna Concepts, page 139

The feature of 802.11ax (HE) that provides this functionality is OFDMA. OFDMA stands for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access and is a technology that allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously on the same channel in the same BSS. OFDMA works by dividing a channel into smaller subchannels called Resource Units (RUs), which are composed of groups of subcarriers or tones. Each RU can be assigned to a different device based on its bandwidth requirement and signal quality. This way, OFDMA can increase the efficiency and capacity of the channel by reducing overhead, contention, and latency. OFDMA can also support both uplink and downlink multi-user transmissions using trigger frames and buffer status reports. 6 GHz support, TWT, and Wi-Fi-LTE are not features of 802.11ax that provide this functionality. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 226; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 216.

The common spectrum analyzer view that you should use for this analysis is the Waterfall/Spectrogram view. The Waterfall/Spectrogram view shows the signal from the interfering device over time on a three-dimensional graph. The x-axis represents frequency, the y-axis represents time, and the z-axis represents amplitude or power. The color of each pixel indicates the signal strength at a given frequency and time. The Waterfall/Spectrogram view can help you identify the characteristics of the interference source, such as its frequency range, duty cycle, modulation type, and pattern. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 524; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 494.

The unit of measurement that is an absolute unit and is used to quantify received signal power levels on a logarithmic scale is dBm. dBm stands for decibel-milliwatt and represents the power level relative to 1 milliwatt (mW). dBm is an absolute unit because it has a fixed reference point and does not depend on the input power level. dBm is used to measure the received signal power levels on a logarithmic scale because it can express large variations in power levels with small numbers and make calculations easier. For example, a 10 dB increase in power level means a 10-fold increase in power, and a 20 dB increase means a 100-fold increase in power. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 66; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 56.

Station-to-station traffic blocking is a security feature that prevents wireless clients from communicating with each other on the same network. This can prevent active attacks such as man-in-the-middle, ARP spoofing, or denial-of-service that hackers may launch from their devices against other users in a public Wi-Fi hotspot. By enabling station-to-station traffic blocking by the access points in the hotel, Lynne can decrease the likelihood of such attacks on his customers’ wireless computers. This feature can be configured on most wireless APs or controllers345. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 10: Wireless LAN Security, page 427; CWNA-108 Study Guide, Chapter 10: Wireless LAN Security, page 417; Wireless Station-to-Station Traffic Being Blocked.

The clients are 802.11n devices. 802.11n devices can only support a maximum of four spatial streams, and the maximum data rate for a single spatial stream is 150 Mbps. Therefore, if most clients are only achieving 150 Mbps, it means they are using only one spatial stream, which is typical for 802.11n devices. To achieve higher data rates, the clients would need to support more spatial streams, which is possible with 802.11ax devices12.

The other options are not correct because they do not explain why most clients are only achieving 150 Mbps. Option B is incorrect because two stream 802.11ax clients can achieve data rates of up to 574 Mbps in a 20 MHz channel1. Option C is incorrect because contention caused by an overlapping BSS would affect all clients, not just most of them, and it would also reduce the throughput, not the data rate. Option D is incorrect because non-Wi-Fi interference in the channel would also affect all clients, not just most of them, and it would also cause errors and retransmissions, not lower data rates.

References: 1: CWNA-108 Official Study Guide, page 144 2: 802.11ax data rates

A 5 GHz channel should be used for this AP because channels 1 and 6 are 2.4 GHz channels and they have no impact on the decision. The 5 GHz frequency band offers more non-overlapping channels than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which reduces interference and improves performance. The 5 GHz frequency band also supports higher data rates and wider channel bandwidths than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which increases capacity and throughput. The 5 GHz frequency band also has less interference from other devices and sources than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which enhances reliability and quality of service. Therefore, it is recommended to use the 5 GHz frequency band for WLANs whenever possible. Channels 1 and 6 are two of the three non-overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz frequency band (the other one is channel 11). They are used by a neighbor network in this scenario, but they do not affect the channel selection for this AP because they operate in a different frequency band than the 5 GHz frequency band. Channel 6 is not always best to use; it depends on the interference and congestion level in the environment. Channel 1 is not best to use because it has a lower frequency than channel 6; frequency does not determine channel quality or performance. Channel 11 is not best to use because it is also a 2.4 GHz channel and it may interfere with channels 1 and 6. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 4: Antenna Systems and Radio Frequency (RF) Components, page 113

