Does a wifi client transmit when not associated?

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A Wi-Fi client, such as a laptop or phone, can transmit a "Probe Request Frame" before associating with an access point (AP) to discover nearby networks. This transmission is not mandatory and depends on the network interface card (NIC) driver settings. Users can find more information about this process by searching for "Probe Request Frame." The frequency of these broadcasts varies based on the device's configuration. Understanding this behavior is essential for network management and security considerations.
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Does a wifi client (such as a laptop or phone) transmit anything prior to associating (or attempting to associate) with an AP? I suspect no, but I have searched the web and skimmed various specs and standards and I have not been able to find the answer. If you answer my question, please provide a link to a reference, if you can... Thanks!
 
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An 802.11 client can broadcast a "Probe Request Frame" to find out what APs are nearby. Just google "Probe Request Frame". Its up to the NIC driver how often it sends that, if at all.
 
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