asked on Setting up multiple access points
For some reason I've always been sketchy on this.
I have a home network, and a variety of equipment to work with. But of course if I need different hardware just tell me. I have:
Linksys WRT54G 4 port wireless router
D-Link DI-624 4 port wireless router
Linksys BEFSR81 8 port wired router
Currently I have my internet connetion going to the 8-port wired router. All the desktops connect to this router as well.
I want to setup a wireless network so that I have two access points, one on the top floor and one on the bottom. I want them to both have the same SSID with the same WPA-P key, so as far as the connecting clients are concerned, it's just one wireless network. The computer should just connect to whichever AP is the strongest.
I've managed to do what is in the attachedp icture. The main router is the DHCP server and all others are not. So I could have a wireless network be part of my main home network. But when I bring two wireless routers into the equation, I have to assign each one a different SSID, which isn't what I want.
I've seen it done in corporate networks and on campus, but do I need special equipment to have multiple wireless APs? Or can I do it with the hardware I have?
network.jpg
I have a home network, and a variety of equipment to work with. But of course if I need different hardware just tell me. I have:
Linksys WRT54G 4 port wireless router
D-Link DI-624 4 port wireless router
Linksys BEFSR81 8 port wired router
Currently I have my internet connetion going to the 8-port wired router. All the desktops connect to this router as well.
I want to setup a wireless network so that I have two access points, one on the top floor and one on the bottom. I want them to both have the same SSID with the same WPA-P key, so as far as the connecting clients are concerned, it's just one wireless network. The computer should just connect to whichever AP is the strongest.
I've managed to do what is in the attachedp icture. The main router is the DHCP server and all others are not. So I could have a wireless network be part of my main home network. But when I bring two wireless routers into the equation, I have to assign each one a different SSID, which isn't what I want.
I've seen it done in corporate networks and on campus, but do I need special equipment to have multiple wireless APs? Or can I do it with the hardware I have?
network.jpg
Wireless NetworkingWireless HardwareRouters
Last Comment
adolphus850
Do the access points have a config section where you can tell it to bridge to another or repeat to another? I think that what you need to do and then it will allow you to have the same SSID on both.
just had a quick look at the access points on the web. I'm sure someone that has actually used these will be able to give more info, but i looks like the D-link cannot bridge to anything else, so that may be the problem.
Personally i use Netgears for what your after.
Personally i use Netgears for what your after.
ASKER
Both adapters are very weak in the settings department. Neither have a "repeater" or "bridge" option in them. And I've seen OpenWRT and I'm not interested in using it ;).
Okay I can accept the two routers I have are just routers and they don't do any repeating or bridging. So then what hardware do I use to set this up? I've seen all sorts of stuff - signal boosters, access points, external antennae, bridges, gateways, workgroup switches, hubs, routers etc etc etc and it's all pretty confusing.
Okay I can accept the two routers I have are just routers and they don't do any repeating or bridging. So then what hardware do I use to set this up? I've seen all sorts of stuff - signal boosters, access points, external antennae, bridges, gateways, workgroup switches, hubs, routers etc etc etc and it's all pretty confusing.
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ASKER
Okay, I'll look into access points.
In the meantime, I think I might have gotten my hands on a wireless router that is capable of "bridging" like you said. I've attached a number of the settings screens that I think are relevant. In particular, it looks like not only can the router have a dhcp server enabled or not, it can also act as a DHCP CLIENT, which is pretty neat.
Can you let me know if it is possible to do with this router? And what the settings should be?
routersettings.jpg
In the meantime, I think I might have gotten my hands on a wireless router that is capable of "bridging" like you said. I've attached a number of the settings screens that I think are relevant. In particular, it looks like not only can the router have a dhcp server enabled or not, it can also act as a DHCP CLIENT, which is pretty neat.
Can you let me know if it is possible to do with this router? And what the settings should be?
routersettings.jpg
ASKER
Okay so... I decided to scrap my other wireless routers entirely. This router is amazing, it has a strong enough antennae that I can actually get signal across my entire house with this one device.
I don't want to delete the question / accept my own answer, but as it stands your answer's only really worth a C or a B. So... could you please just post some specific devices that I COULD have used as access points? So that I know what to buy in the future?
I don't want to delete the question / accept my own answer, but as it stands your answer's only really worth a C or a B. So... could you please just post some specific devices that I COULD have used as access points? So that I know what to buy in the future?
Sorry, missed ALL of your messages there.
NETGEAR DG834G 54 Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router
http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/NETDG834
Best thing to is to speak to a supplier and tell them what you want it to do, but anything with the amount of options that the one you've got has should do you fine. Happy surfing and sorry i missed your other messages!
NETGEAR DG834G 54 Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router
http://www.macwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/NETDG834
Best thing to is to speak to a supplier and tell them what you want it to do, but anything with the amount of options that the one you've got has should do you fine. Happy surfing and sorry i missed your other messages!