Essentials for CWTS Certification

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ZNET-011 Essentials for CWTS (Certified Wireless Technology Specialist) Certification (24 hours)
Fee: $895 includes textbook and practice exams and material

Sect. C01
 Mondays & Wednesdays, February 22, 24, March 1,  8, 5:00pm - 9:00pm and
Saturdays, March 6 & 8,  8:00am -12:00pm

Course Description

The CWTS™ (Certified Wireless Technology Specialist) Certification is the latest certification from the CWNP Program and beginning in 2009, CWTS replaces the Wireless# Certification. CWTS is an entry-level enterprise WLAN certification, and a recommended pre-requisite for the CWNA certification. The CWTS certification is the first high-stakes certification geared specifically towards both WLAN sales and support staff for the Enterprise WLAN industry.

The CWTS Certification verifies sales and support staffs are specialists in WLAN technology and have all the fundamental knowledge, tools and terminology necessary to be successful in the exciting and rapidly growing Enterprise WLAN industry.

CWTS was created in response to a strong market demand for professionals who are required to be proficient in a variety of basic wireless technologies. The vast numbers of system and network administrators whose responsibilities now include some work with wireless as well as wired networks require basic familiarity with terms, concepts, tools, and technologies.

As individuals, businesses, and organizations demand easier access to information, technology continues to evolve to meet the demand. One significant contribution has been the development and growth of wireless technology. In this course, you will explore the fundamentals of wireless technology and configuring wireless solutions.

Prerequisites

  • CompTIA Network+ Certification or equivalent knowledge
UPDATED Essentials for CompTIA Network+ 2009 Certification UPDATED
Networking Fundamentals Lifetime Certification
Prerequisite Knowledge for Cisco, Microsoft & CWTS Certifications

Benefits of the CWTS certification

  • Provides a competitive advantage by differentiating one's knowledge and skill set on WLAN technologies, allowing both sales and support staff to excel respectively

  • According to the Certification Magazine 2007 Salary Survey, entry level CWNP certification holders earn an average annual salary of more than $67,000

  • An unparalleled source for gaining a solid grasp on WLAN fundamentals and terminology

  • Delivers on the ability to describe features and functions of wireless components, while providing the skills needed to install and configure wireless network hardware components

  • Makes sales and support personnel more independent from the SE, while allowing SE's to support a wider group.

  • CWTS is the replacement certification for Wireless#, which has been discontinued. All Wireless# holders have been grandfathered into the CWTS certification.

Instructor

Please feel free to contact the instructor  if you have any questions about the course content.

Jim Beane
Director of Program Development and Professional Services
VOICE: (413) 755-4506
FAX: (413) 736-4572
EMAIL: beane@stcc.edu

  • Cisco Certified Entry-level Network Technician (CCENT)

  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

  • Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

  • CompTIA Network+ Certified Professional

  • CompTIA A+ Certified Service Technician

  • CompTIA Server+ Certified Professional

  • CompTIA i-Net+ Certified Professional

  • CompTIA e-Biz+ Certified Professional

  • Microsoft MCDST & MCP

  • Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Professional E-Commerce

  • Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Instructor

  • IBM Certified Specialist- i-Series 400 Operations

  • Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS)

CWTS™ Exam Objectives

Introduction

The Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS) certification, covering the current objectives, will certify that successful candidates know the fundamentals of RF behavior, can describe the features and functions of wireless components, and have the skills needed to install and configure wireless network hardware components. A typical candidate should have a basic understanding of data networking concepts.

Subject Area % of Exam
Wi-Fi Technology, Standards, and Certifications 15%
Hardware and Software 25%
Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals 15%
Site Surveying and Installation 15%
Application, Support, and Troubleshooting 15%
Total 100%

Wireless Technologies, Standards, and Certifications
CWTS Exam Objectives (PDF file)

1.1 Define the roles of the following organizations in providing direction and accountability within the wireless networking industry

  • IEEE

  • Wi-Fi Alliance

  • Regulatory Domain Governing Bodies

1.2 Define basic characteristics of Wi-Fi technology

  • Range, coverage, and capacity

  • Frequencies/channels used

  • Channel reuse and co-location

  • Active and passive scanning

  • Power saving operation

  • Data rates and throughput

  • Dynamic rate switching

  • Authentication and association

  • The distribution system and roaming

  • Infrastructure and ad hoc modes

  • BSSID, SSID,BSS, ESS

  • Protection Mechanisms

1.3 Summarize the basic attributes and advantages of the following WLAN standards, amendments, and product certifications

  • Wi-Fi certification

  • 802.11a

  • 802.11b

  • 802.11g

  • 802.11n

  • Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) certification

  • WMM Power Save (WMM-PS) certification

  • Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) certification

  • Push-button

  • PIN-based

  • Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) certification

  • Enterprise

  • Personal

Hardware and Software

2.1 Identify the purpose, features, and functions of the following wireless network components. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration steps in a given scenario.

  • Access Points
  • Lightweight
  • Autonomous
  • Mesh
  • Wireless LAN Routers
  • Wireless Bridges
  • Wireless Repeaters
  • WLAN Controller/Switch
  • Distributed AP connectivity
  • Direct AP connectivity
  • Layer-2 and Layer-3 AP connectivity
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) Devices
  • Midspan
  • Endpoint

2.2 Identify the purpose, features, and functions of the following client devices. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration steps in a given scenario.

  • PC Cards (ExpressCard, CardBus, and PCMCIA)
  • USB2, CF, and SD Devices
  • PCI, Mini-PCI, and Mini-PCIe Cards
  • Workgroup Bridges
  • Client utility software and drivers

2.3 Identify the purpose, features, and functions of and the appropriate installation or configuration steps for the following types of antennas.

  • Omni-directional / dipole
  • Semi-directional
  • Highly-directional

Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals

3.1 Define the basic units of RF measurements.

  • Milliwatt (mW)

  • Decibel (dB)

  • dBm

  • dBi

3.2 Identify factors which affect the range and speed of RF transmissions

  • Line-of-sight requirements

  • Interference(Baby monitors, spread spectrum phones, microwave ovens)

  • Environmental factors

  • 3.3 Define and differentiate between thefollowing physical layer wireless technologies

  • HR/DSSS

  • ERP

  • OFDM

  • MIMO

3.4 Define concepts which make up the functionality of RF and spread spectrum technology

  • OFDM & HR/DSSS channels

  • Co-location of R/DSSS and OFDM systems

  • Adjacent-channel and co-channel interference

  • WLAN / WPAN co-existence

  • CSMA/CA operation – half duplex

3.5 Identify RF signal characteristics and the applications of basic RF antenna concepts

  • Passive Gain

  • Beamwidths

  • Simple diversity

  • Polarization

3.6 Describe the proper locations and methods for installing RF antennas

  • Pole/mast mount

  • Ceiling mount

  • Wall mount

3.7 Identify the use of the following WLAN accessories and explain how to select and install them for optimal erformance and regulatory domain compliance

  • RF cables

  • RF connectors

  • Lightning Arrestors and grounding rods

Site Surveying and Installation

4.1 Understand and describe the requirements to gather information prior to the site survey and do reporting after the site survey

  • Gathering business requirements

  • Interviewing managers and users

  • Defining physical and data security requirements

  • Gathering site-specific documentation

  • Documenting existing network characteristics

  • Identifying infrastructure connectivity and power requirements

  • Understanding RF coverage requirements

  • Client connectivity requirements

  • Antenna use considerations

4.2 Define and differentiate between the following WLAN system architectures and understand site survey concepts related to each architecture. Identify and explain best practices foraccess point placement and density.

  • Multiple Channel Architecture (MCA)

  • Single Channel Architecture (SCA)

4.3 Define the need for and the use of a manual site survey tool and differentiate between the following manual site survey types

  • Active surveys

  • Passive surveys

  • 4.4 Differentiate between manual and predictive site surveys

  • Advantages and disadvantages of each site survey methodology

4.5 Define the need for and use of a protocol analyzer in a manual site survey as it relates to the following

  • Identifying, locating, and assessing nearby WLANs

4.6 Differentiate between site surveys involving networks with and without a mesh access layer

4.7 Define the need for and use of a spectrum analyzer in a manual site survey

  • Identification and location of interference sources

  • Differentiation of Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi interference sources

4.8 Identify limitations on hardware placement

  • Areas where APs or antennas cannot be placed

  • Areas beyond Ethernet distance limitations

4.9 Understand industry best practices for optimal use of directional and omni-directional antennas in site surveys

Applications, Support, and Troubleshooting

5.1 Identify deployment scenarios for common WLAN network types

  • Small Office/Home Office (SOHO)

  • Extension of existing networks into remote locations

  • Building-to-building connectivity

  • Public wireless hotspots

  • Mobile office, classroom, industrial, and healthcare

  • Municipal and law-enforcement connectivity

  • Corporate data access and end-user mobility

  • Last-mile data delivery – Wireless ISP

  • Transportation networks (trains, planes, automobiles)

5.2 Recognize common problems associated with wireless networks and their symptoms, and identify steps to isolate and troubleshoot the problem. Given a problem situation, interpret the symptoms and the most likely cause. Problems may include:

  • Decreased throughput

  • Intermittent or no connectivity

  • Weak signal strength

  • Device upgrades

5.3 Identify procedures to optimize wireless networks in specific situations.

  • Infrastructure hardware selection and placement

  • Identifying, locating, and removing sources of interference

  • Client load-balancing

  • Analyzing infrastructure capacity and utilization

  • Multipath and hidden nodes

Security & Compliance

6.1 Identify and describe the following WLAN security techniques.

  • SSID Hiding

  • Legacy Security Mechanisms: WEP and MAC Filtering

  • User-based Security - 802.1X/EAP and RADIUS Authentication

  • Passphrase-based Security

  • Push-button or PIN-based Wireless Security

  • Encryption – TKIP/CCMP

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)

  • Virtual Private Networking (VPN)

  • Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS)

  • Captive Portal

6.2 Regulatory Compliance

  • PCI Compliance

  • HIPAA Compliance

  • Enforcing compliance with WIPS

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