Status Code Status

MAC 2 octets Association Response frame unverified

Zero for success; anything else is the reason for refusal.

Reading a capture

The single most useful two octets in a troubleshooting capture. Not to be confused with a Reason Code, which appears in Deauthentication and Disassociation frames — they are different registries, and reading one as the other gives a plausible and wrong answer.

Values

Value Meaning
0 Success
1 Unspecified failure
12 Association denied — no reason given outside the standard
17 Association denied — AP cannot handle more stations
18 Association denied — station does not support the required rates

Bit values written b0 first, matching transmission order.

Where it sits

Association Response MPDU > Frame Body > Status Code

Accuracy

Clause
802.11-2024 §9.4.1.9
Byte order
little-endian — least significant octet first
Verified
Not verified against the standard. Treat this as a claim, not a fact.