Which task is the best choice for troubleshooting the near/far problem?

• A. Review the location of the stations (clients) on the network.
• B. Increase transmission power at the AP.
• C. Change the channel used by APs.
• D. Replace the AP antenna.

Answer: (A)

A near/far problem shows up when clients at different distances from the access point experience very different signal strengths, so the closer devices can dominate airtime or the stronger signal masks the weaker one, leaving distant clients with poor throughput. The most effective first step is to review where the stations are located on the network. By mapping where users sit and how strong the signal is at the AP for each device, you can identify coverage imbalances and gaps that cause the near/far disparity. This helps you plan practical fixes like repositioning clients, adjusting AP placement, or adding another AP to even out the coverage so all devices have a fair chance to communicate.

Increasing transmit power at the AP tends to widen coverage but can worsen interference and reduce overall network efficiency, especially for nearby devices. Changing the channel helps mainly with external interference from other networks rather than balancing signal strengths across clients. Replacing the AP antenna might improve coverage patterns, but it’s a more invasive fix and doesn’t address the underlying distribution of client locations and their received signal levels.