Embodiments of an access point (AP), a user station (STA), and a method for range estimation in a wireless network are generally described herein. For example, the AP may encode a common information field of a first trigger frame to include a trigger frame type configured to check the readiness of associated and unassociated STAs. The AP may transmit the first trigger frame to STAs and receive feedback from the STAs. The AP may further encode, based on the feedback, a common information field of a second trigger frame to include one of: a trigger frame type that solicits negotiation packets from associated and unassociated STAs using an association identifier (AID) and a pre-AID; or a trigger frame type that solicits channel sounding packets from associated and unassociated STAs using an AID and a pre-AID. The AP may further transmit the second trigger frame to the STAs.