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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: ExamCWNA-109], page 108; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 98.

Refraction is the bending of an RF signal as it passes through a medium with a different density than free space. This can cause the signal to change its direction and speed, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of wireless communication. Refraction is influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure12. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Radio Frequency Fundamentals, page 72; CWNA-109Study Guide, Chapter 2: Radio Frequency Fundamentals, page 67.

In the 2.4 GHz frequency band used for 802.11 wireless networks, the channel bandwidth is typically 20 MHz, but the actual frequency spread of each channel is about 22 MHz due to the modulation techniques used. This spread causes overlap between adjacent channels, which can lead to interference and degrade network performance. To avoid this, it's essential to use non-overlapping channels.

The three non-overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz band are 1, 6, and 11. Each of these channels is spaced sufficiently apart to avoid interference with each other:

Channel 1: Centered at 2.412 GHz.

Channel 6: Centered at 2.437 GHz.

Channel 11: Centered at 2.462 GHz.

Given the options provided, option C (1 and 5) is the closest to a pair of non-overlapping channels, although in practice, channel 5 would still cause some interference with channel 1 due to the 22 MHz spread. The ideal choice for non-overlapping channels would be any two channels among 1, 6, and 11, but this is not an option provided. Therefore, within the given options, 1 and 5 are the best choice, understanding that in a real-world scenario, 1 and 6 or 6 and 11 would be preferred to avoid overlap.

References:

CWNA Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109, by David D. Coleman and David A. Westcott.

Understanding 2.4 GHz channel arrangement and interference patterns in 802.11 wireless networks.

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.

Return loss is a measure of how well the components of an RF system are matched in terms of their impedance. Impedance is the opposition to the flow of alternating current in a circuit, and it depends on the frequency, resistance, capacitance, and inductance of the components. When the impedance of the source, the transmission line, and the load are not equal, some of the power is reflected back to the source, causing a loss of forward power. This loss is expressed in decibels (dB) as return loss. The higher the return loss, the lower the reflection and the better the impedance matching. Conversely, the lower the return loss, the higher the reflection and the worse the impedance matching.

VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) is another way of expressing the same concept. It is the ratio of the maximum voltage to the minimum voltage along a transmission line due to the interference of the incident and reflected waves. A VSWR of 1:1 means that there is no reflection and perfect impedance matching. A VSWR higher than 1:1 means that there is some reflection and impedance mismatch. The higher the VSWR, the higher the reflection and the lower the return loss.

Therefore, a significant impedance mismatch between components in an RF system will cause high reflection, high VSWR, and low return loss.

Discovering the scale of the problem is the next logical step in the troubleshooting process after identifying the problem of poor wireless connections on the third floor of a building under your administration. Troubleshooting is a systematic process of finding and resolving problems or issues in a network or a system. Troubleshooting usually follows a general methodology that consists of several steps or phases, such as:

Identifying the problem: This step involves defining and describing the problem clearly and accurately based on the symptoms and evidence observed or reported by users or administrators. For example, in this case, the problem is that three individuals have reported poor wireless connections on the third floor of a building.

Discovering the scale of the problem: This step involves determining how widespread and severe the problem is by gathering more information anddata from different sources and perspectives. For example, in this case, this step could involve checking if other users or devices on the third floor or other floors are experiencing similar issues, verifying if there are any changes or updates in the network configuration or environment that could affect the wireless connections, testing if there are any differences in performance or quality between different access points or channels on the third floor, etc.

Performing corrective actions: This step involves applying possible solutions or fixes to resolve or mitigate the problem based on logical reasoning and analysis. For example, in this case, this step could involve adjusting the output power or channel assignment of the access points on the third floor, relocating or reorienting some access points or antennas to improve coverage or reduce interference, updating or replacing some faulty or outdated hardware or software components, etc.

