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90 days, unless otherwise stated. Ni-Cad, Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries, cables or other peripherals are all considered parts or accessories. The warranty extends only to the original buyer or end user customer of a Fluke Networks authorized reseller, and does not apply to any product which, in Fluke Networks’...
Contents Title Page Introduction ..................................1 Registering Your Product ..............................1 The Fluke Networks Knowledge Base ..........................1 Contact Fluke Networks ............................... 2 Safety Information ................................2 Unpacking ..................................... 3 AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester ..............................3 AirCheck Frontline Troubleshooting Kit ........................3 Physical Features ...................................
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual The Home Screen ................................... 13 Set Up the Tester ................................... 14 Change the Language and Country Settings ....................... 14 Make a Profile to Connect to Secure Networks ......................14 Settings ................................... 16 802.11d Operation ................................. 20 Change the Thresholds for the Colors in Bar Graphs ....................
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Contents Device Information ................................ 62 If the Tester Will Not Turn Off ............................63 Options and Accessories ............................... 63 Specifications ..................................64 Environmental Specifications ............................64 General Specifications ..............................66 Wireless Specifications ..............................67 Federal Communication Commission and Industry Canada Interference Statement ............70 Important Note: FCC and IC Radiation Exposure Statement ..................
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List of Figures Figure Page Physical Features ..............................4 How to Remove the Battery..........................6 The Home Screen ..............................13 Change the Thresholds for the Colors in a Bar Graph ..................21 Networks (SSIDs) List ............................. 24 Access Points List ..............................28 Access Point Details Screen...........................
To register, health, and find the source of connection problems. The fill out the online form on the Fluke Networks website at tester operates on 802.11 b/g/n networks in the 2.4 GHz www.flukenetworks.com/registration.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Contact Fluke Networks Safety Information www.flukenetworks.com Table 1 gives descriptions of the safety symbols used on the tester and in this manual. support@flukenetworks.com +1-425-446-4519 Table 1. Safety Symbols • Australia: 61 (2) 8850-3333 or 61 (3) 9329 0244 Warning or Caution: risk of damage to or •...
External directional antenna with RSMA connector • PoE detector Unpacking • AC adapter The AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester comes with the accessories in the • list below. If something is damaged or missing, tell the USB cable dealer where you purchased the product. •...
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Physical Features On/off key. The LED turns on when you connect the ac adapter. The LED is red when the battery charges and green when Makes a selection on the screen. the battery is fully charged. Navigation keys. Connector for the ac adapter. Shows the previous screen.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Battery Charging and Life Charge the battery for 4 hours before you use it for the first time. To charge the battery, connect the ac adapter to the battery connector ( in Figure 1). You can use the tester while you charge the battery.
Minimum Configuration for the Best Performance Minimum Configuration for the Best Performance To get the most performance from your tester, use AirCheck Manager to configure a profile and transfer it to the tester. A profile contains data that lets the tester do these tasks: •...
. See page 28. Are there new access points in the area? Save the test session, then use AirCheck Manager to compare the access point Are access points inaudible? list to another list saved in AirCheck Manager. See pages 53 and 57.
What You Can Learn About Your Network Can Devices Connect to the Network? Use the tester to verify connectivity. Note To connect to a secure network, the tester must have a profile that includes security credentials. If credentials are not available, the softkey shows as Connect*.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual What Causes Slow Network Performance or Dropped Connections? Is the signal strength sufficient? Select Access Points. The Access Points screen shows the signal strength for each access point. Select an access point to see more details about the signal strength and congestion.
What You Can Learn About Your Network Are There Security Risks in the Network? Do networks have the expected level of Select Networks. Networks that have unsecured access points show a red open security? lock ( ). See page 24. Are there any ad hoc networks in the Select Networks.
See page 25 or 29. How Can I Document My Network and My Test Session? Save the session (see page 53), then use AirCheck Manager software to transfer the data to a PC and make a report. See page 57.
The Home Screen The Home Screen Shows that the external antenna is connected. Networks: Discovers wireless LANs. See page 23. Channels: Shows usage of WLAN channels. See page 40. The name of the profile the tester uses. The profile is Default if you have not loaded a different profile.
