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WLAN Probe Request Frame

The WLAN clients or stations use probe request frame to scan the area for availability of WLAN network. Following fig-1 mentions fields carried by the probe request frame.


WLAN probe request frame

As mentioned in the figure, there are two important fields viz. SSID and supported rates. Stations receiving these probe request frames need to decide whether the senders of probe request can join the network or not.

In order to have successful probe requests, stations transmitting them should have rates supported by the network which they wish to join. Hence SSID of the network should be included in the probe request frame.

WLAN Probe Response Frame

In response to the received probe request, network sends out probe response frame when parameters are compatible. Fig-2 mentions all the fields carried by WLAN probe response frame. Pls. note that some of the fields are exclusive to physical layer in use as mentioned in the beacon frame.


WLAN probe response frame

Probe response frames do not use TIM information element as stations sending out probes are not associated yet. The WLAN client or Station which has transmitted last beacon frame is responsible to respond for the incoming probe requests.

What is Difference between

FIR filter Vs. IIR filter
difference between FDM and OFDM
Difference between SC-FDMA and OFDM
Difference between SISO and MIMO
Difference between TDD and FDD
Difference between 802.11 standards viz.11-a,11-b,11-g and 11-n
OFDM vs OFDMA
CDMA vs GSM
Bluetooth vs zigbee

WLAN MAC frames Links

WLAN Association Request and response frame
WLAN authentication Request and deauthentication frame
WLAN beacon frame
WLAN passive vs active scanning frame
WLAN Probe Request and response frame
WLAN reassociation Request and response frame
WLAN RTS and CTS frame

Other Standard MAC layer protocol

WIMAX MAC PROTOCOL
WLAN MAC LAYER PROTOCOL PART1
WLAN MAC LAYER PROTOCOL PART2
ZIGBEE MAC LAYER FRAME
BLUETOOTH MAC LAYER
802.11AC MAC LAYER

RF and Wireless Terminologies