Automatic Wireless Connection to Strongest Signali

axel · 29 Dec 2014 at 22:17

Hi,

I am on my second wireless repeater to try and get a signal at the other end of my house on mobile devices with no success.

If I change the SSID name on the repeater (keeping the router password) all devices, mobile phones and Kindles, show both connections and although the repeater is showing a stronger signal they stay connected to the router which is further away with a weaker signal and drops outs, although I am standing right next to the repeater.

If I set the SSID to the same name on the repeater I do not know which one they are connected to, but it is quite clearly the router at the other end of the house with the weak signal and "no connection" drop outs.

I would like my Samsung S4 and my Kindle HDX to switch to the strongest signal depending on where I am in the house.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Axel

bremen1874 · 29 Dec 2014 at 22:26

What you're seeing is pretty normal. The device hangs onto its original signal even when there's a stronger signal available.

There isn't a good fix I'm aware of (with domestic kit).

randal · 29 Dec 2014 at 22:32

One of my jobs for 2015 is to set this up with OpenWRT.

I can think of a way to script it between two APs, but was hoping for a more elegant solution than a force disconnect and reassociate.

Will post up results when I have them.

Resistance · 29 Dec 2014 at 22:47

Get a booster put it in the part of the house that has the lowest signal

MissChief · 30 Dec 2014 at 02:16

Can't you name the two access points the same SSID and password but put them on different channels and the devices should float between whichever has the strongest signal almost seamlessly?

The problem you're having is Windows likes to give the Wi-Fi networks some form of priority so if can even barely 'see' the Network at the top of the list it will do what it can to remain connected to it, even if a much stronger 'secondary' network is available. Re-naming both WAP's with the same SSID should avoid that.

bremen1874 · 30 Dec 2014 at 02:44

Even with the same SSID most devices will stay connected to their original access point to the bitter end.

For roaming to work as people expect it to you need access points that are aware of each other and can handoff as necessary, and you don't get that with domestic kit.

axel · 30 Dec 2014 at 08:42

Resistance said:
Get a booster put it in the part of the house that has the lowest signal

Apologies for my ignorance but I thought that is what I had. What is the difference between a repeater and a booster?

Axel

tribz · 30 Dec 2014 at 08:57

bremen1874 said:
Even with the same SSID most devices will stay connected to their original access point to the bitter end.

For roaming to work as people expect it to you need access points that are aware of each other and can handoff as necessary, and you don't get that with domestic kit.

What kit have you seen this on? Got to be honest, its not my experience. With 4 Billion 2073's around the house I can see my signal drop and recover again as it connects to the strongest AP in range.

Steveocee · 30 Dec 2014 at 10:17

My home does network hands off quite happily and I'm mis-matching kit!
Asus RT-N56 as main router,
Linksys E2000 with DD-WRT one end of house
Ubiquiti bullet 2 on the garden

Always get great signal. All I've done is ensure SSID is the same, encryption type is the same (WPA2 TKIP) and the AP's are on different channels 3,6,9 respectively and all is good.
At some point I'd like to move off onto a managed system like Unifi but I don't have the money/time to do this yet.

axel · 30 Dec 2014 at 20:29

So if I am reading this correctly what I should do is disconnect from the network when I am in the weak area and reconnect to the repeater? This is not a problem, but will only work if the SSID on the repeater is different, otherwise how do you know what you are connecting to. I have already tried disconnecting and reconnecting (same SSID) and it makes no difference. I can only get connected when close to the router.

I have returned the Tecknet repeater and ordered a Netgear WN3000RP-200UKS 300Mbps Universal Wi-Fi so any help setting this up would be appreciated.

Axel

Steveocee · 31 Dec 2014 at 13:06

axel said:
otherwise how do you know what you are connecting to.

If it works and gives you the signal where you weren't getting it before then its the repeater and more importantly....if it works and you get full signal, does it matter which AP? It's working so run away!