Multi AP wireless client bridge

godinman · 26 Nov 2008 at 17:19

Hi,

Ive got a project that involves connecting via wifi to a portable ethernet device within a school. Connected via LAN to the device is a AP set to 'client bridge' mode. I can find loads of client bridges that I can use, and they work fine.
The only problem I have is that there are about 4 access points within the school, all broadcasting the same SSID. So I connect the client to the one with the stongest signal, and if I move away from that area I then tell it to connect to another, stronger singal AP.
The person who will be taking over the system from me is not really that computer literate, and wont have lan access to the client device. So if she moves into another part of the school, and loses, or gets a low signal, she wont be able to connect to another wifi point without getting into the device via ethernet.

Is there a client device out that will automatically switch between pre-configured access points? Going for the one with the strongest signal?

Thanks for any help. This would solve all my woes

godinman · 26 Nov 2008 at 21:49

That may have been a bit of a mouthfull. (I get that a lot).

Basically, are there any client devices around that you can input a list of access points into, and then get it too automatically switch access point when the signal gets too low?

Cheers

Berserker · 26 Nov 2008 at 21:59

What is a 'client device'? Laptop? PDA? Something else?

godinman · 26 Nov 2008 at 22:35

Sorry, what I mean is something like an Access Point set to Client mode, enabling it to connect to an access point and act as an ethernet bridge.

Dano · 26 Nov 2008 at 22:48

What is the device? I thought that wireless roaming was part of the 802.11 standard and as such the device should be doing this automatically.

Berserker · 26 Nov 2008 at 22:57

^ That. As long as all the routers have the same SSID and security configuration, roaming is supposed to work, and it has worked for me.

However, I'd recommend trying WDS if your hardware supports it. Much more suited to a mesh-type architecture.

As for the specific 'client', maybe an appropriate Linksys router and Tomato firmware might get you somewhere.

godinman · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:13

Okay I see now, thanks

Have got a fon with dd-wrt firmware in it, but the client bridge mode appears to be poop, shall take a look at some linksys.

thanks again