Active probes run with the probe client associated with the APs used during the probe. When a client is linked, it performs all the tasks performed by a typical 802.11 client, including data transfer rates when the RF condition changes and performs retransmissions. Active surveys are commonly used for new WLAN deployments because they provide most of the details on which to base a design.
There
are two main methods used in active surveys:
Basic
Service Set Identifier (BSSID) method: This method blocks a client on the radio
MAC address of an AP and prevents the client from roaming.
Service
Set Identifier (SSID) method - Most commonly used for post-deployment scenarios
and used to browse multiple APs. Allows the survey client to bind to an SSID
where the client roams through multiple APs.