Are there benefits for mesh systems over 802.11r Fast Transition ?

[Paulo_Andre]

I have a big house, with thick walls, so I need multiple AP's to make sure I have full coverage.

Right now, I'm using some (older) routers with openwrt and 802.11r Fast Transition enabled, but I'm still seeing my android devices resist roaming to another AP and keep on the one they first connected. This could be because one AP is already wifi 6 and another is wifi 5...

If I install a unified mesh system, like the TP-Link Deco X10 (just as reference, not asking if this specific solution is the best), will I see benefits in terms of roaming? Or is it better for me to invest in newer routers, all wifi 6 and use openwrt with 802.11r just as I have now?

 

[Lurick]

Do your Android devices in question support 802.11r/k/v?

Do you have 802.11 k and v enabled as well? R is for faster transitions but 802.11v is what allows the AP to encourage devices to roam to better APs instead of holding onto the first one it associated with. Additionally it's up to the device maker/software as to how they handle the suggestions even iirc so while it might have the support for both it could very well just be ignoring it and sticking to the first associated AP until the signal is too weak.

[Paulo_Andre]

7 minutes ago, Lurick said:

Do your Android devices in question support 802.11r/k/v?

Do you have 802.11 k and v enabled as well? R is for faster transitions but 802.11v is what allows the AP to encourage devices to roam to better APs instead of holding onto the first one it associated with. Additionally it's up to the device maker/software as to how they handle the suggestions even iirc so while it might have the support for both it could very well just be ignoring it and sticking to the first associated AP until the signal is too weak.

So... there is no real benefit in moving to a mesh system because the decision is on the devices and not in the AP...

I'm not sure they support all the protocols, but changing them is not in the plans, so I'll stick with cheaper routers and openwrt.

[brwainer]

All of the mesh systems are just doing 802.11r/k/v as well. Except for a very specific type of system where all APs use the same frequency and BSSID (MAC) and pretend to be the “same AP”, everything works the same. No commercial, consumer-oriented mesh system uses that method that I’m aware of. And the vendors that used to offer it for business systems are all moving away from it - Ruckus hasn’t had it for a decade, and Fortinet stopped supporting it on their Wifi 6 and up APs.

 

make sure that 802.11k and 802.11v are enabled and working. I’d be shocked if OpenWRT lacked those, but I haven’t used it since before roaming was a big consideration.

[NobleGamer]

On 5/19/2025 at 10:06 AM, Paulo_Andre said:

So... there is no real benefit in moving to a mesh system because the decision is on the devices and not in the AP...

I'm not sure they support all the protocols, but changing them is not in the plans, so I'll stick with cheaper routers and openwrt.

It is the client' decision...until its not.

 

There are features for some mesh/AP node makers to drop a client from a specific band or even AP, and force a client to reconnect to a stronger one.

 

For instance various ASUS APs have Smart Connect config for band steering criteria for going between 5 and 2.4 GHz, and AI Mesh allows for assigning a preferred AP to a device.

 

So yes, it is largely up to clients what connection standards they use and whether they have their own logic for what they connect to when there's multiple APs or a weak signal. But there are means to mess with that on the AP/mesh side depending on the model.