Select Tools. Profiles that you make in AirCheck Manager include these To change the language for the screens, select Set settings: Language. Highlight a language, then press Save.
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Tools > To transfer a profile from a PC to the tester Restore factory defaults. Use the Profile Manager in AirCheck Manager to make To save the current settings as a profile a profile.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Note Settings File names can have a maximum of 8 characters Table 2 shows the settings you can make on the Tools menu. with an extension of 3 characters. The extension must be “.ACP” if you want to see the profile in...
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Set Up the Tester Table 2. Settings on the Tools Menu Manage 802.11 settings Lets you set options for channels and access point lists. • Enable 2.4 GHz band, Enable 5 GHz band: Select one or both frequency bands to see Note networks and access points from one or both bands.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Table 2. Settings on the Tools Menu (continued) • Manage 802.11 settings Group virtual access points: When an access point broadcasts multiple MAC addresses (continued) (BSSIDs), the MACs are virtual access points. Virtual access points can support different networks from the same physical access point.
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Set Up the Tester Table 2. Settings on the Tools Menu (continued) Set time and date Lets you set the time and date, which the tester includes with saved results. Use to select '& a setting, then use to change the setting. Set thresholds Lets you set the thresholds for the colors in measurement bar graphs.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual 802.11d Operation Green bars: The tester received a country code from one or more access points. All country codes received are If an access point uses the 802.11d standard, it transmits an the same, and they all agree with the setting in Tools > Set ISO country code in its beacons and probe responses.
Set Up the Tester Change the Thresholds for the Colors in Bar Graphs The colors of bar graphs show you if the signal strength, noise, and signal to noise ratio are above or below specified thresholds. You can change the thresholds so that the colors show you if the signal meets the requirements of your network.
If an access point does not transmit, but you know you want to give the MACs different authorization its MAC address, you can use AirCheck Manager to statuses, select the access point. give the access point an authorization status. Save...
Discover Networks and Access Points Discover Networks and Access Points To discover networks or access points From the home screen, select Networks or Access Note Points. The tester shows the Networks list or Access By default, the tester looks for wireless signals on Points list (Figures 5 and 6).
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Discover Networks and Access Points : The time when the tester first heard the network. Green closed lock: All access points use security To see networks that come into range as you move protocols that are more secure than WEP, for example, through an area, sort the list in descending sequence for WPA or WPA2.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual 802.11: The 802.11 standards that the access points in Notes: Press to scroll to the notes field. The tester adds the network use: notes automatically. See page 37. Networks that have notes are purple. 802.11a: Uses the 5 GHz band.
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Discover Networks and Access Points : The channel the tester currently monitors. The color of the bars shows the status of the country code for the regulatory domain. See “802.11d Operation” on page 20. : The number of access points the tester hears at your location.
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Discover Networks and Access Points : The time when the tester first heard the access Name/MAC: The name or MAC address of the access point. To see access points that come into range as you point. The address starts with a vendor abbreviation move through an area, sort the list in descending prefix, if the prefix is available.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual : The security status of the access point: : 802.11n: Can be used in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. Red open lock: The access point does not have Red bars: The tester received a 802.11d country security enabled.
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Discover Networks and Access Points To sort the list in ascending or descending sequence, use Press ACL to change the authorization status for & to highlight a column heading, then press the highlighted access point. See page 17. Sort 1. For example, to quickly find the access To see details for an access point, highlight the access point, point that has the strongest signal, highlight then press...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual The channel and frequency of the access point. The number is red if the channel is illegal for the country selected in Tools > Set country. : The primary channel ( ) is bonded with...
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If the AP country setting does not agree page 20 with the AirCheck country setting, the access point has : The number of access points the tester hears at red bars in the 802.11 column. See “802.11d Operation”...
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual If the Tester Does Not Discover an Divide the area you want to search into four sections, as shown in Figure 9. Go to one corner of the area. Access Point Make a note of the signal strength.
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Locate an Access Point A gauge that shows the signal strength at the current time. The bar is gray if the tester cannot hear the access point. : The channel that the access point uses. The color of the bars shows the status of the country code for the regulatory domain.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Make a note of the signal strength. Go to the first corner of the section that had the strongest signal. ffy16.eps Figure 9. Search Pattern for the Omnidirectional Antenna in the Tester...
