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Cisco WLCOR 350-101 study materials
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Cisco WLCOR 350-101 practice questions

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Question 1Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

In free space, what happens to the wavelength of an RF signal as its frequency increases?

  1. It increases
  2. It decreases Correct answer.
  3. It becomes numerically equal to the frequency
  4. It remains constant

Explanation

Wavelength equals the speed of propagation divided by frequency, so the two quantities are inversely proportional. Doubling the frequency halves the wavelength.

Question 2Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

What power level does 0 dBm represent?

  1. 0 mW
  2. 1 mW Correct answer.
  3. 10 mW
  4. 100 mW

Explanation

The dBm scale is referenced to 1 milliwatt, so 0 dBm is exactly 1 mW. Positive values represent more than 1 mW and negative values represent less.

Question 3Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

In the FCC regulatory domain, which group of 2.4 GHz channels forms a non-overlapping set?

  1. 2, 5, 9
  2. 1, 5, 10
  3. 1, 2, 3
  4. 1, 6, 11 Correct answer.

Explanation

2.4 GHz channels are numbered 5 MHz apart while each occupies roughly 20 MHz of spectrum, so five channel numbers of separation are needed to avoid overlap. Channels 1, 6, and 11 provide that spacing in North America.

Question 4Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which description best matches the amplitude of an RF wave?

  1. The waveform's magnitude from its center line Correct answer.
  2. The number of cycles completed each second
  3. The angular orientation of the electric field
  4. The time taken by one complete cycle

Explanation

Amplitude describes how far the waveform deviates from its resting value and is what corresponds to signal strength. Frequency, period, and polarization each describe a different property of the same wave.

Question 5Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

How is signal-to-noise ratio defined at a receiver?

  1. The ratio of received signal power to noise power Correct answer.
  2. The sum of transmit power and antenna gain
  3. The ratio of forwarded frames to retransmitted frames
  4. The total power radiated by the access point

Explanation

SNR compares the desired signal level with the noise present in the same channel, normally expressed in dB. A larger ratio means the signal stands out more clearly and denser modulation becomes usable.

Question 6Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which frequency band does 802.11ac use?

  1. 5 GHz only Correct answer.
  2. 6 GHz only
  3. 2.4 GHz only
  4. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

Explanation

802.11ac was written as a 5 GHz amendment, and its wider channels and higher-order modulation apply in that band. Operation in 2.4 GHz continued under 802.11n.

Question 7Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which antenna type radiates energy equally in every direction and serves as the reference for dBi?

  1. A half-wave dipole
  2. An isotropic radiator Correct answer.
  3. A patch antenna
  4. A parabolic dish

Explanation

An isotropic radiator is a theoretical point source that spreads power uniformly over a sphere, which is why gain measured against it is written in dBi. Real antennas concentrate energy and therefore show positive gain over this reference.

Question 8Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which 5 GHz sub-band spans 5150 to 5250 MHz and is designated for indoor low-power operation in the United States?

  1. UNII-3
  2. UNII-1 Correct answer.
  3. UNII-2C
  4. UNII-2A

Explanation

UNII-1 covers 5150 to 5250 MHz and is limited to indoor use at reduced power in the US. The remaining UNII sub-bands occupy successively higher ranges with different rules.

Question 9Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

An AP radio transmits at 17 dBm, the cable loss to the antenna is 1 dB, and the antenna gain is 6 dBi. What is the EIRP?

  1. 23 dBm
  2. 11 dBm
  3. 24 dBm
  4. 22 dBm Correct answer.

Explanation

EIRP equals transmit power minus cable loss plus antenna gain: 17 - 1 + 6 = 22 dBm. In the dB domain losses are always subtracted and gains added.

Question 10Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

By how many dB does the power level rise when a transmitter's output is doubled?

  1. +10 dB
  2. +3 dB Correct answer.
  3. +2 dB
  4. +6 dB

Explanation

A doubling of power equals 10 log10(2), which is approximately 3 dB. The same rule works in reverse, so halving power is a 3 dB decrease.

Question 11Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A transmitter's output rises from 100 mW to 1 W. How much does the level change in dB?

  1. +1 dB
  2. +3 dB
  3. +20 dB
  4. +10 dB Correct answer.

Explanation

1 W is 1000 mW, a tenfold increase over 100 mW, and each tenfold change equals 10 dB. The level therefore rises by 10 dB.

Question 12Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

When planning a point-to-point bridge, approximately what percentage of the first Fresnel zone should be kept clear of obstructions?

