Hi @Pauljbl,

EAP225 supports IEEE 802.11k/v for fast roaming. Why would you want 802.11r? Do you use WPA-Enterprise mode with 802.1X authentication?

Pauljbl wrote

I don't use WPA enterprise

But it works with wpa2 psk for faster connecting

No, that's wrong. See the IEEE 802.11r standard. Quote:

The fundamental architecture for handoffs is identical for 802.11 with and without 802.11r: the mobile device is entirely in charge of deciding when to hand off and to which access point it wishes to hand off. In the early days of 802.11, handoff was a much simpler task for the mobile device. Only four messages were required for the device to establish a connection with a new access point (five if you count the optional "I'm leaving" message (deauthentication and disassociation packet) the client could send to the old access point). However, as additional features were added to the standard, including 802.11i with 802.1X authentication and 802.11e or WMM with admission control requests, the number of messages required went up dramatically.

[...]

802.11r was launched to attempt to undo the added burden that security and quality of service added to the handoff process, and restore it to the original four-message exchange. In this way, handoff problems are not eliminated, but at least are returned to the status quo ante.

802.11r won't be of much use if WPA-802.1X mode aka WPA-Enterprise isn't used. 802.11k/v is widely accepted for fast roaming.

Pauljbl wrote

I read on WPA enterprise it reduces it to 4 steps and removes the radius server and on WPA personal it reduces it from 8 steps to 4 steps handshake. Don't think it makes as much difference on WPA personal but a bit

Sorry, but that's wrong, too. WPA/WPA2-PSK uses a four-way handshake. WPA was just a partial implementation of IEEE 802.11i, while WPA2 fully implements it. Both encryption methods use the same handshake sequence. Probably people talking about 8 steps are mixing the scanning, joining (= association, also called 802.11 "authentication") with key exchange.

Pauljbl wrote

Do you have a eap225 and controller?

If so how do you find the seamless roaming?

I have plenty of controllers I administer with a large amount of EAPs in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc. We did not receive any complaints about roaming from our users.

Pauljbl wrote

Do you think they are better than the unifi access points?

Pauljbl, honestly, I cannot answer this since I have not used UniFi APs for nearly 9-10 years now. Back then, I didn't like the handling of the UniFi AP, but frmware has changed in the meantime, so today's experience might be different. What I like very much is their AirFiber series and EdgeOS for routers, which I also use.

I think it is personal preference to prefer one or the other vendor's product line. Both product lines have advantages and dis-advantages compared to each other. When it comes to switches and APs, I prefer TP-Link JetStream and Omada EAP products.