CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)NetworkingHard
A technician is deploying an 802.11ac wireless access point in a conference room where many laptops and mobile devices connect simultaneously. Which feature allows the access point to transmit data streams to multiple compatible client devices at the same time instead of one at a time?
- AMU-MIMO
- BFrequency hopping
- CBeamforming
- DChannel bonding
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. MU-MIMO
MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output) allows an access point to communicate with several compatible client devices simultaneously rather than sequentially, improving efficiency in high-density environments. Channel bonding increases bandwidth per channel, and beamforming focuses signal direction but doesn't enable simultaneous multi-user streams.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Frequency hopping is a legacy spread-spectrum technique, not used in modern 802.11ac deployments.
- C. Beamforming directs the signal toward a specific device to improve signal strength, not multi-user throughput.
- D. Channel bonding combines adjacent channels to increase bandwidth, not simultaneous multi-user support.
MU-MIMO
A wireless technology (introduced in 802.11ac Wave 2) that allows an access point to send data to multiple compatible clients simultaneously rather than one at a time.
- Improves efficiency in high-density device environments
- Requires MU-MIMO-capable client devices to benefit fully
- Different from beamforming, which focuses signal direction to a single device
Memory trick: MU-MIMO = 'Multiple Users, Many Instant Outputs' at once.