  1. 40 percent
  2. 60 percent Correct answer.
  3. 20 percent
  4. 100 percent

Explanation

Keeping at least 60 percent of the first Fresnel zone unobstructed preserves most of the signal energy and avoids significant diffraction loss. Full clearance is better but rarely achievable over long spans.

Question 13Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which mechanism in OFDM primarily mitigates intersymbol interference caused by multipath delay spread?

  1. A higher MCS index
  2. The guard interval between symbols Correct answer.
  3. Band steering between radios
  4. Wider channel bonding

Explanation

OFDM inserts a guard interval with a cyclic prefix before each symbol so delayed echoes fade before the next symbol is sampled. This prevents delayed copies from corrupting the following symbol.

Question 14Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A long, narrow warehouse aisle needs coverage along its length with minimal spill into surrounding areas. Which antenna choice fits best?

  1. An isotropic antenna centered in the aisle
  2. An omnidirectional dipole at ceiling height
  3. A directional antenna aimed down the aisle Correct answer.
  4. A ceiling antenna with a 360-degree pattern

Explanation

A directional antenna concentrates energy along the aisle, extending usable range in the wanted direction while limiting coverage elsewhere. Broad-pattern antennas spread the same power over directions where coverage is not needed.

Question 15Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

For antennas of the same design family, what is the relationship between beamwidth and gain?

  1. Narrower beamwidth concentrates energy and raises gain Correct answer.
  2. Narrower beamwidth raises gain only below 3 GHz
  3. Narrower beamwidth reduces antenna gain in both bands
  4. Beamwidth has no effect on antenna gain

Explanation

Gain comes from focusing radiated energy into a smaller volume of space, so a tighter beam produces higher power density in the covered area. A wider beam spreads the same energy over a larger area at lower gain.

Question 16Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

An administrator configures an 80 MHz channel starting at 5 GHz channel 36 in the US. Which 20 MHz channels does it occupy?

  1. 36 through 40
  2. 36 through 44
  3. 36 through 64
  4. 36 through 48 Correct answer.

Explanation

An 80 MHz channel is built from four contiguous 20 MHz channels, so starting at 36 it spans 36, 40, 44, and 48. Channel 52 and above belong to the next 80 MHz block.

Question 17Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

What does MIMO spatial multiplexing do for a wireless link?

  1. It doubles transmit power on each stream
  2. It transmits multiple independent data streams Correct answer.
  3. It converts 5 GHz traffic into 2.4 GHz traffic
  4. It narrows the beam to extend range

Explanation

Spatial multiplexing sends separate data streams over multiple antennas within the same channel, multiplying throughput rather than range. It depends on a multipath-rich environment to keep the streams separable at the receiver.

Question 18Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A site survey records -65 dBm in one office and -75 dBm in another. How do the readings compare?

  1. -65 dBm is stronger by 10 dB Correct answer.
  2. The readings are equal because both values are negative
  3. -65 dBm is stronger by 0.1 dB
  4. -75 dBm is stronger by 10 dB

Explanation

dBm is a logarithmic scale referenced to 1 mW, so the less negative value represents more power; -65 dBm is 10 dB above -75 dBm. That 10 dB gap corresponds to roughly ten times the received power.

Question 19Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

How does free-space path loss behave as distance and frequency increase?

  1. It stays constant regardless of distance in free space
  2. It decreases with distance and increases with frequency
  3. It increases with distance and decreases with frequency
  4. It increases with both distance and frequency Correct answer.

Explanation

Free-space path loss grows with the square of distance and with the square of frequency in linear terms. In dB it rises by roughly 6 dB each time either distance or frequency is doubled.

Question 20Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Two clients report the same RSSI, but one has an SNR of 30 dB and the other 10 dB. What is the most likely result?

  1. The 10 dB client will negotiate a higher MCS index
  2. Both clients will negotiate identical data rates
  3. The 30 dB client can support a higher MCS and data rate Correct answer.
  4. The 30 dB client will negotiate a lower data rate

Explanation

A higher SNR supports denser modulation and less redundant coding, so the client with 30 dB SNR can operate at a higher MCS index. The 10 dB client must fall back to more robust coding at a lower rate.

Question 21Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A 20 MHz channel shows a noise floor of -101 dBm. Assuming the same noise power spectral density, what is the approximate noise floor of a 40 MHz channel?

