Laptop won't connect to second access point

[jeremyblue]

I recently set up a second wireless access point at the far end of my house. I converted a D-Link 624 router to an access point using these helpful instructions (http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/38887-43-converting-dlink-router-access-point).

The new access point works. It is hardwired back to my Actiontec PK5000 modem / wireless router. I have my Roku and sometimes another computer connected via ethernet to some of the LAN ports on the converted D-Link.

I can see the wireless signal when I run inSSIDer. (There are two MAC Addresses for the same SSID.) My Android phone connects to new access point.

However, my laptop does not seem to want to connect to the new access point. When I log on to my home network, it grabs the weak signal from the Actiontec router, even if I am standing right next to the new D-Link access point.

I deleted the network profile and recreated it. I don't understand why my laptop won't connect to the strong signal from the new access point.

My laptop is ASUS, running windows 7 with Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter.

Thanks for any help!

 

[ktriebol]

There is a setting that determines whether or not to automatically connect to your default wireless network, and that may be why you can't connect to your new access point even if the signal from the access point is stronger than the signal from your default network. I have Windows 8, but Windows 7 will be somethig similar. Go to the Network and Sharing Cener, Click on Change Adapter Settings, Right click on your wireless network and select Status, Click on Wireless Properties, then uncheck the box for "Connect automatically when this network is in range".

 

[jeremyblue]

Hmmm. Thanks for the reply, Ktriebol. That didn't work for me. I unchecked the box for "Connect automatically when this network is in range." It disconnected me from the modem access point. I connected again to to the modem AP, no problem. I then walked to the front of the house where the new access point is. The laptop still held on to the weak signal from the back room (modem AP). I disconnected from the wireless network, then attempted to connect again. Windows said it had trouble and couldn't connect. I ran the trouble shooter. It suggested I check to make sure I had the same right security settings. I walked back to the back of the house, next to the modem AP. I connected again with no problem.

I would like to be able to automatically connect to this home network and to be able to roam seamlessly between these two access points in the front and the back of my house. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

 

[ktriebol]

The main router and the access point are on different channels, right? Set one to channel 1 and the other to channel 11.

 

[jeremyblue]

Yes. The main router is on channel 1. The new access point (D-Link router) is on channel 6.

 

[Beachnative]

Hmmm...
I would like to be able to automatically connect to this home network and to be able to roam seamlessly between these two access points in the front and the back of my house. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

Roaming works like this:
You have two AP's in an area that overlap wirelessly. When you are out of range of the initial connection and the connection fails then you "roam" to the other AP for connectivity. Using a controller certainly can change that as with Ubiquiti's Hands Off roaming technology...but I'm pretty sure you just want to use what you have. In that case name the two AP's SSID's differently and in the list of SSID's move the one you want to connect to up to the top of the list effectively changing the priority...

 

[jeremyblue]

So there is no way to automatically roam to the AP that is providing the strongest signal on the same SSID? I like the idea of just having one home network with all my stuff. Two SSIDs requires disconnecting and connecting depending on which room I am in. Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[Beachnative]

I certainly understand your frustration and the answer is no. Ubiquity has really low cost equipment and a free controller that allows you to do what you are looking for. I've set up more than a few commercial hotspots and have been asked to to do the same for locations on low budgets and all have the same consequences that you are in. Some manufacturers do have the ability of their AP's to note others AP's and will do what you want but they start at about $150 for an AP the last time I checked. I'm no sales guy but if I were you Id check out Ubiquiti's Pico station, mount it outside and turn the power waaaaaaaay down. This thing can broadcast 1000' easily, I have a buddy that uses it to shoot 500' through deep woods to his dock and has no problem. The last time I checked they were about $60~$70....All you need is one....And remember to turn the power down.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

What you tried to do (based on what I understand) is make your AP and internet on one side, then run Ethernet to the otherside, set up a AP there and expect it to just swap back and forth as you walk from one end of the house to the other. That won't work in that setup, that setup is actually a 'Bridge' between TWO distinct APs, that you disconnect from one then reconnect to the other when you move from one end to the other.

This is complicated more by the fact you used different manufacturers, different models of equipment.

The solution that would resolve this would be to have a AP at one side of the house, then midway distance between the AP and where you want to be able to reach to setup a wireless Extender (relay) to extend the range of the 'AP' signal to where you want to go. Extenders are 'dumb' devices that just send and receive wireless connections without any 'thinking'. A AP actually thinks alot about security, IPs, blah blah blah. You can keep adding the extenders to 'stretch' the signal, but really what your doing is overlapping circles.


Front of house
(((((((((((((((((AP))))))))))))))))))))))))))
-------------------Middle of House
--------------------(((((((((((((((((Extender))))))))))))))))))))))))))
----------------------------------------------------Back of House