Which Wi-Fi Standard Supports 5GHz Frequency?

N10-008 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

C 802.11n

Question

A local company is planning to upgrade its current wireless network solution to achieve better performance and improve employees' experience. The solution will require a 5GHz radio band to support all current company devices. Which of the following should be considered as an option for the upgrade?
  1. 802.11
  2. 802.11b
  3. 802.11n Correct Answer
  4. 802.11g

Key Takeaways

Tests identification of dual-band Wi-Fi capabilities, with the common trap being misattribution of 5GHz support to widely used but 2.4GHz-only standards like 802.11g.

This question evaluates understanding of IEEE 802.11 amendments and their operational frequency bands. The networking community universally agrees that 802.11n is the correct upgrade path as it uniquely supports the required 5GHz spectrum among the given choices.

Common mistake: Option D (802.11g) is often selected incorrectly because it was a dominant standard for years, but candidates frequently forget it is strictly limited to the congested 2.4GHz band.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) was the first mainstream standard to introduce dual-band operation, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. It also utilizes MIMO technology to significantly boost throughput and range, directly addressing the company’s need for better performance. Selecting this standard ensures compatibility with modern devices while leveraging the less crowded 5GHz spectrum.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Options A, B, and D represent legacy IEEE 802.11 amendments that exclusively operate on the 2.4GHz band. The original 802.11 specification, along with 802.11b and 802.11g, lack the hardware architecture to transmit on 5GHz. Consequently, they cannot meet the explicit requirement for a 5GHz radio band in the scenario.

Community Comment Notes

Voters overwhelmingly confirmed 802.11n as the right choice, emphasizing it is the sole 5GHz-compatible option listed (Comment 2, 3). Users noted that 802.11n consistently appears as the correct answer for 5GHz upgrade questions on the N10-008 exam (Comment 1). This aligns with official study guides that highlight n as the foundational dual-band standard.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Create a quick reference table mapping each 802.11 amendment to its frequency band, max theoretical speed, and key features. During the exam, treat keywords like '5GHz', 'dual-band', or 'modern performance' as immediate triggers to select 802.11n, 802.11ac, or 802.11ax over legacy alternatives.

Community Votes

C
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer C. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. Zach123654 👍 3 Answered C
    N has been the answer for most of these questions.
  2. d062895 👍 2 Answered C
    C. Its the only one that supports a 5GHz signal
  3. priestb3 👍 3 Answered C
    802.11n only 5ghz

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