In today’s fast-paced world, seamless connectivity is essential, especially for businesses and individuals who rely on wireless networks for communication, collaboration, and productivity.
In a world where we are constantly on the move, a stable internet connection should not be tied to a single spot. Whether you are walking across an office or moving through a large home, seamless connectivity is essential.
One of the most important aspects of maintaining a stable, reliable connection as you move around is Wi-Fi roaming. However, standard Wi-Fi often struggles to keep up.
This article explores how DrayTek Vigor Access Points (VigorAPs) ensure your devices connect to the strongest signal, greatly improving your wireless experience with advanced roaming features.
What is Wi-Fi Roaming?
Wi-Fi roaming enables client devices, such as laptops and smartphones, to move freely between multiple Access Points (APs) while staying connected to the network. The primary goal is to ensure that your device always connects to the strongest available signal, which is crucial for maintaining optimal performance.
Traditional Roaming
In traditional roaming, the client device, like your phone or laptop, chooses when to switch between access points.
The Problem: The “Sticky Client”
Leaving the decision to switch between access points up to the client can cause the “sticky client” issue, where devices stay connected to weak signals instead of switching to stronger ones. As a result, devices might stick to distant, weak signals even when a much stronger option is available nearby. This often leads to frustrating experiences, with poor performance and dropped connections.
The Solution: AP-Assisted Roaming
DrayTek Vigor Access Points address this issue through “AP-Assisted Client Roaming.” Instead of relying solely on the device to decide when to switch, network administrators can define specific conditions that trigger a handover when the connection degrades. This facilitates smooth client handovers and enhances the overall user experience.
To begin, verify that your setup meets these fundamental requirements:
- Identical SSID: All APs should share the same network name.
- Consistent Security: Maintain the same security mode and password on each AP.
- Channel Management: Select non-overlapping channels to prevent interference.
Fine-Tuning for Better Performance
The Vigor AP roaming page provides various key parameters to customise how your network manages transitions.
- Minimum Basic Rate: This feature disconnects a client when its link speed drops below a set threshold, ensuring that only high-speed connections stay active.
- Minimum RSSI: This is the most effective roaming tool, enabling Vigor APs to communicate and disconnect a client only if a nearby AP can provide a substantially stronger signal.
Fast Roaming Techniques for WPA2 Enterprise Networks
For businesses using WPA2 Enterprise or running latency-sensitive apps like VoIP and video conferencing, even a split-second delay during roaming can be noticeable. DrayTek supports several “Fast Roaming” techniques to bridge this gap:
1. PMK Caching:
| The AP temporarily stores encryption keys, enabling faster reconnection if a client returns quickly. By holding the Pairwise Master Key (PMK) after successful 802.1X authentication, PMK Caching facilitates quick re-authentication when a client roams back to an AP, greatly reducing delay. |  |
2. Pre-Authentication:
A client can authenticate with a new AP over the wired network before physically moving, allowing for an instant transition. This method lets a client authenticated by one AP to pre-authenticate with another AP via the wired network. By caching the PMK on the new AP before the client roams, the switch is quick and smooth.
3. 802.11r Fast Transition:
This protocol distributes encryption keys across all access points, either Over-the-Air (directly with the new AP) or Over-the-DS (via the current AP), significantly lowering latency. This capability enhances client handoffs between APs, which is especially advantageous for time-sensitive applications such as VoIP and video streaming.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Setting up roaming is not a “set and forget” task. To ensure your configuration is working:
- Station List: Check real-time link speeds and RSSI levels for all connected clients.
- Syslog Explorer: Look for “kick messages” under Diagnostics. Syslog Explorer will log a ‘kick‘ message whenever the AP-assisted roaming feature disconnects a client. This real-time verification is invaluable for troubleshooting and ensuring optimal network settings. These logs verify that your AP-assisted settings are actively moving clients to better signals.
Monitoring the network’s performance is critical for effective roaming. The VigorAP Station List provides real-time information about clients, including link speed and Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), enabling admins to continuously assess performance.
Conclusion
Prevent “sticky clients” from weakening your network. Enable DrayTek’s AP-assisted roaming and 802.11r protocols for a seamless, high-performance mobile environment. DrayTek VigorAPs effectively tackle traditional Wi-Fi roaming issues. With AP-Assisted Client Roaming, PMK Caching, and 802.11r fast-roaming technologies, they deliver a reliable, high-quality wireless connection.
Review your Vigor AP settings today and turn on these features to ensure a truly smooth wireless experience.
Product
Overview
- Concurrent Dual-band 802.11ax with 2×3 MU-MIMO
- 1x Internal 5GHz Antennas (iPA), 2x dual band external antennas
- Wi-Fi link speeds up to 2400 Mbps for 5GHz band and 600 Mbps for 2.4GHz band
- 1 x 2.5GbE LAN port (PoE-in)
- 4 x GbE LAN ports + 1 x USB 2.0 Port
- Features AirTime Fairness and Band Steering for a better Wi-Fi user experience
- 8 SSIDs for each Wi-Fi band with unique VLAN settings
- Improve roaming experience by Fast Roaming & AP-assisted Roaming
- Multiple operating modes – AP, Mesh (Mesh Root or Mesh Node) and Range Extender
- Plug-n-Play Meshing *
- Built-in Diagnostic Tool (AP Discovery, Ping, Traceroute, Internet Detection, Client List)
- Supports VigorACS 3 Central Management Software for remote management
- Supports VigorConnect free software for local network management
- Virtual AP Controller for the deployment of up to 20 wireless VigorAPs
- Manageable from a Smartphone or Tablet using the DrayTek Wireless App. Learn More
- 2 years back to base warranty
*The VigorAP 905 Wi-Fi Mesh can only be set up with another VigorAP 905, VigorAP 805, VigorAP 1062C, VigorAP 960C or ax Wi-Fi routers such as Vigor2135ax, Vigor2136ax, 2765ax, 2766ax, 2865ax, 2866ax, 2927ax and Vigor C510ax
| VigorAP905 Product Page |
More information about DrayTek Wi-Fi Roaming
Please refer to the following Knowledgebase article for detailed instructions on configuring roaming with DrayTek Vigor Access Points.
Wi-Fi Roaming with VigorAP
https://www.draytek.com/support/knowledge-base/5764
Video
Wi Fi Roaming with VigorAPs Explained