802.11d Packet Formats
==========================


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        **What is the basic packet format in IEEE 802.11d?**

        IEEE 802.11d uses the standard 802.11 MAC frame structure with additional information elements for regulatory domain info.

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        **What types of frames are defined in 802.11d?**

        Management, control, and data frames, as per the 802.11 standard, with added regulatory info in management frames.

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        **How does 802.11d indicate regulatory domain info in packets?**

        Through the Regulatory Information Element (Regulatory IE) in management frames like Beacon and Probe Response frames.

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        **What is the purpose of the Regulatory Information Element?**

        It informs devices about allowed channels, power limits, and other region-specific regulations.

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        **In which management frames is the Regulatory IE carried?**

        Typically in Beacon frames, Probe Response frames, and sometimes Association Response frames.

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        **Does 802.11d modify the MAC header?**

        No, the MAC header remains standard; 802.11d adds regulatory info as an Information Element inside management frames.

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        **What fields are included in the Regulatory Information Element?**

        Country String, Regulatory Class, Channel Number, Max Transmit Power, etc.

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        **How long is the Regulatory IE?**

        It varies but generally between 3 to 8 bytes depending on the number of regulatory classes included.

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        **Are data frames affected by 802.11d?**

        No, 802.11d focuses on regulatory info in management frames, so data frame format remains unchanged.

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        **Can 802.11d devices ignore Regulatory IE if unsupported?**

        Devices not supporting 802.11d may ignore the Regulatory IE but might face regulatory compliance issues.

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        **Does 802.11d add new control frames?**

        No, control frames remain the same as in original 802.11 standards.

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        **How does the packet format help with global roaming?**

        The Regulatory IE allows devices to adjust their channel and power settings based on the region they are operating in.

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        **Is the packet format backward compatible with older 802.11 devices?**

        Yes, because regulatory info is included as optional Information Elements, older devices simply ignore them.

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        **What is the format of a typical management frame in 802.11d?**

        Standard 802.11 management frame format + optional Regulatory IE appended.

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        **How is the Country String formatted in Regulatory IE?**

        It is a 3-byte ASCII string indicating country code, e.g., "US ", "JP ", or "EU ".

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        **Do 802.11d packets carry information about allowed frequency bands?**

        Yes, Regulatory IE specifies allowed channels and frequency ranges.

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        **Are there changes in security fields in 802.11d packet formats?**

        No, 802.11d does not modify security-related fields.

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        **How do stations process the Regulatory IE in received packets?**

        Stations parse the Regulatory IE to update their channel and power settings as per local regulations.

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        **Is the packet format for 802.11d mandatory for all 802.11 devices?**

        Devices operating in multiple regulatory domains are recommended to implement it; others may not be required.

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    Topics in this section,

            * :ref:`Reference links <802_11d_packet_formats_step17>`


.. _802_11d_packet_formats_step17:

.. tab-set::

    .. tab-item:: Reference links

       * Reference links