CWTS study plan
CWTS · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications & Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals
Map the IEEE 802.11 amendment family (a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) to its band, channel width, and modulation scheme from memory
Calculate free-space path loss and link budget for a 5 GHz 40 MHz link at 10 m and 50 m using dB arithmetic
Explain the difference between dBm, dBi, and dB and convert at least ten values between linear and logarithmic form
Diagram the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channel plans and label every non-overlapping channel in each band
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn reference sheet covering 802.11 amendments, band/channel maps, and the dB conversion rules, self-quizzed to 90% recall
Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications & Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals
Describe the frame exchange for open authentication, 802.1X/EAP authentication, and 4-way handshake key derivation
Compare 802.11k, 802.11r, and 802.11v and state which roaming problem each solves
Compute Fresnel zone clearance and first-zone radius for a point-to-point 5 GHz bridge at 1 km
Identify which RF behaviors (absorption, reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering) explain a given coverage symptom
Your checkpoint
A written comparison table of roaming standards plus three worked RF calculation problems with correct units and answers
Hardware and Software & Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals
Classify access point hardware categories (indoor, outdoor, mesh, controller-based vs. cloud-managed) and match each to a deployment scenario
Trace the boot and join process of an AP: DHCP, discovery, controller/cloud join, and configuration push
Explain PoE standards (802.3af/at/bt) and calculate power budget for a switch port running multiple APs
Interpret an RF spectrum analysis trace and distinguish a microwave oven, cordless phone, and Bluetooth interference signature
Your checkpoint
A power and cabling budget worksheet for a 12-AP floor, including PoE class per AP and total switch load
Site Surveying and Installation & Hardware and Software
Plan a predictive site survey: define coverage, capacity, and roaming requirements before placing APs
Select AP mounting locations and antenna types for an open office, a warehouse, and a conference room
Execute a manual walk-through survey using a site survey tool and record RSSI, SNR, and noise floor per test point
Document installation standards for cable runs, grounding, and outdoor enclosure sealing
Your checkpoint
A mock site survey report for a 2,000 m² office with AP placement map, predicted vs. measured RSSI, and a remediation list
Site Surveying and Installation & Applications, Support, and Troubleshooting
Validate a design against capacity targets by calculating client count per AP and per radio
Troubleshoot a simulated coverage hole using survey data and propose an AP or antenna change with justification
Explain how channel width, transmit power, and data rates affect co-channel interference and cell sizing
Draft a post-installation validation checklist covering throughput, roaming, and voice quality
Your checkpoint
A capacity and validation checklist applied to the week 4 design, showing revised AP count and channel plan
Applications, Support, and Troubleshooting & Security & Compliance
Diagnose common client connectivity failures (DHCP, DNS, captive portal, band steering, 802.11r mismatch) from symptoms
Describe WPA2-Personal vs. WPA2-Enterprise vs. WPA3 and the handshake each uses
Explain how rogue AP detection, WIPS, and management frame protection work together
Outline the compliance obligations relevant to wireless deployments: PCI DSS wireless requirements and data privacy basics
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting decision tree covering five failure classes plus a security configuration checklist for a guest and corporate SSID pair
Security & Compliance & Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications
Configure 802.1X/EAP with a RADIUS server in a lab or simulator and verify a successful supplicant authentication
Compare EAP-TLS, PEAP, and EAP-TTLS and state the certificate requirements for each
Identify common wireless attacks (evil twin, deauth, PMKID capture, KRACK) and the mitigation for each
Review the 802.11 security amendments and map them to WPA2 and WPA3 certification requirements
Your checkpoint
A security lab write-up with configuration steps, captured authentication flow, and a mitigation matrix for five attacks
Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications & Hardware and Software & Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals & Site Surveying and Installation & Applications, Support, and Troubleshooting & Security & Compliance
Take two full-length timed practice exams and log every missed question by domain
Re-study the two weakest domains using targeted notes and re-test those areas
Recite the key formulas, standards, and security parameters from memory without notes
Build a final one-page cram sheet covering the highest-frequency facts across all six domains
Your checkpoint
A scored practice exam log with a domain-by-domain accuracy table and a final cram sheet, targeting 80% or higher overall
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on a self-made 20-question quiz covering 802.11 standards and RF math, with all calculations shown
Week 4: Complete the mock site survey report with AP placement and measured RSSI data, and explain each placement decision to a peer or in writing
Week 6: Correctly diagnose at least four of five troubleshooting scenarios and pass a 15-question security fundamentals quiz at 80%
Week 8: Achieve 80% or higher on two timed full-length practice exams and show improvement on the two weakest domains