The IEEE standards that define wireless technologies. (pg. 484)

A. 802.3

B. 802.8

C. 802.9

D. 802.11

The 802.11 standard defines both how wireless devices communicate and how to secure that standard.

802.3 defines the OSI Layers 1 and 2's media access control (MAC) of wired Ethernet.

802.8 is used in fiber optics.

802.9 is used in isochronous LANs.

A device designed to interconnect wireless network nodes with wired networks. (pg. 486)

A. CSMA/CA

B. SSID

C. WAP

D. WPS

C. A wireless access point (WAP) allows wireless-capable devices to connect to a wired network.

Wireless networks use CSMA/CA to allow single devices to access network media without stepping on each others' frames.

The SSID is the name of the wireless network.

WPS is an automated and semi-automated process to connect a device to a WAP.

Wireless network mode where two or more devices communicate directly without any other intermediary hardware. (pg. 488)

A. infrastructure

B. mesh

C. ad hoc

D. star

Ad hoc networks don't work so well for: (pg. 488)

A. Connecting to other networks.

B. Temporary networks like study groups or business meetings.

C. Environments where a large bandwidth and QoS guarantees aren't priorities.

D. A small group of computers that need to share files and printers.

Wireless networks running in ___ mode use one or more WAPs to connect the wireless network nodes centrally. (pg. 489)

A. ad hoc

B. basic service set (BSS)

C. infrastructure

D. extended service set (ESS)

C. If you plan to set up a wireless network for a large number of computing devices, or you need to have centralized control over the wireless network, use infrastructure mode.

Ad hoc mode is a decentralized free-for-all.

Service sets refer to the area that a WAP or several WAPs cover. A single WAP servicing a given area is called a basic service set, but an extended service set is when two or more cover a wider area.

How do ad hoc networks that don't have a WAP manage to send frames to their correct destinations? (pg. 490)

A. The nodes randomly generate a 48-bit string of numbers to act like a MAC address for a WAP.

B. One node is selected to act as the router for the network.

C. Each node sends all of its packets to every other node.

D. The nodes are assigned a number and traffic moves in a circle from one node to the next in a ring topology.

What is the difference between a BSSID and an SSID? (pg. 490)

A. A BSSID can cover a wireless range of about 150 feet, but an SSID can get up to about 300 feet.

B. BSSIDs require you to manually enter a WAP's MAC address to connect to the network, but SSIDs are open so long as you know the name.

C. WAPs aren't used in a BSSID environment, but a WAP advertises itself in an SSID infrastructure.

D. A BSSID uses the MAC address of the WAP to identify the network, but an SSID uses a defined name.

D. In a basic service set (BSS) with a wireless access point (WAP), the BSSID is the same as that WAP's MAC address. In a BSS without a WAP, the BSSID is randomly generated.

An SSID allows people to define a name for a BSS that is easy to remember and stays constant.

A single wireless access point (WAP) servicing a given area. (pg. 489)

A. IBSS

B. SSID

C. BSS

D. ESS

C. A basic service set (BSS) involves a single WAP, but becomes an extended service set (ESS) after more WAPs are added.

An independent BSS (IBSS) is when two or more nodes communicate in ad hoc mode without a WAP.

A WAP uses an SSID to broadcast itself.

A process where clients seamlessly change WAP connections, depending on whichever one has the strongest signal covered by the broadcast area. (pg. 490)

A. roaming

B. hot swapping

C. handoff

D. frequency hopping

Transmission method used by wireless Ethernet to send data in small, discrete chunks over the different frequencies available within a certain frequency range. (pg. 491)

A. spread-sprectrum

B. WLAN

C. CSMA/CA

D. DCF

A. There are three different spread-spectrum transition methods defined by the 802.11 standard:

1. Direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) that sends out data on different frequencies at the same time.
2. Frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) that sends data on one frequency at a time.
3. Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (ODFM) is the latest of the three and best at dealing with interference.

A portion of the wireless spectrum on which a particular wireless network operates. (pg. 491)

A. frequency

B. range

C. channel

D. band

True or false:

The versions of 802.11 that use the 5.0- and 6.0-GHz bands use automatic channel switching, a feature that the 2.4-GHz band lacks. (pg. 492)

The result of two nodes transmitting at the same time on a multiple access network such as a wireless network. (pg. 492)

A. interference

B. interframe gap
C. roadblock

D. collision

D. Modern wired networks use switches running in full-duplex mode, so they don't have to worry about collisions. Wireless networks are only capable of half-duplex, so they must use carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).