  1. -95 dBm
  2. -98 dBm Correct answer.
  3. -101 dBm
  4. -104 dBm

Explanation

Doubling the channel width doubles the noise power collected, which adds 3 dB: -101 + 3 = -98 dBm. Wider channels therefore raise the noise floor and reduce SNR for a given signal level.

Question 22Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A radio outputs 14 dBm into a cable with 2 dB of loss, feeding an antenna rated at 9 dBd. What is the approximate EIRP?

  1. 23 dBm Correct answer.
  2. 18 dBm
  3. 21 dBm
  4. 25 dBm

Explanation

A 9 dBd rating converts to about 11.15 dBi, so EIRP = 14 - 2 + 11.15 = 23.15, or roughly 23 dBm. Failing to apply the 2.15 dB conversion between dBd and dBi produces the wrong total.

Question 23Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

How many bits does a single 256-QAM symbol carry?

  1. 4
  2. 10
  3. 8 Correct answer.
  4. 6

Explanation

256-QAM defines 256 distinct symbol states, and since 2^8 = 256, each symbol carries 8 bits. Higher-order schemes such as 1024-QAM carry 10 bits per symbol.

Question 24Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A link has 20 dBm EIRP, 100 dB of free-space path loss, 0 dBi at the receiving antenna, and a receiver sensitivity of -82 dBm. What is the approximate fade margin?

  1. 12 dB
  2. 2 dB Correct answer.
  3. 82 dB
  4. 20 dB

Explanation

Received power is 20 - 100 + 0 = -80 dBm, and the fade margin is that level minus sensitivity: -80 - (-82) = 2 dB. Such a small margin leaves almost no allowance for fading or interference.

Question 25Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

How does OFDMA in 802.11ax differ from the OFDM used in earlier amendments?

  1. It requires a 160 MHz channel for every transmission
  2. It replaces OFDM subcarriers with a single wideband carrier
  3. It splits a channel into resource units shared by several clients at once Correct answer.
  4. It removes the need for guard intervals between symbols

Explanation

OFDMA assigns subsets of subcarriers, called resource units, to different clients within a single transmission, which improves efficiency for small frames. Plain OFDM in earlier standards gave the whole channel to one client at a time.

Question 26Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which IEEE 802.11 amendment first added support for operation in the 6 GHz frequency band, marketed as Wi-Fi 6E?

  1. 802.11n
  2. 802.11ac
  3. 802.11ax Correct answer.
  4. 802.11g

Explanation

Wi-Fi 6E is the extension of 802.11ax that permits operation in the 6 GHz band, in addition to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Earlier amendments were limited to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Question 27Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Which term describes the bending of an RF wave as it passes the edge of a solid obstruction?

  1. Diffraction Correct answer.
  2. Absorption
  3. Reflection
  4. Refraction

Explanation

Diffraction occurs when a wave encounters the edge of an obstacle and bends around it, which is why coverage can exist in shadowed areas with no direct path. The amount of bending increases as the size of the obstacle approaches the signal wavelength.

Question 28Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

When designing for high client density, which characteristic of the 5 GHz band makes it preferable to the 2.4 GHz band?

  1. Fewer usable channels overall
  2. More non-overlapping channels Correct answer.
  3. Greater maximum range per AP
  4. Better penetration through walls

Explanation

The 5 GHz band contains many more usable channels than 2.4 GHz, where only three 20 MHz channels (typically 1, 6, and 11) do not overlap. More independent channels allow more APs to be placed without co-channel interference.

Question 29Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A point-to-point bridge currently uses 14 dBi directional antennas at both ends. Both are replaced with 20 dBi models of the same design, and nothing else is changed. Approximately how much additional link margin is gained?

  1. 12 dB Correct answer.
  2. 40 dB
  3. 6 dB
  4. 20 dB

Explanation

Antenna gain adds to the link budget at both ends of the path: the transmit antenna focuses more energy toward the receiver, and the receive antenna collects more energy. Each end contributes the same 6 dB increase, giving a combined 12 dB improvement.

Question 30Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

A receiver has a sensitivity of -82 dBm and a noise floor of -95 dBm at that same point. What signal-to-noise ratio does the receiver require to operate at its sensitivity?

  1. -13 dB
  2. 7 dB
  3. 13 dB Correct answer.
  4. 23 dB

Explanation

SNR is the difference between the signal level and the noise floor, so it equals -82 dBm minus -95 dBm, which is 13 dB. A positive value confirms the signal is above the noise.