Notes for Networks and Access Points Notes for Networks and Access Points Tables 3 and 4 give descriptions for the notes that the tester can add to networks and access points. <c Table 3. Notes for Networks and Access Points Ad hoc network operating This SSID is an ad hoc network.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Table 3. Notes for Networks and Access Points (continued) Network has mixed security types All access points for this SSID do not use the same type of security. 40 MHz 802.11n is not You should not bond channels in the 2.4 GHz band because that band has only three recommended on 2.4 GHz...
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Notes for Networks and Access Points Table 4. 802.11n Capabilities (shown on the Access Points Details screen) (continued) AP accepts 802.11n Greenfield The access point can increase speed if it uses Greenfield packets. packets AP does not accept 802.11n The access point will not accept 802.11n Greenfield packets. The user has set the Greenfield packets access point to never use Greenfield packets or the access point hears a, b, or g clients and will not operate Greenfield 802.11n mode.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Table 4. 802.11n Capabilities (shown on the Access Points Details screen) (continued) Max Rx Rate The maximum rate of data reception for the access point at this time. The rate can change as the access point adjusts for changes in wireless traffic in the area.
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Channel Usage Channels that do not have access points can show 802.11 usage because of overlap from access points on adjacent channels. By default, the tester shows channels on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. To see only one band, change the setting in Tools >...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual A graph of the 802.11 usage and non-802.11 interference of the selected channel over time in seconds.The more the usage, the busier the channel. Very busy channels can make the network slow or affect connectivity Interference from a microwave oven.
Verify Connectivity : The number of access points the tester hears at Verify Connectivity your location. This shows the number of physical access points if Group virtual access points is selected. See Use connectivity tests to verify the operation of these page 18.
) in the security column. You can also use the tester to connect to a secure network To enter security credentials, use AirCheck Manager to to verify that security credentials are correct. make a configuration profile that includes the credentials.
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Verify Connectivity To connect to a network To connect to a specified access point If the network is secure, you must load a configuration If the access point is secure, you must use a profile that has security credentials for the network. See configuration profile that has security credentials for page 14.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual SSID, BSSID: The name of the network and the MAC address of the access point that the tester uses for the connection. When you connect to a network, the tester usually connects through the access point that has the highest signal to noise ratio.
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Verify Connectivity Press Start tests to do a ping test, which includes the Connection range test : The channel that the access point uses. The color of the bars shows the status of the country code for the regulatory domain. See “802.11d Operation” on page : The number of access points that the tester hears at your location.
To include the addresses servers. This makes sure that other network devices are in the IP address list for ping tests, use AirCheck accessible and measures the response time. Manager to include them in a profile.
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Verify Connectivity The minimum (Min), average (avg), and maximum (max) periods of time for ping responses from the device and the number of packets sent, received, and lost during the ping test. Connection range: The connection range shows the probability of the best possible connection to the access point from your location.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual SNR: The channel number of the access point and Discover Clients that Transmit Probes the signal to noise ratio. You can change the thresholds for the colors in the bar graph. See page 21. When the tester is on, it monitors each channel for probe request frames from network clients.
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Discover Clients that Transmit Probes MAC: The MAC address of the client. The address starts with a vendor abbreviation prefix. See “oui_abbr.txt” on page 56. The strength of the probe signal. Scanning: The percentage of the available channels that have been monitored for clients. The tester continues to do a scan through all channels after the bar graph is at 100%.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual SSIDs the client uses in probes. Scanning: The percentage of the available channels that have been monitored for clients. The tester continues to do a scan through all channels after the bar graph is at 100%.
If the Tester Does Not Discover a Client If the Tester Does Not Discover a Client Save a Test Session In some situations, the tester will not discover a client: You can save the information the tester has collected since you turned it on or since the last time you saved a session, •...
Save. " Press . The tester shows a default, sequential filename To see the session file, open it in AirCheck Manager. See at the bottom of the screen. page 57. • To save the session with the filename shown, press Save.
