Multiple wireless access points

Vertigo

Vertigo

Vertigo

Soldato
Joined
28 Dec 2003
Posts
16,295
Got a question here for any wireless gurus.

We need two access points to cover a large area but we want them to behave as one "node". Each access point will have a hard wired connection to the central switch, we just want them to appear as a single network when connecting from a client and for the clients to automatically switch between them to the one with the best signal.

What kit/technologies do we need to achieve this?
 
Just set up two access points (connected to the modem/switch) using the same broadcast SSIDs.

Tell the computers to switch to the one with the best signal.
 
Vintage_Geek said:
Wouldn't you just need one wireless access point and then a wireless repeater/extender to increase the range of your wireless network?
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Whilst it would work, it's nowhere near as neat a solution and also restricts total bandwidth. Using two APs, each with their own fixed network connection is neater and splits the total available bandwidth across the users.
 
Vertigo1 said:
Does this work with any AP or do they need to support certain technologies?
Click to expand...

Well, just let the modem distribute the IP addresses

Connect each access point to the Ethernet port of the modem and set them a reserved IP. Then configure them to broadcast the same SSID, or even (Network1, and Network2) and you're done.

Install a program that detects networks, and set the PCs up to connect to the network with the highest signal individually. Obviously, if PC-a can see Network2 better then configure it to join Network2 by default.

It should be easy enough to setup two access points using the same SSID, although I cannot comment on doing this personally.
 
What on earth are you on about? There are no modems in this scenario at all and IP addresses are leased from a central DHCP server.

I've just done some testing here by setting up two access points with the same SSID but on different channels. A test laptop connects to the strongest one at startup (excellent) and, when that AP is switched off, finds the other one automatically (even better).

What it won't do is switch back to the original AP when the AP is restarted, despite the signal being much stronger. It seems to want to cling on to the weak signal from the other AP and won't switch until that weak signal actually disappears.

Is this a hardware limitation (one of the APs is rather old) or can it be fixed with drivers/preferences?
 
Sorry, I assumed it was a router, still the theory is correct..

Could you not set a lease-time for the APs, and then it would automatically look for the next Access Point when it expires?

The strongest, therefore, winning by default.. not ideal, but it should work.
 
Basically it all works except it won't switch to an alternate AP when there's a stronger signal available, it has to actually lose its connection before searching for an alternative. What I need is some way of having it automatically check for a stronger signal at regular intervals and switch if there's a better one.

EDIT: Sorted!

Need to use Intel's ProSet wireless drivers rather than Windows' own and it switches to the strongest signal automatically as you wander about.
 
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