Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumTroubleshooting Wireless Connectivity and Signal Issues

A network technician receives complaints regarding intermittent disconnections and low throughput on wireless medical carts within a clinic's newly renovated wing. A signal survey reveals that when moving from the hallway into exam rooms separated by lead-lined drywall shielding, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) drops significantly from −60 dBm-60\text{ dBm} to −86 dBm-86\text{ dBm}. Which wireless signal issue is the primary cause of this performance degradation?

  1. A
    Co-channel interference caused by improper 2.4 GHz non-overlapping channel assignments on adjacent access points
  2. Signal attenuation and absorption resulting from dense physical building materialsAnswer
  3. C
    Failed DHCP lease renewals resulting in Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) fallback
  4. D
    Duplex mismatch between the wireless access point and the underlying Ethernet switch port

Answer

Signal attenuation and absorption resulting from dense physical building materials
Radio frequency (RF) attenuation refers to the loss of signal strength as electromagnetic waves travel through space or pass through physical obstacles. Dense building materials such as lead-lined walls, concrete, and metal reflect or absorb RF energy, leading to a drastic drop in RSSI (such as −60 dBm-60\text{ dBm} dropping to −86 dBm-86\text{ dBm}).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the diagnostic measurements provided in the scenario
The measured RSSI decreases drastically from −60 dBm-60\text{ dBm} to −86 dBm-86\text{ dBm} when entering specific exam rooms.
Identifying changes in physical signal power helps isolate Layer 1 radio frequency (RF) propagation issues.
2
Correlate signal power reduction with environmental factors
The signal drops specifically when passing through lead-lined drywall shielding.
Dense materials like metal, lead, and concrete absorb wireless energy, reducing signal amplitude (attenuation).
3
Select the correct physical RF phenomenon
Attenuation/absorption is the primary cause of signal loss across physical barriers.
Other issues like channel overlap or IP addressing do not drop RF signal levels (RSSIRSSI).

Key Concept

RF Attenuation and Absorption in Wireless Networks
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Troubleshooting Wireless Connectivity and Signal Issues

More questions from this topic