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PC, then use one of these procedures: Done, then press Rename. • Start AirCheck Manager, select Tools > Profile Manager, To delete a file then look at the Memory Used graph. • Select Tools, then select Manage files.
• DEVICE.XML: This file contains the information shown If there is a newer list on the Fluke Networks website that is when you select Tools > View AirCheck Information. not included in the latest version of AirCheck Manager, copy the file to the “VendorPrefix” folder for AirCheck •...
Transfer Files to a PC Use the External Directional Antenna to Locate an Access Point To use AirCheck Manager to look at test sessions or profiles that are saved on the tester In large, open areas, the external directional antenna can...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual '& Select Networks or Access Points, then use Use these guidelines when you use the external antenna: to go to the Access Point Details screen for the access • Hold the antenna at a constant height. You can get point you want to locate.
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Use the External Directional Antenna to Locate an Access Point The signal can be stronger above or below you. Go to the middle of the section that has the strongest signal until you find the access point. ffy17.eps Figure 17. Search Pattern for the External Antenna...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual ffy13.eps Figure 18. How to Point the External Antenna...
Save the file to your hard disk. dangerous to use. Get the latest version of AirCheck Manager from the • Use only service centers that are approved by Fluke Fluke Networks website.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual In AirCheck Manager, select AirCheck > Update Restore Factory Defaults Software. Appendix B gives a list of the default settings for the tester. Click Select, find and select the update file (.xlf To restore factory defaults extension), then click Open.
Table 5 shows options and accessories available for the approximately 5 seconds. AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester. For a complete list of options and accessories visit the Fluke If the tester still does not turn off, remove the battery pack Networks website at www.flukenetworks.com.
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Specifications Environmental Specifications Operating temperature and relative 32ºF to 113ºF (0ºC to +45ºC) humidity Note The battery will not charge if the internal temperature of the tester is above 113ºF (45ºC). Operating relative humidity 90% (50ºF to 95ºF; 10ºC to 35ºC) (% RH without condensation) 75% (95ºF to 113ºF;...
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Specifications Certifications and compliance Conforms to relevant European Union directives Conforms to relevant Australian standards Listed by the Canadian Standards Association Ž Conforms to FCC Rules, Parts 15.107, 15.109...
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual General Specifications Dimensions 3.5 in x 7.8 in x 1.9 in (8.9 cm x 19.8 cm x 4.8 cm) Weight 14 oz (0.4 kg) Battery Removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (18.5 Watt-hrs) Battery life Typical operating life is 5.5 hours. Typical charge time is 3 hours.
Specifications Wireless Specifications Specification compliance IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n Operating frequencies IEEE 802.11a ISM Band USA (FCC): 5.15 GHz to 5.25 GHz; 5.725 GHz to 5.850 GHz Europe (ETSI): 5.15 GHz to 5.25 GHz Japan (TELEC): 5.15 GHz to 5.35 GHz; 5.47 GHz to 5.725 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g ISM Band USA (FCC): 2.412 GHz to 2.462 GHz (channel 1 to channel 11) Europe (ETSI): 2.412 GHz to 2.472 GHz (channel 1 to channel 13)
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual External Directional Antenna Frequencies Frequency range 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz and 4.9 to 5.9 GHz Minimum gain 5.0 dBi in the 2.4 GHz band and 7.0 dBi in the 5 GHz band Connector Reverse-polarity SMA plug...
AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual • Federal Communication Commission Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or TV technician for help. and Industry Canada Interference FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly Statement approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
Federal Communication Commission and Industry Canada Interference Statement • The availability of some specific channels and/or EN 300328 V1.7.1: (2006-10) operational frequency bands are country dependent and Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum not accessible by the end user. Matters (ERM); Wideband Transmission systems; Data transmission equipment operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and using spread spectrum modulation Europe-EU Declaration of Conformity...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual This device is a 2.4 GHz wideband transmission system (transceiver), intended for use in all EU member states and EFTA countries, except in France and Italy where restrictive use applies. In Italy the end-user should apply for a license at the...