Interference would reflect electromagnetic fields between devices disrupting each other, not two devices trying to send frames at the same time.

An interframe gap is the wait period a device takes before trying to send data on shared network media in order to avoid collisions.

I just threw in the term roadblock because it sounds somewhat plausible.

The first widely adopted Wi-Fi standard. (pg. 493)

A. 8021.11n

B. 802.11g

C. 802.11a

D. 802.11b

B. 802.11b supported data throughput of up to 11 Mbps and a range of up to 300 feet under ideal conditions, and operated solely on the 2.4-Ghz frequency range.

802.11a was actually introduced after 802.11b, followed by 802.11g and 802.11n.

How does 802.11a differ from 802.11b? Select all that apply. (pg. 494)

A. It operates on the 5.0-Ghz frequency band instead of 2.4-Ghz.

B. It has a max range of ~150 feet instead of ~300 feet.

C. It offers speeds up to 54 Mbps instead of 11 Mbps.

D. It operates on the ODFM spectrum instead of the DSSS spectrum.

What advantage does 802.11g have over previous wireless networking standards? (pg. 494)

A. It has a range of ~500 feet.

B. It offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

C. It can operate at full-duplex.

D. It combines the best of what 802.11a and 802.11b have to offer.

D.802.11g has the speed, throughput and range of 802.11b

All wireless networks operate at half-duplex because wireless devices because radio is a half-duplex transmission method: wireless devices cannot listen and send at the same time.

If an 802.11g network has only 802.11g devices connected, the network runs in ___ mode, at up to 54 Mbps. If 802.11b devices are connected, the network drops down to ___ mode, where all communications run only up to 11 Mbps. (pg. 494)

A. full duplex/half duplex

B. channel bonding/channel segmentation

C. native/mixed

D. collision detection/collision avoidance

Feature in 802.11n and later WAPs that enables them to make multiple simultaneous connections. (pg. 495)

A. multiple input/multiple output (MIMO)

B. full duplexing

C. transmit beamforming

D. greenfield mode

A. 802.11n specifications require all but handheld devices to use multiple antennas to implement MIMO to form streams (the simultaneous connections).

Wireless devices can only achieve half duplex because their radios can't send and receive at the same time.

Transmit beamforming is a feature that 802.11n WAPs use to get rid of deadspots.

In greenfield mode, an 802.11n WAP processes only 802.11n frames, dropping support for older devices.

Why would you have an 802.11n WAP operate in mixed mode instead of legacy or greenfield mode? (pg. 495)

A. It's the only way to offer support for older devices.

B. It's the only mode that 802.11n and newer devices can operate in.

C. It offers support for older standards while also improving the speeds of those standards.

D. It gives the most throughput for every device.

C. In mixed mode, also often called high-throughput or 802.11a-ht/802.11g-ht, the WAP sends special packets that support the older standards yet also improve the speed of those standards via 802.11n's wider bandwidth.

Legacy mode also offers support for older devices, but it doesn't offer improvements like mixed mode.

802.11n and newer devices can operate in mixed- and greenfield mode, but they get the best goodput in the latter by dropping backwards compatibility.

Which IEEE wireless standard is the best solution for high density areas like stadiums and conference halls? (pg. 496)

A. 802.11xl

B. 802.11uh

C. 802.11ax

D. 802.11ac

C. 802.11ac operates at the 2.4-, 5.0- and 6.0-GHz bands and increases throughput by as much as 400 percent and decreases latency as much as 75 percent compared to 802.11ac.

The other two are made up.

The automated or semi-automated process to connect a wireless device to a wireless network. (pg. 497)

A. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

B. Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

C. Wireless Access Point (WAP)

D. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

D. WPS works in two modes: push button method or PIN method. The push button method allows you to press a button on the WAP and the other device to negotiate a connection. The PIN button allows PCs to enter a pre-shared key when the WPS button is pushed on the WAP.

WPA and WEP are deprecated wireless security methods that should no longer be used.

The WAP is the device that allows clients access to the wireless network.

