CWAP case studies
CWAP · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Wireless Analysis Professional (CWAP) is a vendor-neutral, professional-level certification for IT professionals who analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize enterprise Wi-Fi networks. It validates mastery of operation and frame exchanges, protocol and spectrum analysis, and MAC layer frame formats. The current exam is CWAP-405, released in April 2025; the next scheduled update, CWAP-406, releases in April 2028. The exam is available at CWNP Remote Proctored Exams or Prometric Testing Centers, costs $349.99 (USD), lasts 90 minutes, contains 60 multiple choice and multiple answer questions, and is delivered in English. The CWAP case studies are 5 cases and about 2,843 words.
1The 160 MHz Capture Blind Spot
At a stadium press box, a vendor's 5 GHz network uses contiguous 160 MHz channels (36–64) with 4x4 APs and MCS 9. The analysis laptop has a 2x2 802.11ac monitor-mode adapter locked to the primary 80 MHz; the adapter supports 80 MHz but not 160 MHz.
584 words, about 3 min2The Camera That Fragmented Itself
A video camera streams over 5 GHz to an AP; the link is 80 MHz, 2x2, MCS 8, and the camera RSSI is -58 dBm. A monitor capture shows protected QoS Data frames from the camera (To DS=1, From DS=0), TID 5.
565 words, about 3 min3The Roam That Fell Back to 802.1X
An enterprise uses two APs in one FT mobility domain. The WLC has FT-802.1X enabled, but AP-2 was recently replaced and runs older firmware in which FT is disabled.
532 words, about 3 min4The Lunchtime Noise Floor
A 2.4 GHz office WLAN uses channel 6 with a 20 MHz channel. At 11:30–13:00 each weekday, users near the cafeteria report stalls.
578 words, about 3 min5The Retry Bit vs TCP Retransmission
A user copying a 4 GB file to a NAS over Wi-Fi sees 12 MB/s. The AP and client are 5 GHz, 80 MHz, 2x2, MCS 7, RSSI -67 dBm.
584 words, about 3 min