Question 31Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

An office has several co-channel 2.4 GHz APs and suffers from heavy contention. Which channel width should the APs be configured with to reduce co-channel interference?

  1. 40 MHz
  2. 20 MHz Correct answer.
  3. 80 MHz
  4. 160 MHz

Explanation

Only three non-overlapping 20 MHz channels exist in the 2.4 GHz band in most regulatory domains. Using 20 MHz channels maximizes the number of independent channels and avoids consuming spectrum that overlaps neighboring APs.

Question 32Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

As a client walks slowly along a corridor, its RSSI swings between about -55 dBm and -72 dBm over very short distances. What most likely explains this behavior?

  1. Co-channel interference
  2. Multipath fading Correct answer.
  3. Absorption by people nearby
  4. Free-space path loss

Explanation

Reflected copies of the signal arrive at the receiver with different phases and combine constructively or destructively. Small changes in position shift these phase relationships, producing deep, rapid swings in received level.

Question 33Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

An AP radio outputs a fixed 20 dBm. The antenna cable has 4 dB of loss, and the resulting link margin at the far end is 3 dB. The cable is replaced with a 1 dB loss cable and nothing else changes. What is the new link margin?

  1. 1.5 dB
  2. 6 dB Correct answer.
  3. 4 dB
  4. 3 dB

Explanation

Reducing cable loss from 4 dB to 1 dB raises the delivered power by 3 dB, which increases EIRP by the same 3 dB. Because margin is expressed in decibels, this adds directly to the existing 3 dB, giving 6 dB.

Question 34Wireless fundamentals and RF principles

Two linearly polarized directional antennas form a point-to-point link aligned for maximum signal. One antenna is then rotated 45 degrees about its axis. Approximately how much signal is lost?

  1. No loss
  2. About 10 dB
  3. About 3 dB Correct answer.
  4. About 1 dB

Explanation

Linear polarization mismatch attenuates the signal by the cosine of the angle between the two antennas. A 45-degree offset gives a factor of about 0.707, which corresponds to roughly 3 dB of loss.

Question 35Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which site survey type estimates coverage from a floor plan and RF propagation software before any access point is installed?

  1. Passive site survey
  2. Predictive site survey Correct answer.
  3. Active site survey
  4. Spectrum analysis survey

Explanation

A predictive, or virtual, survey uses the floor plan plus a propagation model to estimate AP placement and coverage before hardware exists. Passive and active surveys both require live APs, and spectrum analysis measures interference rather than modeling coverage.

Question 36Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which group of channels provides three non-overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz band in North America?

  1. Channels 2, 6, and 10
  2. Channels 1, 7, and 13
  3. Channels 1, 6, and 11 Correct answer.
  4. Channels 1, 5, and 9

Explanation

In North America the 2.4 GHz band covers channels 1 through 11, and only 1, 6, and 11 are spaced five channels apart so their signals do not overlap. Any other combination produces partial overlap and adjacent-channel interference.

Question 37Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which expression correctly calculates the EIRP of an access point?

  1. Antenna gain − TX power − cable loss
  2. TX power − antenna gain + cable loss
  3. TX power − cable loss + antenna gain Correct answer.
  4. TX power + cable loss + antenna gain

Explanation

EIRP is the effective power leaving the antenna system: radio transmit power, minus feedline loss, plus antenna gain. Cable loss always reduces the power that reaches the radiating element.

Question 38Wireless design and site survey concepts

How much does doubling an access point's transmit power increase the signal level in dB?

  1. 3 dB Correct answer.
  2. 1 dB
  3. 2 dB
  4. 10 dB

Explanation

A 3 dB change corresponds to a factor of two in linear power, so doubling the transmit power adds 3 dB. A 10 dB change would represent a factor of ten.

Question 39Wireless design and site survey concepts

For a point-to-point bridge, what percentage of the first Fresnel zone should be clear of obstructions?

  1. 60 percent Correct answer.
  2. 20 percent
  3. 40 percent
  4. 100 percent

Explanation

Keeping at least 60 percent of the first Fresnel zone clear limits diffraction loss so the link behaves close to free-space conditions. Full clearance is better but 60 percent is the accepted design target.

Question 40Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which antenna type radiates RF energy in all horizontal directions and is normally placed in the center of an open office floor?

  1. Dipole antenna Correct answer.
  2. Sector antenna
  3. Yagi antenna
  4. Patch antenna

Explanation

A dipole radiates roughly equally around its axis, which suits open areas where the AP sits in the middle of the floor. Patch, Yagi, and sector antennas concentrate energy in a preferred direction.