The center frequency of channel 4 in the 2.4 GHz band is 2.427 GHz (2427 MHz). The center frequency of a channel is the midpoint of its frequency range, where the signal strength is highest and most concentrated. The center frequency of channel 1 in the 2.4 GHz band is 2.412 GHz (2412 MHz), as given in the question. The center frequency of each subsequent channel is obtained by adding 5 MHz to the previous channel’s center frequency, since the channels are spaced 5 MHz apart from each other in this band. Therefore, to find the center frequency of channel 4, we need to add 15 MHz (5 MHz x 3) to the center frequency of channel 1:

2.412 GHz + 0.015 GHz = 2.427 GHz

Alternatively, we can use a formula to calculate the center frequency of any channel in the 2.4 GHz band:

Center frequency (GHz) = 2.407 + (0.005 x Channel number)

Using this formula for channel 4, we get:

Center frequency (GHz) = 2.407 + (0.005 x 4)

Center frequency (GHz) = 2.407 + 0.02

Center frequency (GHz) = 2.427 References: 1, Chapter 3, page 85; 2, Section 3.2

VHT stands for Very High Throughput, which is a physical layer (PHY) specification that supports the 5 GHz frequency band and supports 80 MHz channels. VHT is used by the IEEE 802.11ac standard, which is also known as Wi-Fi 5. VHT allows for higher data rates and more spatial streams than the previous HT (High Throughput) PHY, which is used by the IEEE 802.11n standard, also known as Wi-Fi 4. HT supports the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, but only supports up to 40 MHz channels12

The other options are not correct because:

• ERP (option C) stands for Extended Rate PHY, which is a physical layer specification that supports the 2.4 GHz frequency band and supports up to 20 MHz channels. ERP is used by the IEEE 802.11g standard, which is also known as Wi-Fi 3. ERP allows for higher data rates than the previous DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) PHY, which is used by the IEEE 802.11b standard, also known as Wi-Fi 234
• OFDM (option D) stands for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, which is a modulation technique that divides a signal into multiple subcarriers that are spaced orthogonally to each other. OFDM is not a physical layer specification, but a common feature of many PHY specifications, including ERP, HT, and VHT. OFDM allows for higher spectral efficiency and robustness against multipath interference than the previous CCK (Complementary Code Keying) modulation technique used by DSSS34

Calibrating the floor plan is what you must do before gathering survey data after the floor plan is imported when using a site survey tool for post-implementation validation. A site survey tool is a software application that can run on a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other device that has a Wi-Fi adapter and a GPS receiver. A site survey tool can scan the wireless environment and collect information about the detected access points and client stations, such as their SSID, BSSID, channel, signal strength, security, and data rate. A site survey tool can also measure and display various metrics of network performance, such as throughput, jitter, packet loss, delay, and SNR. A site survey tool can also use a floor plan to visualize the wireless coverage and quality in different locations on a map. A floor plan is an image file that shows the layout and dimensions of a building or an area where the WLAN is deployed. A floor plan can be imported from various sources, such as a CAD file, a PDF file, an image file, or a Google Maps screenshot. After importing a floor plan into a site survey tool, it is necessary to calibrate the floor plan before gathering survey data. Calibrating the floor plan means adjusting the scale and orientation of the floor plan to match the actual size and direction of the area. Calibrating the floor plan can be done by using a reference point or a reference line that has a known distance or angle in the real world. Calibrating the floor plan ensures that the survey data is accurate and consistent with the physical environment. References: 1, Chapter 7, page 290; 2, Section 4.3

The term used to describe the problem in this configuration is Co-Channel Interference (CCI)1. CCI occurs when multiple access points are on the same or overlapping channels, causing interference and degradation in network performance1. In this case, one AP is on channel 1 and the other is on channel 2, which are overlapping channels, leading to CCI1.

