Access point and router

27 Mar 2005 4:48 PM

Mike Benz

I have a simple question, I have 2 Belkin wireless Routers. One is the
router on the cable modem and the other is setup as an access point only at
the other end of the house. The one setup as an access point only is plugged
into the network via Cat5e cable and plugged into a port on the one setup as
a router.

I have both setup on the same channel and same SSID. Should these be on the
same channel and have the same SSID? I find that when I move from one end of
the house to the other I have to pull the wireless NIC from my laptop and
re-insert it so that is will switch to the stronger signal. I was hoping
that it would automatically switch but it doesn't look to be that way.

Just want to make sure the setup is correct.

Thanks for an info...

Mike...

27 Mar 2005 5:07 PM

DLink Guru

You should have them set to different channels.

Robert....

Show quoteHide quote

"Mike Benz" <mvbenz@**NO_SPAM**mvbenz.com> wrote in message
news:EP6dncSYcd57ftvfRVn-2g@adelphia.com...
>I have a simple question, I have 2 Belkin wireless Routers. One is the
>router on the cable modem and the other is setup as an access point only at
>the other end of the house. The one setup as an access point only is
>plugged into the network via Cat5e cable and plugged into a port on the one
>setup as a router.
>
> I have both setup on the same channel and same SSID. Should these be on
> the same channel and have the same SSID? I find that when I move from one
> end of the house to the other I have to pull the wireless NIC from my
> laptop and re-insert it so that is will switch to the stronger signal. I
> was hoping that it would automatically switch but it doesn't look to be
> that way.
>
> Just want to make sure the setup is correct.
>
> Thanks for an info...
>
> Mike...
>
>

27 Mar 2005 7:54 PM

Jeff Liebermann

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 11:48:38 -0500, "Mike Benz"
<mvbenz@**NO_SPAM**mvbenz.com> wrote:

>I have a simple question, I have 2 Belkin wireless Routers. One is the
>router on the cable modem and the other is setup as an access point only at
>the other end of the house. The one setup as an access point only is plugged
>into the network via Cat5e cable and plugged into a port on the one setup as
>a router.
>
>I have both setup on the same channel and same SSID. Should these be on the
>same channel and have the same SSID? I find that when I move from one end of
>the house to the other I have to pull the wireless NIC from my laptop and
>re-insert it so that is will switch to the stronger signal. I was hoping
>that it would automatically switch but it doesn't look to be that way.
>
>Just want to make sure the setup is correct.

Use different channels (1, 6, or 11) but the same SSID. That's
because having them on the same channel constitutes RF interference
between them. If there's no possible way that each access point can
hear the other, then you can use the same channel.

However, you may have exactly the same problem. Windoze XP and many
clients will not scan for a new access point (on the same SSID) until
it completely loses signal from the current access point. If there's
even the weakest signal from an access point at the other end of the
house, it will maintain that connection even though there's a much
stronger access point available nearby on a different channel. Sorry,
seamless handoff roaming is not going to happen this easily. There
are standards in the works to make this possible, but implimentation
is limited to creative kludges by some manufacturers. It would work
if the client drivers would scan for the best signal on idle, but few
do that. XP SP2 WZC certainly does not.

--
Jeff Liebermann    je***@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D   http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060    AE6KS 831-336-2558

27 Mar 2005 8:11 PM

Mark McIntyre

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 11:48:38 -0500, in alt.internet.wireless , "Mike
Benz" <mvbenz@**NO_SPAM**mvbenz.com> wrote:

>I have both setup on the same channel and same SSID. Should these be on the
>same channel and have the same SSID?

Set them to different channels and...

>I find that when I move from one end of
>the house to the other I have to pull the wireless NIC from my laptop and
>re-insert it so that is will switch to the stronger signal. I was hoping
>that it would automatically switch but it doesn't look to be that way.

.... this will work. It does for me, anyway.

(I also had to tell Windows to ignore all other APs - all my
neighbours have wireless, so I have 2 and sometimes three other APs
showing in my list.)

--
Mark McIntyre
CLC FAQ <http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html>
CLC readme: <http://www.ungerhu.com/jxh/clc.welcome.txt>