Question 41Wireless design and site survey concepts

Cisco design guidance recommends a minimum SNR of what value to support voice over Wi-Fi?

  1. 40 dB
  2. 10 dB
  3. 15 dB
  4. 25 dB Correct answer.

Explanation

Cisco recommends roughly 25 dB SNR for voice and 20 dB for data, because voice frames have tight delay budgets and cannot rely on retransmission.

Question 42Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which tool identifies non-Wi-Fi interference such as microwave ovens and cordless phones?

  1. Protocol analyzer
  2. Predictive survey tool
  3. Active survey client
  4. Spectrum analyzer Correct answer.

Explanation

A spectrum analyzer displays raw RF energy across frequency, so it can characterize non-802.11 interferers. Wi-Fi survey tools only decode 802.11 frames and cannot describe non-Wi-Fi sources.

Question 43Wireless design and site survey concepts

What is the recommended cell overlap between adjacent access points for reliable voice roaming?

  1. 15 to 20 percent Correct answer.
  2. 50 to 60 percent
  3. 5 to 10 percent
  4. 30 to 40 percent

Explanation

About 15 to 20 percent overlap gives a client enough time to roam before the serving signal degrades, without wasting spectrum on excessive overlap.

Question 44Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which 5 GHz channel groups require DFS radar detection?

  1. UNII-3 only
  2. UNII-1 only
  3. UNII-1 and UNII-3 only
  4. UNII-2 and UNII-2e Correct answer.

Explanation

UNII-2 (channels 52 to 64) and UNII-2 Extended (100 to 144) are shared with radar systems, so APs must perform DFS and vacate the channel when radar is detected. UNII-1 and UNII-3 are unrestricted.

Question 45Wireless design and site survey concepts

A high-density lecture hall has strong signal but poor throughput. Which design change best increases capacity?

  1. Increase AP transmit power
  2. Disable the lower data rates
  3. Widen channels to 80 MHz
  4. Add APs to shrink cells Correct answer.

Explanation

Capacity comes from the number of cells and the airtime available in each, so adding APs and shrinking cell size splits the client load. Raising power or widening channels increases contention and reduces reuse.

Question 46Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which condition most directly causes co-channel interference on a 2.4 GHz WLAN?

  1. APs on channels 1 and 6
  2. Excessive antenna gain
  3. APs on the same channel Correct answer.
  4. Use of 20 MHz channels

Explanation

Co-channel interference occurs when multiple radios use the same channel in overlapping coverage areas. Channels 1 and 6 are non-overlapping and therefore do not produce co-channel interference.

Question 47Wireless design and site survey concepts

At a fixed distance, how does free space path loss change when the frequency doubles?

  1. Remains unchanged
  2. Decreases by 3 dB
  3. Increases by 20 dB
  4. Increases by 6 dB Correct answer.

Explanation

Free space path loss rises with the square of frequency, so doubling the frequency adds 20log(2), about 6 dB, of loss. Doubling the distance also adds about 6 dB.

Question 48Wireless design and site survey concepts

Which statement describes a key design advantage of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6E?

  1. It requires DFS on every channel
  2. It offers less spectrum than 5 GHz
  3. It has no legacy Wi-Fi and no DFS Correct answer.
  4. It supports only 20 MHz channels

Explanation

The 6 GHz band is newly allocated for Wi-Fi, so there are no legacy 802.11a/b/g/n devices and no radar-based DFS requirement. It also contains more contiguous spectrum than the 5 GHz band.

Question 49Wireless design and site survey concepts

What is the effect of raising the minimum mandatory data rate on a 5 GHz WLAN?

  1. It shrinks the coverage cell Correct answer.
  2. It has no effect on cell size
  3. It raises the maximum MCS index
  4. It enlarges the coverage cell

Explanation

Mandatory rates set the lowest rate at which the AP will serve a client, so raising them shrinks the effective cell edge and discourages clients from clinging to distant APs.

Question 50Wireless design and site survey concepts

Where should access points be mounted in a typical carpeted office for best coverage?

  1. Above a metal ceiling grid
  2. On the floor beneath desks
  3. Inside a grounded metal cabinet
  4. Below the ceiling tile, clear of metal Correct answer.

Explanation

Mounting below the ceiling tile with the antenna clear of metal ducting and grid preserves the intended coverage pattern. Metal enclosures and grids block and reflect RF.