N10-009 Question 163
Single answerFrequency options: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, Band steeringA company upgrades its office wireless network with new tri-band access points that support 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. After deployment, users report that modern laptops near the APs perform well, but some IoT devices intermittently disconnect and several employees at the edge of the office complain about weak signal. The network team wants to improve client performance without creating a separate SSID for every band. Which action is the BEST recommendation?
- A
Enable band steering so capable clients prefer 5GHz or 6GHz, while keeping 2.4GHz available for legacy and longer-range devices
- B
Disable 2.4GHz entirely so all devices are forced to use 5GHz or 6GHz for better throughput
- C
Configure all AP radios to use only 6GHz because it provides the best speed and least interference for every client type
- D
Move all IoT devices to 5GHz because 5GHz penetrates walls better than 2.4GHz and supports older wireless clients
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
In real-world enterprise WLAN design, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz each serve different purposes. 2.4GHz offers better range and obstacle penetration but is more crowded and has fewer non-overlapping channels. 5GHz typically provides better throughput and more channels than 2.4GHz, making it preferable for many client devices. 6GHz, introduced with Wi-Fi 6E and later technologies, offers additional spectrum and reduced legacy interference, but only supported clients can use it, and coverage is generally more limited than 2.4GHz. Band steering is a common best practice that helps move capable clients off 2.4GHz and onto 5GHz or 6GHz without requiring separate SSIDs for each band. This aligns with practical wireless design guidance from enterprise WLAN vendors and Wi-Fi Alliance best practices: use higher bands for capable clients when possible, while retaining 2.4GHz for legacy compatibility and extended coverage.
- A. Correct.
Correct. This is the most practical recommendation in a mixed-client environment. Band steering is designed to encourage dual-band or tri-band capable clients to use higher-frequency bands such as 5GHz or 6GHz, which generally offer more bandwidth and less congestion than 2.4GHz. At the same time, leaving 2.4GHz enabled preserves connectivity for older clients and many IoT devices that support only 2.4GHz. This also helps devices at greater distances, since 2.4GHz typically provides better range and wall penetration than 5GHz or 6GHz.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disabling 2.4GHz would likely break connectivity for many legacy and IoT devices, since a large number of such devices support only 2.4GHz. It would also reduce coverage at the edges of the office because 5GHz and especially 6GHz generally have shorter effective range than 2.4GHz. Although higher bands can improve throughput, removing 2.4GHz is not the best fit for this scenario.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. 6GHz can provide excellent performance with more available spectrum and less interference, but it is not appropriate for every client type. Many existing devices do not support 6GHz, and 6GHz generally has shorter range and less ability to penetrate obstacles compared with 2.4GHz. Using only 6GHz would worsen coverage and compatibility issues rather than solve them.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. This option reverses a key wireless characteristic. 2.4GHz generally penetrates walls better and provides longer range than 5GHz. In addition, many IoT devices are specifically designed for 2.4GHz operation due to compatibility, range, and power considerations. Moving all IoT devices to 5GHz would often be impossible or counterproductive.