Wireless Network Merging

[sulfonicwharf]

Hi, I have 3 separate wifi networks due to the size of it but I want to try and merge these all as one wifi network as I have to keep on switching. I don't want to spend anything extra and don't want to change the firmware of my main router.

I have:
EA7500 (No Change to Firmware)
e1000
wrt160n

I would like it to work so that it has its own ethernet input (to boost connection or something as my repeaters don't help) and so I will have a seamless wireless network around my house without spending a single penny.

Thanks

 

[Luminary]

What you'll need to do is have one core WIFI router with the others configured as WAPs (wireless access points) directly connecting to the core WIFI router.

The WAPs should be assigned static IP's from the main router, and be on the same subnet. You'll get the signal boost from the WAP's, and they will be on the same subnet so you wont have to keep on switching around.

Ex. Your main WIFI router is 10.0.0.1, WAP1 is 10.0.0.2, WAP2 is 10.0.0.3. Your DHCP pool should then be set to 10.0.0.5-10.0.0.100 (or as large/ small as you want). Mask for ALL above would be 255.255.255.0.

 

[nigelivey]

Seamless hand off from one wifi AP to another isn't something you can achieve with your equipment. At this level it's purely done by the client device. For seamless roaming you will need a wireless controller, look at Ubiquiti or Ruckus but to think you can do it for zero expenditure is naive.

 

[sulfonicwharf]

Using DDWRT Is there an easy way of somewhat doing so to make my main network the only one available and the rest working as access point as I just bought the router and am not allowed to spend anything more.

 

[nigelivey]

You can run routers as APs but your devices will hang on to the radio they connected to until completely dropped. (Unlike roaming which hands you off to the radio with the best signal).

You will need to cable two of the routers back to you main router, LAN to LAN ports, the two to be used as APs will have to have DHCP, firewall and NAT disabled. They will need static IPs on the same subnet as the main router but outside the DHCP scope.

Set all SSIDs the same and passwords the same but broadcast on different channels for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.

 

[sulfonicwharf]

You can run routers as APs but your devices will hang on to the radio they connected to until completely dropped. (Unlike roaming which hands you off to the radio with the best signal).

You will need to cable two of the routers back to you main router, LAN to LAN ports, the two to be used as APs will have to have DHCP, firewall and NAT disabled. They will need static IPs on the same subnet as the main router but outside the DHCP scope.

Set all SSIDs the same and passwords the same but broadcast on different channels for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.

The routers are really far away from each other and my house is in Dubai and so its a concrete house. Any other options?
Can I use a repeater as I have a re1000 or any other non costing alternative?