TWT is the feature of 802.11ax (HE) that is managed with beacon and trigger frames and is primarily a power management method, but also provides more efficient access to the channel used within a BSS. TWT stands for target wake time, which is a mechanism that allows an access point and a client device to negotiate and schedule specific times for data transmission and reception. This enables the client device to enter a low-power sleep mode when it is not expected to communicate with the access point, which saves battery life and reduces power consumption. TWT also reduces contention and interference on the channel used within a BSS, as it coordinates the transmissions of multiple client devices and avoids collisions. TWT is managed with beacon and trigger frames, which are two types of management frames that are used to announce and initiate data exchanges. A beacon frame is a frame that is periodically sent by an access point to advertise its presence, capabilities, and parameters to client devices. A trigger frame is a frame that is sent by an access point or a client device to request or initiate a data transmission with another device. BSS color, UL-MU-MIMO, and OFDMA are other features of 802.11ax (HE) that are not primarily power management methods, but rather performance enhancement methods. BSS color is a feature that assigns a color code to each BSS to differentiate it from other BSSs that use the same channel. This reduces interference and improves spatial reuse of the channel. UL-MU-MIMO is a feature that allows an access point to receive multiple simultaneous transmissions from different client devices using multiple spatial streams. This increases capacity and throughput of the uplink direction. OFDMA is a feature that divides a channel into smaller subchannels called resource units (RUs) that can be allocated to different devices for concurrent transmissions. This increases efficiency and flexibility of the channel utilization. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 10: Wireless LAN Operation, page 323

The authentication method that is referenced in the 802.11-2016 and 802.11-2020 specifications and is recommended for robust WLAN client security is 802.1X/EAP. 802.1X/EAP stands for IEEE 802.1X Port-Based Network Access Control with Extensible Authentication Protocol and is a framework that provides strong authentication and dynamic encryption key generation for WLAN clients. 802.1X/EAP involves three parties: the supplicant (the client), the authenticator (the AP or the controller), and the authentication server (usually a RADIUS server). The supplicant sends its credentials (such as username and password, certificate, or token) to the authenticator, which forwards them to the authentication server. The authentication server verifies the credentials and sends a response to the authenticator, which grants or denies access to the supplicant. The authentication server also generates a master key that is used to derive encryption keys for the data frames between the supplicant and the authenticator. 802.1X/EAP supports various EAP methods that offer different levels of security and flexibility, such as EAP-TLS, EAP-PEAP, EAP-TTLS, EAP-FAST, and EAP-SIM. SSL, IPSec, and WEP are not authentication methods, but rather encryption or security protocols that are not specific to WLANs or referenced in the 802.11 specifications. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 299; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 289.

TVHT stands for Television Very High Throughput and it is a PHY defined by the 802.11af amendment. It uses the TV white space (TVWS) spectrum in the VHF and UHF bands between 54 and 790 MHz, which are not in use by broadcast video signals at the time. It can provide long-range and low-power connectivity for WLAN devices.

A pre-design site visit in preparation for a predictive wireless LAN design is essential for gathering physical and environmental data about the site. The key tasks to be performed during such a visit include:

• Evaluating Building Materials: Different materials (concrete, glass, wood, etc.) have varying effects on RF signal propagation. Understanding the materials present helps in accurately predicting how signals will behave within the environment.
• Floor Plan Verification: Ensuring that the floor plan documents are an accurate representation of the actual building layout is crucial. Discrepancies between the floor plans and the physical layout can lead to inaccuracies in the predictive design.

The other options, while potentially valuable in other contexts, are not directly related to preparing for a predictive design:

• Installing APs(option A) for testing co-channel interference is more aligned with an active site survey rather than a pre-design visit for a predictive design.
• Collecting information about security requirements(option B) is important but is not directly related to the physical aspects of the site that would impact a predictive design.
• Testing antenna types(option C) would typically be part of an active site survey or the actual deployment phase, not a pre-design visit for predictive modeling.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer, focusing on evaluating physical aspects crucial for accurate predictive modeling.

References:

• CWNA Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109, by David D. Coleman and David A. Westcott.
• Best practices for conducting pre-design site visits in wireless network planning.

A 5 GHz channel should be used for this AP because channels 1 and 6 are 2.4 GHz channels and they have no impact on the decision. The 5 GHz frequency band offers more non-overlapping channels than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which reduces interference and improves performance. The 5 GHz frequency band also supports higher data rates and wider channel bandwidths than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which increases capacity and throughput. The 5 GHz frequency band also has less interference from other devices and sources than the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which enhances reliability and quality of service. Therefore, it is recommended to use the 5 GHz frequency band for WLANs whenever possible. Channels 1 and 6 are two of the three non-overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz frequency band (the other one is channel 11). They are used by a neighbor network in this scenario, but they do not affect the channel selection for this AP because they operate in a different frequency band than the 5 GHz frequency band. Channel 6 is not always best to use; it depends on the interference and congestion level in the environment. Channel 1 is not best to use because it has a lower frequency than channel 6; frequency does not determine channel quality or performance. Channel 11 is not best to use because it is also a 2.4 GHz channel and it may interfere with channels 1 and 6. References: CWNA-109 Study Guide, Chapter 4: Antenna Systems and Radio Frequency (RF) Components, page 113

Passive Gain is the increase of RF energy in an intentional direction with the use of an antenna. It is achieved by focusing the same amount of power into a smaller area, resulting in a higher power density and a stronger signal. Passive Gain does not require any additional power or amplification, but rather depends on the antenna’s physical characteristics, such as size, shape, and orientation. Passive Gain is also expressed in decibels (dB) and is related to the antenna’s beamwidth and directivity. References: 1, Chapter 2, page 63; 2, Section 2.3

What is always required to establish a high quality 2.4 GHz RF link at a distance of 3 miles (5 kilometers) is a Fresnel Zone that is at least 60% clear of obstructions. The Fresnel Zone is an elliptical-shaped area around the line-of-sight path between two antennas that reflects and refracts the RF waves. The Fresnel Zone radius depends on the frequency of the RF signal and the distance between the antennas. For optimal performance, the Fresnel Zone should be at least 60% clear of any obstructions that may cause interference, attenuation, or multipath fading. The minimum output power level, antenna gain, and antenna type may vary depending on the environmental conditions and regulatory constraints, but they are not always required for a high quality RF link. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 75; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 65.