Besides transmission power, which factors influence WLAN range?

• A. User login method.
• B. Antenna type and location.
• C. Cable length.
• D. AP color.

Answer: (B)

The thing being tested is how the antenna itself and where it’s placed shape wireless coverage, apart from simply boosting power. Antenna type determines the radiation pattern and gain. An omnidirectional antenna spreads signal more or less evenly in all directions, giving broad, room-to-room coverage but not much reach in any one direction. A directional antenna concentrates energy toward a specific area, which can extend range in that direction but reduces coverage elsewhere. The antenna’s gain (how strongly it radiates in its main direction) affects practical range: higher gain can push signals farther, but it also narrows the area covered, so placement and orientation matter.

Where you put the antenna matters because it changes how the signal travels through the environment. Elevation, distance, and nearby objects (walls, furniture, metal) create path loss and attenuation, so mounting the AP higher and away from obstructions often improves reach. The environment, including interference and reflections, also shapes the usable range.

Choices like user login method or AP color don’t affect radio propagation, and while there can be some loss in long cables, range is mainly about antenna design and placement.