CWNA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CWNA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of the RTS/CTS mechanism in 802.11? → Mitigate the hidden node problem
2. What is the term for the loss of signal strength as it travels through free space without any obstacles? → Free-space path loss
3. What is the minimum channel availability check (CAC) time required before a Wi-Fi device can transmit on a DFS channel? → 60 seconds
4. What is a risk mitigation strategy in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → Implementing controls that reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks
5. Which WPA3 feature provides forward secrecy, protecting past session traffic even if the passphrase is later compromised? → SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals)
6. What role does active listening play in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → It ensures accurate understanding, demonstrates respect, and improves outcomes
7. Which antenna type radiates power equally in all directions in the horizontal plane and is commonly used for general indoor coverage? → Dipole/omnidirectional
8. Under FCC Part 15.407, low-power indoor (LPI) devices in the 6 GHz band are restricted to what maximum EIRP? → 30 dBm (1 W)
9. What maximum EIRP does FCC Part 15.247 permit for point-to-point 2.4 GHz links using a directional antenna? → 4 W (36 dBm)
10. Which 5 GHz UNII sub-band is shared with Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) and requires the strictest DFS parameters? → UNII-2C (5.47–5.725 GHz)
11. Which document should a CWNA professional reference to understand the specific exam domains and their weighting for the CWNA-109 exam? → CWNP CWNA exam objectives document
12. What does 'RF predictive modeling' enable a CWNA professional to do before physical installation begins? → Simulate AP placement and coverage using floor plans and propagation models
13. What 22 MHz channels in an 802.11 2.4 GHz system are regarded as non-overlapping? → 2 and 8
14. What is the primary purpose of a site survey in a WLAN deployment? → To determine optimal AP placement and channel assignment
15. What does OFDMA in 802.11ax allow compared to OFDM in earlier amendments? → Serve multiple clients simultaneously within a single channel
16. What is the purpose of measuring the 'noise floor' during a site survey? → To establish the baseline RF interference level present in the environment
17. Which 802.11 amendment introduced OFDMA as a key technology for improved multi-user efficiency? → 802.11ax
18. What mechanism does 802.11 use to avoid collisions in the shared wireless medium? → CSMA/CA
19. When performing a pre-deployment site survey, what is the PRIMARY goal of a passive survey? → Detect existing RF signals without transmitting
20. A wireless link has a transmit power of 20 dBm and a cable loss of 3 dB. What is the effective transmit power at the antenna port? → 17 dBm
21. Which FCC enforcement action can result from operating a Wi-Fi device that causes harmful interference? → Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) for forfeiture
22. Which Wi-Fi generation corresponds to the 802.11ax standard? → Wi-Fi 6
23. A wireless engineer needs to reduce co-channel interference on a 2.4 GHz network. Which set of non-overlapping channels should be used? → 1, 6, 11
24. Which propagation behavior occurs when a radio wave hits a large flat surface and bounces back at an angle equal to the angle of incidence? → Reflection
25. What is a 'deauthentication attack' in a wireless network? → Sending spoofed 802.11 deauthentication frames to disconnect clients
26. In 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), what is the maximum number of spatial streams supported? → 8
27. What is the most effective communication approach for CWNA professionals? → Adapting communication style to the audience while maintaining accuracy and clarity
28. How does a CWNA professional communicate risks to stakeholders? → By presenting risks clearly with context, potential impacts, and recommended actions
29. What is the maximum EIRP allowed for point-to-point outdoor 5 GHz links under FCC regulations in the US? → 53 dBm
30. Which wireless troubleshooting framework most closely follows the evidence-based practice model? → Define the problem, collect data, form a hypothesis, test it, and validate the outcome