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 a risk mitigation strategy in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → Implementing controls that reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks
4. Which WPA3 feature provides forward secrecy, protecting past session traffic even if the passphrase is later compromised? → SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals)
5. What role does active listening play in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → It ensures accurate understanding, demonstrates respect, and improves outcomes
6. What is the main advantage of the 5 GHz band over the 2.4 GHz band for enterprise WLAN design? → More non-overlapping channels available and significantly less RF congestion
7. What 22 MHz channels in an 802.11 2.4 GHz system are regarded as non-overlapping? → 2 and 8
8. What does OFDMA in 802.11ax allow compared to OFDM in earlier amendments? → Serve multiple clients simultaneously within a single channel
9. What is the purpose of measuring the 'noise floor' during a site survey? → To establish the baseline RF interference level present in the environment
10. During a site survey you observe an AP with -45 dBm RSSI at a client location, yet clients report poor throughput. What is the most likely cause? → A high noise floor is causing poor SNR despite the strong received signal
11. What mechanism does 802.11 use to avoid collisions in the shared wireless medium? → CSMA/CA
12. 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
13. Which Wi-Fi generation corresponds to the 802.11ax standard? → Wi-Fi 6
14. 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
15. What is a 'deauthentication attack' in a wireless network? → Sending spoofed 802.11 deauthentication frames to disconnect clients
16. In 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), what is the maximum number of spatial streams supported? → 8
17. What is the most effective communication approach for CWNA professionals? → Adapting communication style to the audience while maintaining accuracy and clarity
18. How does a CWNA professional communicate risks to stakeholders? → By presenting risks clearly with context, potential impacts, and recommended actions
19. What is the purpose of regular risk reviews in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → To identify new risks, evaluate control effectiveness, and update mitigation strategies
20. What company is responsible for WLAN product interoperability? → Wi-Fi Alliance
21. Which EAP method uses TLS tunnels and does NOT require client-side digital certificates? → PEAP
22. What is the role of professional journals in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → They disseminate current research, best practices, and professional developments
23. What does WIDS (Wireless Intrusion Detection System) primarily monitor for? → Rogue APs, unauthorized clients, and attack signatures like deauth floods
24. Which phenomenon causes a wireless signal to bend around obstacles and corners? → Diffraction
25. How should CWNA professionals prioritize identified risks? → Based on likelihood of occurrence combined with severity of potential impact
26. What is the primary advantage of using MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas in 802.11n/ac/ax? → Improved throughput and link reliability using multipath
27. What is the function of the DCF (Distributed Coordination Function) in 802.11? → Distributed contention-based channel access used by all stations
28. What role does peer review play in Wireless Network Administrator practice? → It provides quality assurance and professional development through collegial evaluation
29. What type of site survey involves walking through a facility to assess RF coverage without associating to any access point? → Passive survey
30. What does the term 'MAC address filtering' provide as a wireless security control? → Weak access control that can be bypassed by MAC spoofing