Passive Gain is the increase of RF energy in an intentional direction with the use of an antenna. It is achieved by focusing the same amount of power into a smaller area, resulting in a higher power density and a stronger signal. Passive Gain does not require any additional power or amplification, but rather depends on the antenna’s physical characteristics, such as size, shape, and orientation. Passive Gain is also expressed in decibels (dB) and is related to the antenna’s beamwidth and directivity. References: 1, Chapter 2, page 63; 2, Section 2.3

PoE has different standards that define different power levels for PSEs and PDs. The original standard, IEEE 802.3af, defines two classes of PSEs: Class 3 (15.4 W) and Class 4 (30 W). The newer standard, IEEE 802.3at, also known as PoE+, defines four classes of PSEs: Class 0 (15.4 W), Class 1 (4 W), Class 2 (7 W), and Class 3 (12.95 W). The power level received at the PD is always lower than the power level provided by the PSE, due to cable resistance and power dissipation. The IEEE standards specify the minimum power level that must be received at the PD for each class of PSE. For a Class 4 PSE, the minimum power level received at the PD is 25.5 W910. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 7: Power over Ethernet (PoE), page 295; CWNA-108 Study Guide, Chapter 7: Power over Ethernet (PoE), page 289.

Based on the information given, what can be determined as certainly true about this AP is that it has 4 radio chains. A radio chain is a hardware component that consists of an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) amplifier, and a transceiver. The number of radio chains indicates how many spatial streams an AP can transmit or receive simultaneously using Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology. The notation x:y:z in an AP specification denotes the number of radio chains (x), the number of spatial streams (y), and the number of spatial streams per band (z). Therefore, a tri-band, 4x4:4, Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ax AP has four radio chains in each of its three bands (2.4 GHz, low 5 GHz, and high 5 GHz). It also supports four spatial streams in total and four spatial streams per band. It cannot be determined as certainly true that it supports four channels in each band, UL-MU-MIMO, or uses a modified OpenWRT firmware based on the information given. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 223; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 213.

The solution that you recommend is an Overlay WLAN monitoring solution. An Overlay WLAN monitoring solution is a system that uses dedicated sensors or probes to monitor the WLAN performance over time. The sensors are deployed throughout the WLAN coverage area and collect data on various metrics such as signal strength, noise level, channel utilization, interference, throughput, latency, packet loss, and QoS. The sensors send the data to a centralized server or appliance that analyzes the data and provides a single pane of glass for administration and monitoring of the solution. An Overlay WLAN monitoring solution can help to detect and troubleshoot WLAN issues, optimize WLAN performance, and generate reports and alerts. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 538; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 508.

A probe request frame is a management frame that is sent by a client station to discover available wireless networks in its vicinity. A probe request can be either unicast or broadcast, depending on whether it specifies a particular SSID (Service Set Identifier) or a wildcard SSID. A broadcast probe request with a wildcard SSID is used to solicit responses from all APs within range, regardless of their SSIDs. Each AP that receives a broadcast probe request prepares a probe response frame that contains information about its network, such as SSID, supported rates, channel, security, etc. However, before sending the probe response, each AP must contend for the medium using the CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) protocol, which is the basic access method for 802.11 WLANs. This means that each AP must sense the channel for a DIFS (Distributed Interframe Space) interval, which is longer than a SIFS interval, and then generate a random backoff time before transmitting. This reduces the probability of collisions and ensures fair access to the medium among multiple APs. Therefore, each AP responds in turn after preparing a probe response and winning contention . References: [CWNA-109 Study Guide], Chapter 5: IEEE 802.11 Medium Access, page 215; [CWNA-108 Study Guide], Chapter 5: IEEE 802.11 Medium Access, page 209; [CWNA-109 Study Guide], Chapter 6: Wireless LAN Devices and Topologies, page 255.

A common problem that causes this scenario is captive portal issues. A captive portal is a web page that requires users to authenticate or accept terms and conditions before accessing the Internet through a WLAN. A captive portal is often used for guest networks to provide security and control over the network access. A captive portal works by intercepting the user’s web requests and redirecting them to the portal page until the user completes the required action. However, sometimes the captive portal may not work properly due to various reasons, such as browser settings, firewall rules, DNS configuration, or network errors. This can prevent the user from browsing the Internet or seeing the portal page. To troubleshoot captive portal issues, you can try to use a different browser, clear the browser cache and cookies, disable any VPN or proxy settings, manually enter the portal URL, or contact the network administrator. NTP issues, hardware issues, or IP routing issues are not common problems that cause this scenario. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 343; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 333.