Verifying the solution: This step involves confirming that the problem is solved or improved by testing and monitoring the network performance and user satisfaction after applying corrective actions. For example, in this case, this step could involve measuring and comparing the signal strength and throughput of wireless connections on the third floor before and after performing corrective actions, asking for feedback from users who reported poor wireless connections to see if their issues are resolved or reduced, etc.

Creating a plan of action or escalating the problem: This step involves documenting and reporting the problem and its solution for future reference and improvement purposes. It also involves deciding whether to close or escalate the problem depending on its status and severity. For example, in this case, this step could involve creating a report that summarizes what was done to troubleshoot and fix poor wireless connections on the third floor with relevant data and evidence to support it. It could also involve escalating poor wireless connections to higher-level administrators if they persist or worsen despite performing corrective actions.

References: 1, Chapter 12, page

TWT is the feature of 802.11ax (HE) that is managed with beacon and trigger frames and is primarily a power management method, but also provides more efficient access to the channel used within a BSS. TWT stands for target wake time, which is a mechanism that allows an access point and a client device to negotiate and schedule specific times for data transmission and reception. This enables the client device to enter a low-power sleep mode when it is not expected to communicate with the access point, which saves battery life and reduces power consumption. TWT also reduces contention and interference on the channel used within a BSS, as it coordinates the transmissions of multiple client devices and avoids collisions. TWT is managed with beacon and trigger frames, which are two types of management frames that are used to announce and initiate data exchanges. A beacon frame is a frame that is periodically sent by an access point to advertise its presence, capabilities, and parameters to client devices. A trigger frame is a frame that is sent by an access point or a client device to request or initiate a data transmission with another device. BSS color, UL-MU-MIMO, and OFDMA are other features of 802.11ax (HE) that are not primarily power management methods, but rather performance enhancement methods. BSS color is a feature that assigns a color code to each BSS to differentiate it from other BSSs that use the same channel. This reduces interference and improves spatial reuse of the channel. UL-MU-MIMO is a feature that allows an access point to receive multiple simultaneous transmissions from different client devices using multiple spatial streams. This increases capacity and throughput of the uplink direction. OFDMA is a feature that divides a channel into smaller subchannels called resource units (RUs) that can be allocated to different devices for concurrent transmissions. This increases efficiency and flexibility of the channel utilization. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 10: Wireless LAN Operation, page 323

The tool described is a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) scanner tool. WLAN scanner tools are designed to provide information about the wireless networks in a given area, including:

Signal Strength: They show the signal strength of all access points (APs) in the vicinity, which is crucial for understanding the coverage area and potential interference.

SSID Visualization: These tools display the SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers) of available networks, allowing users to identify different wireless networks easily.

Security Settings Information: WLAN scanner tools often show the type of security implemented on each network, such as WPA2, WEP, etc.

Frequency Band Filtering: They allow users to filter and view networks based on the frequency band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz), which is useful for analyzing network distribution and planning.

While protocol analyzers, site survey utilities, and spectrum analyzers are also used in wireless networking, their functions are distinct from what is described:

Protocol Analyzersare more sophisticated and are used to capture and analyze network traffic.

Site Survey Utilitiesare used to map signal coverage and plan network layouts, often with more advanced features for detailed site surveys.

Spectrum Analyzersprovide a detailed view of the frequency spectrum and non-Wi-Fi interference but don't typically focus on SSIDs or security settings.

Thus, the correct answer is D, a WLAN scanner tool, based on the functionalities described.

References:

CWNA Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam PW0-105, by David D. Coleman and David A. Westcott.

Tools and techniques for wireless network analysis and troubleshooting.

In addition to coverage analysis results, what should be included in a post-deployment site survey report to ensure WLAN users experience acceptable performance is Capacity analysis results. Capacity analysis is a method of testing the ability of the WLAN to support the expected number and type of users, devices, and applications. Capacity analysis can help to determine the optimal number and placement of access points, the appropriate channel and power settings, the required QoS policies, and the expected throughput and latency levels. Capacity analysis results can help to verify that the WLAN meets the performance requirements and service level agreements (SLAs) of the organization. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 548; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 518.

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.