setting up multiple WAPs

[njitgrad]

I have three WAPs in my house each using different SSIDs. I find it very annoying that when I move from one part of my house to another I have to manually switch the WiFi connection on my devices to get a better signal.

I am questioning whether I should have assigned the same SSID to all of the WAPs instead of the way I did it. Would this accomplish anything to account for roaming in my house?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Here is my current configuration...

1. Modem to Router/AC1900 WAP configured as follows:
SSID1: 2.4GHz (private)
SSID2: 5.0GHz (private)
SSID3: 2.4GHz (guest)
SSID4: 5.0 GHz (guest)

2. The AC1900 Router/WAP connects to an 8 port switch which eventually feeds into a pair of AC1200 WAPs configured as follows:

AC1200 WAP1:
SSID5: 2.4GHz (private)
SSID6: 5.0GHz (private)

AC1200 WAP2:
SSID7: 2.4GHz (private)
SSID8: 5.0GHz (private)

 

[Rogue Leader]

Yeah I would say unfortunately the signal of the 818 may overtake the others without being able to turn it down. Your best bet would be to get rid of the 818, and buy an 813, they are otherwise very similar routers.

I just ordered a basic router and a third 813. At least I have the feedome to move the new 813 WAP out of the garage (which is where my modem and 8-port switch is) and into my adjoining office.

Why did you order another router, you could still use the 818 for routing and just disable wireless. Or use one of the 813's for routing (they are routers, not just WAPs). I thought that you were using the 818 and had the other 2 connected off of it.

 

[njitgrad]

Yeah I would say unfortunately the signal of the 818 may overtake the others without being able to turn it down. Your best bet would be to get rid of the 818, and buy an 813, they are otherwise very similar routers.

I just ordered a basic router and a third 813. At least I have the feedome to move the new 813 WAP out of the garage (which is where my modem and 8-port switch is) and into my adjoining office.

Why did you order another router, you could still use the 818 for routing and just disable wireless. Or use one of the 813's for routing (they are routers, not just WAPs). I thought that you were using the 818 and had the other 2 connected off of it.

Thanks for making me see my error. I decided to:

1) keep the 818 (which is my router) but changed its SSID since I could use this when outdoors (it's in my garage)
2) kept the SSIDs on the 813s the same but reduced power on both to 75% (the increments are 100, 75, 50, 25) for now.
3) ordered another 813 to place in my office which will be on the same SSID as the other two 813s

This way I'll have three 813s on the same SSID (with power reduction as needed to reduce overlap) and the 818 in my garage will have its own SSID for outdoor use and will still act as my router.

Does this make sense?

 

[Rogue Leader]

Excellent, makes sense and that should work for you.

 

[NerdIT]

A great free tool that will give you a visual of all the wifi radios near you, nicely color coded and it also tells you what channel(s) each one is using -you can literally "see" if they are overlapping. It also measures db levels as well as other useful info.

Check it out, if you are going for the same SSID method this will make

inSSIDer

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

 

[njitgrad]

A great free tool that will give you a visual of all the wifi radios near you, nicely color coded and it also tells you what channel(s) each one is using -you can literally "see" if they are overlapping. It also measures db levels as well as other useful info.

Check it out, if you are going for the same SSID method this will make

inSSIDer

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

If install this tool on my PC how can it determine actual signal levels and overlap? Or does it need to be installed on a mobile device?

 

[NerdIT]

A great free tool that will give you a visual of all the wifi radios near you, nicely color coded and it also tells you what channel(s) each one is using -you can literally "see" if they are overlapping. It also measures db levels as well as other useful info.

Check it out, if you are going for the same SSID method this will make

inSSIDer

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

If install this tool on my PC how can it determine actual signal levels and overlap? Or does it need to be installed on a mobile device?

Just install it on a Windows machine a run it!