In simpler terms, it answers the question: "How much worse does my current connection need to get before I look for a better one?"
Your device has no real "loyalty" algorithm. It uses metrics like (Received Signal Strength Indicator) and SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) to decide the connection quality.
Once a superior AP is identified, the device disconnects from the old AP and authenticates with the new one, ideally without the user noticing an interruption. what is roaming aggressiveness in wifi
| Your Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Not aggressive enough. Device waits until signal is dead to roam. | Increase to Level 4 or 5. | | My laptop disconnects and reconnects every few minutes while sitting still | Too aggressive / Ping-pong. Two APs are too close. | Decrease to Level 1 or 2. | | Battery dies in 3 hours instead of 8 | Too aggressive. Scanning drains the radio. | Decrease to Level 2. | | Streaming video pauses randomly, but Wi-Fi bars are full | Sticky client. Connected to a far AP. | Increase to Level 4. | | Voice calls drop when moving between floors | Lack of Fast BSS Transition (802.11r). | Ensure router supports 802.11r. Aggressiveness won't fix old routers. |
Maximum connection stability. The device will not waste battery or processing power constantly scanning for other networks. In simpler terms, it answers the question: "How
Devices evaluate whether to roam based on , which is measured in decibels milliwatt (dBm). RSSI values are negative numbers, where numbers closer to zero indicate a stronger signal (e.g., -50 dBm is excellent, while -80 dBm is very poor).
You should consider adjusting this setting when you experience one of these common symptoms: | Your Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution
Apple devices use hardcoded proprietary roaming algorithms. iOS devices, for instance, trigger a background scan precisely when the current connection's RSSI hits -70 dBm.