CWNP CWISA-103 Certified Wireless IoT Solutions Administrator(2025 Edition) Exam Practice Test

SBCs (Single Board Computers): Designed as standalone, small-form-factor computers. They often include:

Display Interfaces: HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.

Input Connections: USB for keyboards, mice, etc.

General Purpose Functionality: Can run a full operating system for wider applications.

Controller Boards: Focus on controlling specific hardware or systems.

Limited direct I/O: Limited connectors for displays/input devices.

Specialized tasks: Designed for embedded applications within larger systems.

References

SBC Examples: https://www.raspberrypi.org/ , https://www.beagleboard.org/

Controller Board Examples: https://www.arduino.cc/

PoE Splitter: A PoE splitter separates power and data from a PoE-enabled Ethernet cable, allowing the powering of non-PoE devices.

Other PoE Devices:

PoE Injector: Adds power to non-PoE Ethernet cable.

PoE Switch: Provides power directly through its ports.

Cloud Connectivity Relies on IP: Most cloud-based services operate via the internet, which utilizes Internet Protocol (IP) at Layer 3 of the network model.

Flexibility: Various Layer 2 technologies (Ethernet, Wi-Fi) can connect to a Layer 3 network that ultimately provides Internet access

BLE Exception: Bluetooth Low Energy can have cloud connectivity, but often through gateways and not as a direct Layer 2 connection.

Eliminating Incorrect Options: IPX/SPX is an outdated protocol, and cellular is only one possible way to achieve Internet access.

Consumer Smart Devices Limitation: Many consumer-oriented smart devices are designed for simplicity and cost-effectiveness, leading to reliance on the crowded 2.4 GHz band.

Consequences:

High Interference: Increased potential for interference from Wi-Fi and other 2.4 GHz devices.

Limited scalability: Performance and reliability may degrade in busy wireless environments.

Wireless Transceiver: A transceiver is a combination of a transmitter and receiver used for wireless communication.

Radio: The radio is the primary component responsible for:

Modulation: Encoding data onto a carrier wave.

Demodulation: Extracting data from a received signal.

Transmission/Reception: Handling the actual sending and receiving of modulated signals over the air.

References

Transceiver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transceiver

Captive Portals for Guest Access: These are web pages that intercept users' requests before granting full internet access. They often require agreeing to terms, entering basic information, or viewing ads.

Hospitality Fit: Captive portals are simple to deploy, require minimal user setup, and provide control for the hospitality provider (e.g., usage limits).

Why Other Options Are Less Common:

NTLM: Microsoft authentication, mainly for corporate networks, too complex for casual guest use.

Kerberos: Complex authentication for enterprise, overkill for guest Wi-Fi

SIM Cards: Used in cellular devices, not for general Wi-Fi access.

60GHz Absorption: The 60GHz band experiences significant signal attenuation due to absorption by oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. This severely restricts the usable range of wireless systems operating in this frequency.

Why Other Options Don't Apply:

Atmospheric Scattering: Impacts longer wavelength transmissions, less significant at 60GHz.

Solar Radiation: Can cause interference on some frequencies, but not a primary range limitation at 60GHz.

Rain Fade: Primarily affects higher frequencies (above 10GHz), but its impact is less severe than oxygen absorption at 60GHz.

Firmware Definition: Firmware is a type of software embedded in hardware devices. It provides low-level instructions that control the basic operations and initialization of the device.

ROM Storage: Firmware is typically stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM) or other forms of non-volatile memory, meaning it persists even when the device is powered off.

Functions:

Booting: Initiates the hardware and loads the operating system.

Hardware Control: Provides an interface between the hardware and the operating system.

BIOS: The firmware on PCs is often referred to as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

References

Firmware Explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware

ROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory

Free Space Path Loss (FSPL): Describes how a radio signal weakens as it travels through open space, even without obstacles. It's caused by the signal spreading out, resulting in decreased power density at the receiver.

Calculation: FSPL depends on distance and frequency.

References

Free Space Path Loss: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-space_path_loss

SSL/TLS Secures Web Traffic: HTTPS builds upon HTTP, adding the encryption provided by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or its successor, Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Other Protocols Have Different Purposes:

IPSec: Secures IP traffic at a network level, can be used alongside TLS.

