CCNA 2 Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials, Version 7.0 Practice Test

For a laptop to display available wireless networks, the access point needs to be in an active mode. In this mode, the access point is actively broadcasting its Service Set Identifier (SSID), allowing nearby devices, like laptops, to detect and connect to the wireless network.

When operating in active mode, the access point sends out beacons at regular intervals. These beacons contain essential information such as the network's SSID, security capabilities, and supported data rates. If the access point were in passive mode, it would not be actively sending out these beacons, making it impossible for the laptop to discover the network it needs to join.

Power-saving mode is designed to reduce energy consumption, but it does not inherently affect the visibility of the networks to clients unless it leads to the access point reducing its operational capabilities significantly. Monitor mode is utilized for network analysis and does not support client connectivity, making it unsuitable for browsing available networks.

Therefore, for a laptop to detect available wireless networks, the access point must operate in active mode to facilitate the necessary communication.