N10-009 Question 95
Single answerWireless: 802.11 standards, Cellular, SatelliteA construction company is deploying temporary network connectivity for a project site in a remote desert area. The site has no wired ISP service available. The project manager needs internet access for cloud-based drawings, VoIP calling, and periodic large file uploads from trailers spread across the site. Cellular coverage is present but inconsistent, and workers report that voice calls sometimes drop indoors. The company also wants a wireless LAN standard inside each trailer that can handle multiple modern laptops and tablets with good throughput in a short-range environment. Which solution BEST meets these requirements?
- A
Use satellite internet as the primary WAN connection for the site, deploy 802.11ac or 802.11ax Wi-Fi inside each trailer, and add a cellular signal booster or external antennas to improve mobile coverage for phones
- B
Use 802.11b access points inside each trailer for maximum compatibility, and rely on cellular hotspots as the only WAN connection because satellite links are not suitable for data access
- C
Use satellite internet as the primary WAN connection and deploy 802.11a inside each trailer because 5 GHz has the longest range and best wall penetration
- D
Use 802.11g inside each trailer and replace employee mobile phones with Wi-Fi-only tablets, because Wi-Fi eliminates the need to address weak cellular coverage
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario requires applying knowledge of three wireless domains: 802.11 WLAN standards, cellular service, and satellite connectivity. For a remote job site with no wired ISP, satellite is often the most practical WAN technology because it can serve locations beyond cable, DSL, or fiber footprints. A Network+ candidate should recognize that satellite internet is viable for remote connectivity, even though higher latency can affect some real-time applications more than terrestrial broadband. For the local wireless network inside trailers, modern standards such as 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) are better choices than legacy standards like 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g because they support significantly better throughput, efficiency, and multi-client performance. The cellular issue is separate from the WLAN: weak indoor mobile coverage is typically addressed with signal boosters, distributed antenna approaches, or better antenna placement, not by downgrading Wi-Fi standards or assuming Wi-Fi replaces all cellular needs. These conclusions align with common enterprise wireless design practices and published vendor guidance on WLAN generation capabilities, radio propagation characteristics, and remote-site connectivity planning.
- A. Correct.
Correct. In a remote area with no wired service, satellite is a practical primary WAN option because it can provide connectivity where terrestrial broadband is unavailable. For the local wireless LAN, 802.11ac and 802.11ax are appropriate modern standards for short-range, higher-throughput connectivity for laptops and tablets in trailer offices. Because cellular service exists but is weak or inconsistent indoors, adding a signal booster or using properly installed external antennas is a realistic way to improve mobile voice connectivity for workers.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. 802.11b is an outdated 2.4 GHz standard with very limited throughput compared with modern business needs and would be a poor fit for cloud access and multiple users. The claim that satellite links are not suitable for data access is false; satellite is commonly used for internet access in remote locations, though latency can be higher than terrestrial services. Relying only on inconsistent cellular hotspots would not best meet the requirement for reliable site-wide internet.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Satellite as the primary WAN is reasonable, but 802.11a is not the best WLAN choice here. Although 802.11a uses 5 GHz, it is an older standard with much lower throughput than 802.11ac or 802.11ax. Also, 5 GHz does not provide the longest range or best wall penetration; in practice, lower-frequency bands such as 2.4 GHz generally propagate farther and penetrate obstacles better.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. 802.11g is also an older standard and would not be the best choice for a modern temporary office environment with multiple users and bandwidth-intensive applications. Replacing phones with Wi-Fi-only tablets does not solve the requirement for reliable voice mobility, especially for workers moving around the site. Weak cellular coverage remains a separate issue that should be addressed directly if mobile phone service is needed.