CWNA-109 CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

 The frame type that is used to reserve the wireless medium for the transmission of high data rate frames that may not be understood by all clients connected to the BSS is RTS. RTS stands for Request to Send and is a control frame that is sent by a station to request access to the medium for a specified duration. The RTS frame contains the source and destination MAC addresses, as well as a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) value that indicates how long the medium will be occupied. The destination station responds with a Clear to Send (CTS) frame that echoes the NAV value and grants permission to the source station. All other stations in the BSS hear either the RTS or CTS frame and update their NAV timers accordingly, deferring their transmissions until the medium is free. The RTS/CTS mechanism can be used to prevent hidden node problems, reduce collisions, and protect high data rate frames that use features such as 802.11n or 802.11ac that may not be compatible with legacy stations. ACK, Beacon, and PS-Poll are not used to reserve the medium for high data rate frames. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 112; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 102.

A pre-design site visit in preparation for a predictive wireless LAN design is essential for gathering physical and environmental data about the site. The key tasks to be performed during such a visit include:

Evaluating Building Materials: Different materials (concrete, glass, wood, etc.) have varying effects on RF signal propagation. Understanding the materials present helps in accurately predicting how signals will behave within the environment.

Floor Plan Verification: Ensuring that the floor plan documents are an accurate representation of the actual building layout is crucial. Discrepancies between the floor plans and the physical layout can lead to inaccuracies in the predictive design.

The other options, while potentially valuable in other contexts, are not directly related to preparing for a predictive design:

Installing APs (option A) for testing co-channel interference is more aligned with an active site survey rather than a pre-design visit for a predictive design.

Collecting information about security requirements (option B) is important but is not directly related to the physical aspects of the site that would impact a predictive design.

Testing antenna types (option C) would typically be part of an active site survey or the actual deployment phase, not a pre-design visit for predictive modeling.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer, focusing on evaluating physical aspects crucial for accurate predictive modeling.

Impedance is the measure of opposition to the flow of alternating current (AC) in a circuit. Impedance mismatch occurs when the impedance of the radio does not match the impedance of the antenna or the cable. This causes some of the transmitted or received signal to be reflected back, resulting in a loss of power and efficiency. The voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is a metric that indicates the amount of impedance mismatch in a transmission line. A higher VSWR means a higher impedance mismatch and a lower signal quality. A VSWR of 1:1 is ideal, meaning there is no impedance mismatch and no reflected power. A VSWR of 2:1 means that for every 2 units of forward power, there is 1 unit of reflected power12.

The other options are not correct because they do not affect the VSWR in RF cables. A high gain yagi antenna or a high gain parabolic dish antenna can increase the signal strength and directionality, but they do not cause impedance mismatch in the cable. Radio output power above 100 mW but below 400 mW is within the acceptable range for most WLAN devices and does not cause excessive VSWR in the cable3.

Granting access to specific network services or resources according to a user profile describes the authorization component of a AAA implementation. AAA stands for Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting, which are three functions that are used to control and monitor access to network resources and services. Authentication is the process of verifying that a user is who he says he is, by using credentials such as username, password, certificate, token, or biometric data. Authorization is the process of granting access to specific network services or resources according to a user profile, which defines the user’s role, privileges, and permissions. Accounting is the process of recording and reporting the usage of network services or resources by a user, such as the duration, volume, type, and location of the access. AAA can be implemented by using different protocols and servers, such as RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP, Kerberos, or Active Directory. References: 1, Chapter 11, page 449; 2, Section 7.1

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-109], page 223; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 213.

The guard interval is a short period of time inserted between the symbols of an OFDM signal to prevent inter-symbol interference and improve the robustness of the transmission1. The guard interval can have different values depending on the 802.11 standard and the configuration of the device. For example, 802.11n supports two guard intervals: 800 ns (normal) and 400 ns (short)2. 802.11ac supports the same guard intervals as 802.11n, plus an optional 200 ns guard interval for 80 MHz and 160 MHz channels3. 802.11ax supports three guard intervals: 800 ns, 1600 ns, and 3200 ns4.

The guard interval affects the data rate because it determines the duration of each symbol. A shorter guard interval means more symbols can be transmitted in a given time, resulting in a higher data rate. However, a shorter guard interval also means less protection against inter-symbol interference, which may degrade the signal quality and increase the error rate. Therefore, there is a trade-off between data rate and reliability when choosing the guard interval.

The MCS tables for HT and VHT PHY devices show the data rates for different combinations of modulation, coding, channel width, spatial streams, and guard intervals. For example, for a VHT device using MCS 9 with QAM-256 modulation, 5/6 coding rate, 80 MHz channel width, and one spatial stream, the data rate is 433.3 Mbps with a normal guard interval (800 ns) and 486.7 Mbps with a short guard interval (400 ns)2. Therefore, the guard interval impacts the data rate according to the MCS tables.

When a station scans for available wireless networks, it listens for beacon frames sent by APs. A beacon frame contains information about the BSS, such as SSID, supported rates, channel, security, etc. The station also measures the signal strength of the beacon frames, which indicates how well the station can communicate with the AP. The signal strength is usually expressed in dBm or RSSI units. The higher the signal strength, the better the connection quality and performance. Therefore, the station can use the signal strength of AP beacons as the primary metric to select the best AP for connectivity to the desired BSS12. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 6: Wireless LAN Devices and Topologies, page 249; CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 6: Wireless LAN Devices and Topologies, page 243.

