CWDP-305 CWNP Certified Wireless Design Professional Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Mounting location significantly impacts AP radiation patterns and coverage. A wall mount vs. ceiling mount can change signal distribution, SNR, and roaming performance. In such cases, the design assumptions have changed and must be reassessed. Stakeholders must be informed.

From CWDP-305:

“If deviations from the installation design occur, such as AP mounting position changes, the RF environment will likely be affected. The only responsible action is to reassess and, if needed, redesign to meet stated requirements.”

— Reference: CWDP-305 Official Study and Reference Guide, Chapter on Post-Design ValidationandTroubleshooting

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

The Duty Cycle view in a spectrum analyzer indicates the percentage of time a frequency is occupied by RF transmissions. By analyzing the duty cycle, you can assess whether a channel is too congested for additional AP deployment. A high duty cycle suggests that the channel is frequently used, which could lead to increased contention and degraded performance if another AP is added.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In 802.11n, theHigh Throughput Long Training Field (HT-LTF)is utilized by the receiver to estimate the MIMO channel characteristics necessary for demodulating spatially multiplexed signals. The number of HT-LTF symbols corresponds to the number of spatial streams being transmitted. These fields are present in bothMixed ModeandGreenfield Modepreambles.

HT-LTF in Mixed Mode:The preamble includes legacy fields (L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG) for backward compatibility, followed by HT-specific fields including HT-LTFs for MIMO channel estimation.

HT-LTF in Greenfield Mode:The preamble omits legacy fields and consists solely of HT-specific fields, including HT-LTFs, as there is no need for backward compatibility.

When designing a WLAN for applications like Telnet, which are sensitive to latency and require consistent connectivity, it's crucial to minimize co-channel interference.Reducing the AP transmit power helps in creating smaller cells, thereby limiting the overlap between adjacent APs operating on the same channel.This approach reduces contention and interference, ensuring a more stable and reliable connection for latency-sensitive applications.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

In WPA2-Enterprise networks, when a client roams from one BSS to another within the same ESS, it must perform 802.1X authentication again unless fast roaming methods like PMK caching or 802.11r are implemented. This step is not required in WPA2-Personal networks, where the pre-shared key (PSK) allows for a quicker transition without re-authentication.

In wireless RF mathematics, conversion between dBm (a logarithmic unit) and milliwatts (a linear power unit) is a foundational skill. The correct formula to convert a known dBm value to its equivalent in milliwatts (mW) is:

mW = 10^(dBm / 10)

This formula expresses the inverse of converting from mW to dBm (which is: dBm = 10 × log10(mW)).

For example:

0 dBm = 10^(0/10) = 1 mW (which is a known reference point in RF)

This allows for easy conversion of power levels in wireless design, helping to determine link budgets, path losses, and power limits.

Incorrect options:

A is a correct statement (0 dBm = 1 mW), but not a conversion formula.

B and C are incorrect algebraically and do not represent logarithmic conversion principles.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Short ASCII passphrases, especially those 12 characters or fewer, are more vulnerable to dictionary attacks. Attackers can use precomputed tables or brute-force methods to guess these passphrases, especially if they are common or simple. The WPA/WPA2-Personal security model relies on the strength of the passphrase; thus, longer and more complex passphrases significantly enhance security.

Option B:The strength of group keys in a BSS is not directly affected by the length of the passphrase but rather by the encryption protocols in use.

Option C:Regardless of the passphrase length, the Pairwise Master Key (PMK) derived is 256 bits.

Option D:Most AP and client vendors support ASCII-based passphrase entry, making this option incorrect.

For long-range point-to-point bridge links, dish antennas are preferred due to their narrow beamwidth and high gain. An 11 dBi dish antenna focuses energy more efficiently in a single direction, which reduces the amount of Intentional Radiator (IR) power needed to meet link budget requirements.

From CWDP-305:

“Dish antennas provide high gain and a narrow beam, making them ideal for point-to-point bridge links over long distances. This minimizes interference and maximizes EIRP efficiency.”

— Reference: CWDP-305 Official Study and Reference Guide, Chapter on Infrastructure Design

In wired networks, VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) are used to segment network traffic into separate broadcast domains, effectively isolating traffic for security and performance purposes.Each VLAN operates as its own distinct network segment.

In wireless networks, while VLANs are used to segregate traffic once it reaches the wired infrastructure, the wireless medium itself is inherently a shared medium.This means that, over the air, all wireless clients share the same RF space, and broadcasts are received by all clients regardless of VLAN assignment.Therefore, VLANs in wireless networks do not inherently provide the same level of broadcast domain separation as in wired networks.

When conducting a predictive site survey, it's essential to configure the simulated APs to reflect the expected real-world conditions.If dynamic Radio Resource Management (RRM) will be utilized, setting the AP transmit power to an estimated average level that matches the expected client devices, such as 25 mW, ensures that the predictive model accurately represents the operational environment.This approach helps in designing a WLAN that provides optimal coverage and performance.

A Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS) is a network security solution that monitors wireless LANs for unauthorized or malicious activity and provides real-time or automated responses. WIPS can perform a wide array of functions as outlined below:

A. Distributed protocol analysis:

WIPS sensors continuously scan wireless traffic and analyze frames to detect anomalies or policy violations in real time.

C. Performance monitoring and response:

WIPS can identify degradation in WLAN performance due to interference, misconfiguration, or rogue activity and alert administrators or take corrective action.

D. Data forensics and analysis:

WIPS platforms often include historical logging and reporting features that allow administrators to review past events and understand the timeline and impact of wireless threats.

E. Automated threat mitigation:

WIPS can automatically respond to threats by sending deauthentication frames, blocking MAC addresses, or disabling ports to mitigate rogue devices or attacks.

Note:

B. Client access to the distribution system is not a function of WIPS; it refers to client functionality in a WLAN, not a security service offered by WIPS.

“A WIPS performs functions such as rogue detection and mitigation, threat classification, forensic logging, and real-time protocol analysis. It can provide both historical analytics and proactive security enforcement.”

— CWDP-305 Study Guide, Chapter on Post-Design ValidationandTroubleshooting

In scenarios where physical access to the ceiling is restricted, such as when ladders are not permitted, using a laser distance measurer is the most accurate and cost-effective method to determine ceiling height. Laser measurers provide precise distance readings by emitting a laser beam to the target surface and calculating the time it takes for the reflection to return. This tool eliminates the need for estimations or indirect calculations, ensuring accurate measurements essential for WLAN design.

Receive sensitivity indicates the minimum signal strength at which a device can successfully receive and demodulate a signal at a specified data rate.In this case, a receive sensitivity of −82 dBm @ 18 Mbps means that the device requires a signal stronger than −82 dBm to reliably demodulate data at 18 Mbps.Therefore, the device must receive a signal with a strength greater than −82 dBm (i.e., closer to 0 dBm) to maintain that data rate.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

When analyzing a customer's existing infrastructure, obtaining read-only access to certain systems is crucial for gathering information without risking unintended changes. The systems include:

B. RADIUS:Accessing RADIUS servers allows you to review authentication logs and configurations, helping to understand how network access is managed.

C. Switches:Reviewing switch configurations and logs provides insights into network topology, VLAN assignments, and potential bottlenecks.

D. Active Directory:Access to Active Directory helps in understanding user authentication mechanisms, group policies, and organizational units, which are essential for designing access controls.

E. Routers:Examining router configurations and routing tables aids in understanding traffic flow, subnetting, and inter-network connectivity.

A. Clients:Direct access to client devices is generally unnecessary and can pose privacy concerns. Information about client behavior can often be gathered through network monitoring tools.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Including 5.5 and 11 Mbps as basic rates in a mixed 802.11b/g/n network necessitates the use of protection mechanisms, such as RTS/CTS or CTS-to-self, to prevent collisions between legacy 802.11b devices and newer 802.11g/n devices. These mechanisms introduce additional overhead, potentially reducing overall network throughput. Therefore, configuring 5.5 and 11 Mbps as basic rates will result in the constant use of protection mechanisms to maintain compatibility with 802.11b clients.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

IEEE 802.3at, also known as PoE+, provides up to 30 watts of power per port. To calculate the minimum Power over Ethernet (PoE) budget required for 6 access points (APs):

30 W/AP × 6 APs = 180 W

Therefore, a switch must have a minimum PoE budget of180 wattsto support six 802.3at-powered APs.

In a Single Channel Architecture (SCA), all access points (APs) operate on the same channel and share a virtual Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID).The wireless controller manages client associations by directing the client to the AP with the strongest Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), ensuring optimal connectivity.

The CWDP-305 Official Study and Reference Guide explains:

"Using a SCA means that all APs will be using the same channel in a given layer. How is the AP with which the client associates determined? C. All APs share a virtual BSSID. A controller will tell the closest AP to the client to communicate with it, since it has a greater RSSI from the client."

USB 3.0 interfaces are known to generate RF interference in the 2.4 GHz band due to the high-frequency noise emitted by the differential signaling in USB 3.0 cables and ports. This interference can reduce SNR, especially for devices located close to the USB port.

From CWDP-305:

“USB 3.0 cables and ports can emit broadband noise in the 2.4 GHz band, negatively impacting receive sensitivity and SNR. This can distort measurements during protocol analysis or performance testing.”

— Reference: CWDP-305 Official Study and Reference Guide, Chapter on ProtocolandSpectrum Analysis

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) messages are encapsulated withinEAP over LAN (EAPOL)frames when transmitted over 802.11 wireless networks. EAPOL operates at the data link layer and is part of the 802.1X standard, facilitating authentication between the client (supplicant) and the authentication server.

A.EAP-Fast is an EAP method, not the transport mechanism.

B.PEAP is another EAP method that encapsulates EAP within a TLS tunnel.

D.EAP-TLS is an EAP method utilizing TLS for authentication.