Maligned wireless security protocol that isn't and shouldn't be used today. (pg. 498)

A.Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

B. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

C. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

D. Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)

A. WEP is the original wireless security protocol. It can be cracked in under a minute with just a regular laptop and open source software.

WPS isn't a security measure, but a method to connect to a WAP.

WPA is also a security protocol that has been superseded by better ones, but isn't as bad as WEP.

EAP is still commonly used today.

Protocol developed to created a single standard to allow two wireless devices to authenticate. (pg. 499)

A. Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)

B. Wireless Protected Access (WPA)

C. Wireless Equivalency Protocol (WEP)

D. Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

A. Despite the name, EAP is not a protocol in the classic sense, but rather it is a PPP wrapper that EAP-compliant applications can use to accept one of many types of authentication.

WEP and WPA is a deprecated security protocol that should never be used these days.

The most popular form of authentication used in wireless networks today. A type of EAP standard. (pg. 499)

A. Transport Layer Security (TLS)

B. TTLS (Tunneled TLS)

C. Pre-shared key (PSK)

D. Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling (FAST)

C. EAP-PSK is nothing more than a shared secret code that's stored on both the WAP and the wireless client, encrypted using AES.

What is the difference between 802.1x and the 802.11 standards? (pg. 500)

A. 8021.x isn't actually a wireless connection standard, it's an EAP security solution for Ethernet networks.

B. 802.1x is able to achieve the same speed, throughput and similar distances as Ethernet networks.

C. 802.1x can operate on all currently available frequency bands and is fully compatible with all older wireless network standards.

D. 802.1x is only compatible with 5.0- and 6.0- GHz.

The WAP that acts as the intermediary between a client and RADIUS server. (pg. 501)

A. PPP

B. EAP

C. NAS

D. TKIP

C. With WPA-Enterprise security, a wireless client contacts the Network Access Server (NAS) and requests permission to access the network. The NAS takes the client's username and password and contacts the RADIUS server to see if it appears in the RADIUS' database. If it does, the the client is granted access to the network resources.

PPP, EAP and TKIP are all security protocols that can't act as a WAP.

The most common standard for wireless security today is ___. (pg. 503)

A. TKIP

B. WPA2

C. WPA3

D. RADIUS

C. WPA2 has been around since 2004 and replaced TKIP with stronger encryption and authentication. WPA3 has been available since 2018, but industry adoption has been slow. RADIUS is used in WPA2-Enterprise, which isn't available to most personal users.

Network security feature that blocks wireless clients from being able to access other wireless clients and the wired network while allowing Internet access. (pg. 504)

A. private networking

B. geofencing

C. proxy service

D. isolation

D. In a typical Wi-Fi setup, every wireless client is part of the same WLAN and can communicate with each other. Isolation blocks this feature, making it ideal for the public portion of a wireless network.

Geofencing triggers an action bases on when devices enter or leave a specified area.

A proxy server/service fetches Internet resources for a client without exposing the client to the Internet.

Feature that uses various wireless methods to create a perimeter or boundary around a specific physical area. (pg. 505)

A. metropolitan area network

B. virtual private network

C. geofencing

D. wireless client isolation

C. Geofencing uses technology like RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks or GPS to trigger a marketing action (such as an email or text) to a device when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits a virtual geographic boundary.

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that connects computers within a metropolitan area, which could be a single large city, multiple cities and towns, or any given large area with multiple buildings.

A virtual private network (VPN) allows remote users to access a private network through the Internet as if they were on the local network.

Isolation is a feature often implemented in the public portion of a wireless network for security and privacy purposes.

A wireless access point (WAP) that you can access directly and configure via its own interface. (pg. 508)

A. thin client

B. wireless LAN controller

C. thick client

D. LWAPP

A. Thick clients can be configured via their own interface, while thin clients can only be configured by a wireless LAN controller, a switch designed to handle a number of WAPs simultaneously.

LWAPP (Lightweight Access Point Protocol) is a protocol used to ensure interoperability between thin and thick clients and WAPs.

Device saturation is when ___. (pg. 532)

A. several WAPs in a small area are interfering with each other's signals.

B. too many devices are using the 2.4-Ghz band versus too few devices using the 5.0-Ghz band.

C. packets are lost due to the WAP being overworked.

D. too many devices are attached to a single SSID.

D. Device saturation creates overcapacity issues, such as slow speeds and the inability to connect to the network. It can be avoided by adding more capacity via extra WAPs to the area and/or upgrading the hardware to the latest standards.