An IEEE 802.11 amendment is a proposed change or addition to the existing 802.11 standard, which defines the specifications and protocols for wireless LANs. An amendment goes through several stages of development, such as draft, sponsor ballot, and final approval, before it is ratified by the IEEE Standards Association and becomes part of the standard. Until then, it has no official impact on the standard, although some vendors may release products based on draft amendments to gain a competitive edge or to influence the final outcome of the amendment . References: [CWNA-109 Study Guide], Chapter 1: Overview of Wireless Standards, Organizations, and Fundamentals, page 25; [CWNA-109 Study Guide], Chapter 1: Overview of Wireless Standards, Organizations, and Fundamentals, page 23; [IEEE website], IEEE-SA Standards Development Process.

The IEEE 802.11ax standard, also known as High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) or simply HE, includes support for operation across multiple frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and, with the appropriate regulatory approvals, the 6 GHz band. This makes option D the correct answer. Here's how it compares to the other options:

HE (802.11ax): Introduced as an enhancement over previous standards, 802.11ax is designed to improve efficiency, especially in dense environments. It supports operation in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands (the latter pending regulatory approval in various regions), making it highly versatile and future-proof.

VHT (802.11ac): Very High Throughput, or 802.11ac, operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band. It introduced significant speed improvements over its predecessor (802.11n) but does not support the 2.4 GHz or 6 GHz bands.

HT (802.11n): High Throughput, or 802.11n, supports operation in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, it does not include support for the 6 GHz band.

HR/DSSS (802.11b): High-Rate Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, or 802.11b, operates only in the 2.4 GHz band. It was one of the early Wi-Fi standards and does not support 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands.

Given these distinctions, only 802.11ax (option D) supports operation across all three mentioned bands, aligning with the requirements stated in the question.

It is a channel that may require DFS when used is an important fact that should be considered about channel 128. Channel 128 is a 5 GHz frequency band 20 MHz channel that has a center frequency of 5.64 GHz. Channel 128 is one of the channels that are subject to DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) rules, which require Wi-Fi devices to monitor and avoid using channels that are occupied by radar systems or other primary users. DFS is a feature that is defined in the IEEE 802.11h amendment and is mandated by some regulatory bodies, such as the FCC and the ETSI, to protect the licensed users of the 5 GHz band from interference by unlicensed Wi-Fi devices. DFS works by using a mechanism called channel availability check (CAC), which requires Wi-Fi devices to scan a channel for a certain period of time before using it. If a radar signal is detected during the CAC or while using the channel, the Wi-Fi devices must switch to another channel that is free from radar interference.

When configuring an access point to use channel 128, it is important to consider the implications of DFS rules, such as:

The access point must support DFS and comply with the local regulations and standards that apply to DFS channels.

The access point may experience delays or interruptions in its operation due to CAC or channel switching.

The access point may have limited channel selection or availability due to radar interference or other Wi-Fi devices using DFS channels.

The access point may have compatibility or interoperability issues with some client devices that do not support DFS or use different DFS parameters.

The access point may have performance or quality issues due to co-channel or adjacent-channel interference from other Wi-Fi devices using non-DFS channels.

Therefore, it is advisable to use channel 128 only when necessary and after performing a thorough site survey and spectrum analysis to determine the best channel for the access point. References: 1, Chapter 3, page 117; 2, Section 3.2

An access point is configured by a WLAN controller in the management plane of the three networking planes. The management plane is responsible for the configuration, administration, and monitoring of network devices, such as access points, switches, routers, and controllers. The WLAN controller communicates with the access point using a management protocol, such as CAPWAP or SNMP, to send configuration commands and receive status information. The control plane is responsible for the routing, switching, and forwarding of network traffic, such as data frames and control frames. The WLAN controller may also participate in the control plane by performing functions such as authentication, encryption, roaming, and load balancing. The security plane is responsible for the protection of network devices and data from unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. The WLAN controller may also participate in the security plane by implementing features such as firewall, VPN, IDS/IPS, and WIPS. The data plane is responsible for the transmission and reception of user data, such as voice, video, or web traffic. The WLAN controller may or may not participate in the data plane depending on the architecture of the WLAN. In some cases, the access point forwards the user data directly to the wired network without involving the WLAN controller (distributed data forwarding). In other cases, the access point tunnels the user data to the WLAN controller before forwarding it to the wired network (centralized data forwarding). References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 9: Wireless LAN Architecture, page 279

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/

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.

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.

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

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

a mesh portal is a device that connects a mesh BSS (MBSS) to an Ethernet network, such as the Internet. A mesh portal acts as a bridge between the wired and wireless domains, and allows the mesh stations to communicate with external networks. A mesh portal is also a mesh point, which means it can forward traffic within the MBSS.

The other options are not correct. Option A. Mesh Gate is a device that connects a mesh BSS (MBSS) to another mesh BSS or another wireless network, such as an infrastructure BSS or an ad hoc network2. A mesh gate acts as a gateway between different wireless domains, and allows the mesh stations to communicate with other wireless networks. A mesh gate is also a mesh point, which means it can forward traffic within the MBSS. Option B. Mesh Switch is not a valid term in the 802.11 standard. Option C. Mesh Router is also not a valid term in the 802.11 standard.

The final step in an effective troubleshooting process is to document the results. Documentation is essential for keeping track of the problem history, the actions taken, the solutions implemented, and the outcomes achieved. Documentation can also help to prevent future problems, improve best practices, and provide feedback for improvement. Documentation should include relevant information such as problem description, symptoms, root cause analysis, resolution steps, verification methods, and lessons learned. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 513; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam CWNA-109], page 483.