SNMPv3: Management protocol, offers security features, but not the primary mechanism in HTTPS.

SSH: Secure remote shell, unrelated to web data encryption.

Bottom-Up Troubleshooting: The OSI model provides a structured diagnostic approach. Starting at Layer 1 ensures basic physical connectivity issues are ruled out first.

MQTT Relies on IP: MQTT operates at a higher layer of the OSI model, relying on TCP/IP (Layers 4 and 3) for communication. Problems at the physical layer will disrupt everything built upon it.

Checking the Fundamentals: Before investigating complex application issues (MQTT), verify cables, link lights, Wi-Fi signal strength, etc.

IP Ratings & Manufacturing: IP66 provides:

Dust-tight: (First '6') Complete protection against dust ingress.

Powerful Water Jets: (Second '6') Protection against strong water jets from any direction.

Harsh Manufacturing Environments: IP66 is common due to dust, dirt, and potential exposure to liquids during cleaning or spills.

References

IP Ratings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

LoRa: This refers to the underlying radio modulation technique using Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). It defines how data is physically encoded onto the wireless signal.

LoRaWAN: This is the network protocol built on top of LoRa. It manages device communication, network topology, and aspects like security. It operates at the MAC sublayer of the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model

LoRa vs. LoRaWAN: Key takeaway is that LoRa is the physical layer technology, while LoRaWAN adds the networking layer for management.

OFDM vs. OFDMA:

OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing): Divides a channel into multiple subcarriers for data transmission.

OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access): Extends OFDM by allowing multiple users to share subcarriers simultaneously, improving efficiency and spectral utilization.

References

OFDM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthogonal_frequency-division_multiplexing

OFDMA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthogonal_frequency-division_multiple_access

Customization and Integrations: The presence of APIs often suggests a system is integrated with other platforms or has custom-built elements.

Understanding Dependencies: Documenting used APIs helps clarify how different parts of the system interact and where potential issues might arise.

Troubleshooting Efficiency: Detailed API documentation aids in resolving problems, allowing staff to assess interconnected systems effectively.

Knowledge transfer: Future support teams won't have to reverse-engineer the system; documentation ensures smooth handover and understanding.

ITU's Mandate: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on global information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Radio Spectrum Regulation: A core ITU function is allocating radio spectrum bands and satellite orbits to prevent harmful interference between different countries and technologies. This coordination is essential for the orderly use of wireless communications worldwide.

Other ITU Roles: While involved in standard-setting and establishing best practices, options A and D are less precise than the ITU's spectrum coordination focus.

Security by Design: Security should be a fundamental consideration from the initial planning stages of any wireless implementation. This ensures:

Risk Assessment: Identifying potential vulnerabilities early on.

Security Controls: Choosing appropriate encryption, authentication, and access control mechanisms.

Integration: Security measures are seamlessly woven into the system's architecture, not retrofitted later, which can be less effective.

Authentication: Verifying "who" the user or device is (e.g., via passwords, certificates).

Authorization: Controlling "what" a user or device can do once authenticated (e.g., read-only vs. read/write permissions).

Combined for Security: Both are essential. Authentication alone doesn't control access levels, and authorization without verification is meaningless.

isualizing RF Interference: Spectrum analyzers display radio frequencies across a range, showing signal strength and potential interference sources. This is crucial for identifying non-Wi-Fi devices that might be disrupting your wireless solution.

Other Tools Have Limitations:

NMAP: Network mapper, focused on discovering devices, not RF analysis

WinPCAP: Packet capture software, helpful but doesn't directly display the RF spectrum.

Protocol Analyzer: Analyzes network traffic, but won't pinpoint physical layer interference.

RFID for Livestock: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are the most widely used technology for livestock tracking and individual identification on large farms.

Benefits:

Unique ID: Each RFID tag has a unique code.

Data Storage: Some tags store information about the animal.

Durability: Tags withstand outdoor conditions.

Automated Reading: Tags can be scanned quickly.

References

RFID (General): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification