220-1101 Question 30
Single answer3G/4G/5GA field technician uses a tablet with an active cellular data plan to upload photos and service reports from customer sites. In one suburban area, the technician reports that the tablet shows a strong 5G signal, but uploads fail intermittently and video calls drop frequently. The carrier's coverage map shows that 5G in that area is provided primarily by high-band service. Which action is the BEST recommendation to improve reliability while keeping the technician connected on the carrier's network?
- A
Configure the tablet to prefer 4G/LTE instead of 5G when working in that area
- B
Replace the SIM card because 5G requires a different physical SIM than 4G/LTE in all cases
- C
Switch the tablet from cellular data to Bluetooth tethering for better range and stability
- D
Enable airplane mode so the tablet reconnects to the nearest 5G tower with a fresh session
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is to configure the device to prefer 4G/LTE in that area. In A+ Core 1, candidates are expected to understand practical wireless and cellular troubleshooting, including that newer generations are not automatically better in every scenario. 4G/LTE often provides better coverage and more consistent performance than high-band 5G in suburban or obstructed environments because LTE typically has broader coverage and better penetration characteristics. By contrast, high-band 5G can deliver excellent speed but may be less reliable over distance or through walls. This recommendation aligns with common vendor and carrier guidance: verify coverage type, understand the radio characteristics of the service in use, and select the most stable connection method for the user's workload.
- A. Correct.
Correct. In real-world deployments, high-band 5G (often associated with mmWave) can provide very high throughput but has shorter range and weaker building penetration than 4G/LTE or lower-band 5G. If the technician has a strong but inconsistent 5G connection in a suburban area, forcing or preferring 4G/LTE can improve session stability for uploads and video calls. For A+ Core 1, understanding the practical differences between 3G/4G/5G technologies includes recognizing that the fastest radio technology is not always the most reliable choice in every environment.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Some carriers may require a 5G-capable plan or compatible SIM provisioning, but it is not true that 5G always requires a different physical SIM than 4G/LTE. Many devices use the same SIM form factor and can access LTE and 5G depending on carrier support, provisioning, and device compatibility. This option reflects a common misconception that network generation changes always require new physical media.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Bluetooth tethering generally offers lower throughput and shorter practical range than direct cellular data and is not a solution for unstable wide-area cellular coverage. It would also require another device with a working connection, adding complexity without addressing the actual issue of high-band 5G reliability in that location.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Airplane mode can sometimes help reconnect a device to the network temporarily, but it does not solve the underlying coverage characteristics of high-band 5G. If the problem is poor propagation or unstable service in that area, reconnecting to the same type of network is unlikely to provide a consistent fix.