Home Wi-Fi Roaming Improvements Using OpenWRT and usteer

A home network administrator has documented their process of improving Wi-Fi roaming across multiple access points running OpenWRT, addressing connectivity issues that arose after upgrading their network infrastructure. The setup consists of four access points using Cudy AX3000 units configured with a split-band approach: a legacy 2.4GHz WPA2 network for older IoT devices and clients, and a modern 5GHz WPA3/SAE network for newer devices, connected via 2.5GbE backhaul without any cloud management or vendor-specific software.

The initial problem manifested as Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks) refusing to switch to closer access points when moving throughout the house, particularly in areas with poor signal coverage such as the kitchen, where tiling, pipes, and electromagnetic interference from appliances degraded connectivity. Although the network had 802.11r/k/v fast transition standards enabled and was demonstrably functioning, clients were making roaming decisions independently, causing them to maintain connections to distant access points even when signal quality deteriorated significantly.

To resolve the issue, the administrator installed usteer, a steering daemon, and its OpenWRT LuCI companion package across all four access points. However, this alone proved insufficient because the 802.11k neighbour reports—which inform clients about nearby access points—were not being populated. The missing component was discovered to be the static-neighbor-reports package, a lightweight OpenWRT tool that enables each access point to generate 802.11k neighbour report elements. With these additions in place, the roaming experience improved dramatically, allowing devices to switch between access points more intelligently based on signal strength and availability rather than remaining stubbornly connected to distant nodes.