Wi-Fi Roaming and Handoff Workbench

Move a Wi-Fi client through a multi-AP space and watch when roaming should happen

Learner-ready Wi-Fi roaming animation with a draggable client, scenario presets, RSSI and hysteresis controls, 802.11k/v/r comparison, handoff timeline, latency and packet-loss estimates, diagnosis cards, and mobile-ready reference panels.

Animation Wi-Fi roaming 802.11k/v/r

Watch a client decide when to leave one access point for another.

Move the laptop across the building and compare standard roaming with assisted and fast roaming. The workbench shows RSSI, hysteresis, AP load, scan time, reassociation delay, and the packet gap a learner should expect during a handoff.

Decision owner Usually the client

Trigger signal RSSI, retries, SNR, load

Anti ping-pong Hysteresis and hold time

Fast transition 802.11r cuts key delay

Roaming Scenarios

Roaming Assistance

Scan threshold

-70 dBm

Hysteresis margin

8 dB

Central AP load

42%

Show RSSI labelsDisplay received signal estimates next to each AP.

Decision Ladder

1

Monitor serving APRSSI and retry pressure are sampled continuously.

2

Scan candidatesClient probes channels or uses neighbor reports.

3

Apply hysteresisCandidate must be enough better to avoid ping-pong.

4

Reassociate or FTClient moves security and association to the target AP.

5

Resume trafficPackets flow again through the new AP.

Roaming Floor Plan

Drag the laptop or use Play. Stronger RSSI is closer to zero; for example, -55 dBm is stronger than -72 dBm.

Associated

The client is associated with AP A. Move toward the center and watch when scanning starts.

Serving AP AP A

Best candidate AP B

Interruption 0 ms

Packet gap 0 packets

Diagnosis

Serving link Candidate link Control exchange Weak or delayed roam

AP Comparison

AP	RSSI	Load	Roam score

How to Read the Animation

RSSI is negative -55 dBm is strong, -72 dBm is weaker, and -82 dBm is close to the edge for many clients.

Roaming is client-driven APs can suggest or assist, but the client normally chooses the moment and target.

Hysteresis prevents ping-pong The new AP must be better by a margin before the client switches.

Fast roaming is not magic 802.11r reduces security-transition time; 802.11k/v reduce discovery and steer choices.

Technical Quick Reference

802.11k Neighbor reports help the client scan likely APs instead of every channel.

802.11v BSS Transition Management lets the network suggest a better AP, often for load or coverage.

802.11r Fast BSS Transition lets key material move faster during reassociation.

Sticky client A client stays attached to a weak AP even when a better AP is available.

Try These Checks

Lower the threshold The client tolerates weaker signal before scanning. This can increase sticky-client behavior.

Raise hysteresis Roaming becomes more conservative. It avoids ping-pong but can delay a needed switch.

Use 802.11k/v Watch scan time shrink and the loaded AP become less attractive.

Use 802.11r The target choice may be similar, but interruption and packet gap should be smaller.

Model Boundaries

This is a teaching model, not a vendor roaming algorithm. Real clients also consider SNR, channel width, band, supported rates, retries, security method, driver policy, application traffic, and configured enterprise roaming features.

Use it for Understanding the decision logic: monitor, scan, evaluate, reassociate, recover.

Do not use it for Predicting exact thresholds, dBm values, or latency for a specific chipset or WLAN vendor.