Appendix A: Log Messages for Connections that Fail The connection log (page 47) can help you understand why a device cannot connect to a network. This appendix gives reasons for log messages that show when a connection fails. Message Possible Reasons for the Connection Failure 802.11: Found no access points The access point is out of range, disabled, or someone changed the frequency band.
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Message Possible Reasons for the Connection Failure Authentication failed The access control list and MAC filter on the access point rejected the MAC of the tester. The access point uses WEP security, and the low-level 802.11 authentication (open/shared) that the tester uses is different from the type of authentication that the access point uses.
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Ignore this message if you did not select the option Check Server Certificate in the profile in AirCheck Manager. 802.1X: Server certificate is bad The option Check Server Certificate was selected in the profile in AirCheck Manager, but an incorrect certificate was loaded into the tester. •...
Appendix B: Default Settings This appendix shows the default settings for the tester when you select Tools > Restore factory defaults. Function Default Setting Function Default Setting Thresholds for Bar Graphs Signal Level: Red Profile that the tester uses -80 dBm Default Signal Level: Yellow Auto shutoff...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Function Default Setting Function Default Setting 802.11 Settings Access Points List Bands Sort 1 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Name/MAC Transmit probes Sort 2 Enable Name/MAC Group virtual access points Enable Virtual Access Points List...
Appendix C: 802.11d Country Codes This appendix shows the countries for the country codes that Andorra the tester shows on the Access Point Details screen. United Arab Emirates Countries shown in bold text are the countries you can select in Tools > Set country. Afghanistan Antigua and Barbuda Anguilla...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual American Samoa Brunei Darussalam Austria Bolivia Australia Brazil Aruba Bahamas Aland Bhutan Azerbaijan Burma (transitional) Bosnia and Herzegovina Bouvet Island Barbados Botswana Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Burkina Faso Canada Bulgaria Cocos Islands Bahrain Congo, Democratic Republic of...
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Appendix C: 802.11d Country Codes Cook Islands Algeria Chile Ecuador Cameroon Estonia China Egypt Colombia Western Sahara Costa Rica Eritrea Serbia and Montenegro (transitional) Spain Cuba Ethiopia Cape Verde European Union Christmas Island Finland Cyprus Fiji Czech Republic Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Germany Micronesia Djibouti...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual United Kingdom Guyana Grenada Hong Kong Georgia Heard and McDonald Islands French Guiana Honduras Guernsey Croatia Ghana Haiti Gibraltar Hungary Greenland Indonesia Gambia Ireland Guinea International (Cisco only) Guadeloupe Israel Equatorial Guinea Isle of Man...
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Appendix C: 802.11d Country Codes Italy Lebanon Jersey Saint Lucia Jamaica Liechtenstein Jordan Sri Lanka Japan Liberia Kenya Lesotho Kyrgyzstan Lithuania Cambodia Luxembourg Kiribati Latvia Comoros Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Saint Kitts and Nevis Morocco Korea, D.P.R. (north) Monaco Korea, Republic (south) Moldova, Republic of Kuwait Montenegro...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Macedonia No country is selected (special situation for some access points) Mali New Caledonia Myanmar Niger Mongolia Norfolk Island Macau Nigeria Northern Mariana Islands Nicaragua Martinique Netherlands Mauritania Norway Montserrat Nepal Malta Nauru Mauritius Neutral Zone (transitional)
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Appendix C: 802.11d Country Codes French Polynesia Russian Federation Papua New Guinea Rwanda Philippines Saudi Arabia Pakistan Solomon Islands Poland Seychelles Saint Pierre and Miquelon Sudan Pitcairn Sweden Puerto Rico Finland (unofficial) Palestinian Territory Singapore United States (public safety) Saint Helena Portugal Slovenia Palau...
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AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester Users Manual Suriname East Timor (transitional) Sao Tome and Principe Turkey USSR (formerly) Trinidad and Tobago El Salvador Tuvalu Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Swaziland Tanzania Turks and Caicos Islands Ukraine Chad Uganda French Southern Territories United Kingdom (unofficial) Togo U.S.
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Appendix C: 802.11d Country Codes Virgin Islands, U.S. Viet Nam Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna Is. Samoa Yemen Mayotte Yugoslavia (transitional) South Africa Zambia Zaire (transitional) Zimbabwe...