CCNA 200-301 v1.1 reference — Network Fundamentals
Wireless principles
RF behavior, SSIDs and BSSIDs, nonoverlapping 2.4 GHz and 5/6 GHz channels, and what wireless encryption protects.
Objective 1.11v1.1 exam target
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Nonoverlapping channel plans
| Band | Channels | Nonoverlapping | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | 1–14 (region dependent, 1–11 in NA) | 1, 6, 11 | Only three clean channels — congested, but better propagation |
| 5 GHz | 20+ channels (UNII bands) | Many nonoverlapping 20 MHz channels | DFS required on some; wider channels reuse fewer distinct nonoverlap plans |
| 6 GHz | Wi-Fi 6E | Many | Greenfield spectrum, no legacy devices — regulated availability varies |
An SSID is the human-readable network name; a BSSID is the MAC identifying one AP's radio serving that SSID; an ESS is the set of BSSIDs sharing one SSID that clients roam between. The same SSID on many APs is one logical network; the client chooses the BSSID to associate with.
Plan channels for a 3-AP floor
- APs
- 3 access points on one floor
- Band
- 2.4 GHz, NA regulatory
- Only 1, 6 and 11 are nonoverlapping — three APs can cover the floor with no self-interference.
- Adjacent APs get adjacent nonoverlap channels: AP1=1, AP2=6, AP3=11.
- If a fourth AP is added, reuse a channel on the physically most-separated AP.
Treating 1/6/11 as universal law — it is the common US 20-MHz plan, but other regulatory domains and channel widths change the answer; even 1/6/11 does not guarantee zero interference.
Sources
- Cisco CCNA 200-301 v1.1 Exam Topics (official PDF) — reviewed 2026-11-02
- Wi-Fi Alliance — Security — reviewed 2026-11-02
Targets CCNA 200-301 v1.1 objectives. Supplemental blocks are labeled beyond exam scope.