Think of it as a "stickiness" threshold. A low aggressiveness setting makes the device cling tightly to the current AP, even as the signal weakens. A high aggressiveness setting makes the device jump to a new AP at the first sign of a stronger signal. Roaming is not magic. A Wi-Fi client constantly scans for other APs broadcasting the same SSID (network name) in the background. However, it will not roam until the signal from the current AP drops below a certain threshold .
| Level | Common Name | Behavior | Typical Threshold (approx) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | Lowest | Almost never roams. Stays connected until signal is unusable. | -85 dBm to -90 dBm | | 2 | Low | Roams only when signal becomes poor. | -80 dBm to -85 dBm | | 3 | Medium (Default) | Balanced. Roams when signal is moderately weak. | -70 dBm to -75 dBm | | 4 | High | Roams proactively when a noticeably better AP is nearby. | -65 dBm to -70 dBm | | 5 | Highest | Very aggressive. Roams even with a decent signal if any stronger AP exists. | -55 dBm to -60 dBm | what is roaming aggressiveness
Note: Exact thresholds vary by manufacturer and driver. High Aggressiveness (4 or 5) Best for: Environments with dense AP coverage (offices, schools, stadiums, mesh networks) where users move quickly (walking down a hallway, moving between floors). Think of it as a "stickiness" threshold
In the context of wireless networking (specifically Wi-Fi), roaming aggressiveness is a setting on a client device (like a laptop, smartphone, or tablet) that determines how easily and quickly it will disconnect from its current wireless access point (AP) and seek a stronger one. Roaming is not magic