The fact that is true regarding controllers and APs in a Split MAC architecture is that an IP tunnel is established between the AP and controller for AP management and control functions. A Split MAC architecture is a WLAN architecture where some of the MAC layer functions are performed by the APs (such as encryption, decryption, and frame acknowledgement) and some are performed by the controllers (such as authentication, association, roaming, and QoS). To communicate with each other, the APs and controllers establish an IP tunnel that carries the management and control frames between them. The IP tunnel can use protocols such as Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) or Control And Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP). References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 372; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 362.

Airtime Utilization is a per-channel statistic that defines what percentage of the channel is currently being used, and what percentage is therefore free. Airtime usage can come from: Data traffic to and from client devices. Interference from WiFi and non-WiFi sources. Management overhead from APs and client devices. https://wyebot.com/2019/06/06/understanding-airtime-utilization/

 The data rate of a signal is the speed that the data bits in individual 802.11 data frames are sent, but it does not account for the actual amount of data that can be transmitted over time. The throughput of a connection is the flow of information over time, which is affected by various factors such as data encoding, modulation, encryption, airtime utilization, noise levels, interference, etc. Therefore, the throughput is always lower than the data rate. According to one of the web search results1, the actual throughput is normally 60-70 percent of the supported data rates. So, for a connection with a data rate of 150 Mbps, the expected throughput would be around 90-105 Mbps.

What prevents each station from using all the airtime when other client stations are actively communicating in the same BSS is CSMA/CA. CSMA/CA stands for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance and is a media access control method used by WLAN devices to share the wireless medium. CSMA/CA works by having each station sense the medium before transmitting a frame. If the medium is busy (i.e., another station is transmitting), the station defers its transmission until the medium is idle. If the medium is idle, the station waits for a random backoff period before transmitting. This way, CSMA/CA reduces the chances of collisions and ensures fair access to the medium for all stations. CSMA/CA also uses positive acknowledgements to confirm successful transmissions and retransmissions to recover from errors. CSMA/CD, DOS prevention, and OFDMA are not used by WLAN devices in a BSS. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-107], page 108; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-106], page 98.

An IBSS is used instead of a BSS is a network configuration that would result in multiple stations broadcasting Beacon frames with the same BSSID but with different source addresses. An IBSS (Independent Basic Service Set) is a type of WLAN that does not use an AP but rather allows stations to communicate directly with each other in a peer-to-peer manner. An IBSS is also known as an ad-hoc network or a peer-to-peer network. In an IBSS, each station generates its own Beacon frames to announce its presence and capabilities to other stations within range. The Beacon frames have the same BSSID, which is randomly generated by one of the stations when creating the IBSS, but they have different source addresses, which are the MAC addresses of each station’s radio interface. The BSSID is used to identify the IBSS and prevent stations from joining other IBSSs with different BSSIDs. References: , Chapter 1, page 25; , Section 1.1

The client drivers are faulty and should be upgraded is the likely problem for the laptop that can see and connect to 2.4 GHz APs, but does not even see 5 GHz APs. The client drivers are the software components that enable the wireless adapter of the laptop to communicate with the operating system and the network. The client drivers are responsible for scanning the available wireless channels, detecting and connecting to the access points, negotiating the security and data rate parameters, and transmitting and receiving data frames. If the client drivers are faulty, outdated, or incompatible, they may cause various issues with the wireless performance and functionality, such as low data rates, poor signal strength, frequent disconnections, or inability to see or connect to certain access points or channels.

One of the possible causes of faulty client drivers is that they do not support or recognize some of the features or standards of the 802.11ac technology, such as wider channel bandwidths, higher modulation schemes, or DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels. This could explain why the laptop can see and connect to 2.4 GHz APs, but not 5 GHz APs, as 802.11ac operates only in the 5 GHz band and uses channels that are wider (up to 160 MHz) and higher (up to channel 165) than those used by previous standards. Moreover, some of the 5 GHz channels are subject to DFS rules, which require the access points and client stations to monitor and avoid using channels that are occupied by radar systems or other primary users. If the client drivers do not support or comply with DFS rules, they may not be able to see or connect to access points that use DFS channels.

To solve this problem, the client drivers should be upgraded to the latest version that supports and is compatible with 802.11ac features and standards. This can be done by downloading and installing the updated driver software from the manufacturer’s website or using a device manager tool. Upgrading the client drivers may also improve other aspects of wireless performance and functionality, such as data rates, signal strength, security, and stability. References: 1, Chapter 12, page 493; 2, Section 8.1