A. describes channel overlap.

B. describes jitter.

C. describers bandwidth saturation.

A method to load-balance networking clients associated with a single SSID. (pg. 508)

A. wireless client isolation

B. MAC filtering

C. VLAN pooling

D. geofencing

C. VLAN pooling is used to distribute clients across many VLANs to avoid excessive levels of broadcast traffic.

Wireless client isolation, MAC filtering and geofencing (to an extent) are security measures, not load-balancing.

The standard straight-wire antennas that provide the most omnidirectional function. (pg. 516)

A. Yagi

B. dish

C. parabolic

D. dipole

D. A dipole antenna has two radiating elements that point in opposite directions. It's great for outdoors or a single floor, but doesn't send much signal above or below the WAP.

Yagi/beam, dish and parabolic antennas  are all unidirectional, bette for a nicely focused network.

A WAP with an omnidirectional antenna centered in the coverage zone does not work for every network for several reasons. Pick all that apply. (pg. 518)

A. A booster is needed if the network space exceeds the signal of the WAP.

B. Any obstacles will produce glaring deadspots in network coverage.

C. The signal from the WAP radiates outward in all directions, and anything within the signal area can potentially access the network.

D. The signal bleeds out if it exceeds the size of the network space, presenting a security risk.

A., B. and D. are all problems that a WAP with an omnidirectional antenna may contend with.

C. is a reason why you would use a WAP with an omnidirectional antenna.

The strengthening and focusing of radio frequency output from a wireless access point. (pg. 518)

A. decibel

B. gain

C. polarization

D. mode

B. The gain from a typical WAP is 2 decibels (dB); enough to cover a reasonable area, but not a very large room.

Decibels are how gain is measured.

Polarization describes the orientation of the radio waves.

Mode sounds like something you might think is the correct answer.

When would you use a patch antenna on your WAP? (pg. 518)

A. When you need to connect in a narrow beam.

B. When the nodes are in direct contact with each other.

C. When you want blanket coverage of an area.

D. When you want to fill the room with a strong signal but not broadcast to the room behind the patch.

D. Patch antennas are always placed on walls because they generate a half-sphere beam that is perfect for indoor offices with a specific coverage area.

A. is a good scenario for a Yagi/beam antenna.

B. describes an ad-hoc network.

C. is a good environment for an omnidirectional antenna.

A timing frame sent from the WAP at regular intervals that enables Wi-Fi networks to function. (pg. 521)

A. ACK

B. pre-shared key (PSK)

C. beacon

D. SSID broadcast

C. Wireless devices use the beacon to negotiate with the WAP and join the network. Beacon traffic makes up a major percentage of network traffic.

The ACK segment is part of the three-way handshake clients initiate with servers to establish TCP/IP connections.

A PSK is a password used for authentication for wireless network access.

The SSID broadcast is what WAPs use to make it easy for wireless clients to locate and connect to them.

True or false:

Dedicated wireless bridges connect two wired networks together or join wireless and wired networks together in the same way that wired switches do. (pg. 527)

The progressive loss of radio signal strength as radio waves pass through different mediums. (pg. 533)

A. latency

B. attenuation

C. refraction

D. saturation

B.  This type of attenuation is specifically called RF attenuation (as opposed to antenna cable attenuation).

Latency and saturation are the products of overworked WAPs, not distance and physical factors.

Refraction is a type of attenuation caused by glass bending radio waves as the waves pass through them.

Match the description of the type of attenuation with the correct term. Not all terms and definitions are relevant. (pg. 533)

A. Absorption B. Refraction C. Reflection D. Eclection

1. When nonmetallic building materials (brick, wood, sheetrock) absorb radio signals, greatly reducing or eliminating a Wi-Fi signal
2. The mixing of signals when devices accidentally pick up packets intended for another
3. When metallic materials (pipes, radiators, metal doors) bounce radio waves, sending them in unexpected directions away from the target device
4. When glass bends radio waves as they pass through it

A = 1

D = 2

C = 2

D has nothing to do with attenuation. I grabbed it from the Word of the Day.