Can you use the same SSID on multiple WAPs? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Wayne · 2012-04-30, 02:51 PM

I have three floors on my house (basement, first and second) and I have put additional wifi routers (configured to work as just WAPs/switches) on the first and second floors. Currently I am using different SSIDs for each WAP/router. Would it cause a conflict to use the same SSID (and password) for all three routers? I notice that many commercial installations seem to have many WAPs all using the same SSID but I wonder if you need a special setup to use that or if you can do that at home. Or will my wifi devices get confused if they happen to see three devices all called "WayneWifi"?

Note - I have several different brands of router - Netgear, Linksys, Asus if that matters.

ScaryBob · 2012-04-30, 03:25 PM

It will work. Portable devices will just connect to the AP with the strongest signal. APs can be on the same or different frequencies. Not sure which is best. Devices should switch APs as they move between "zones."

JamesK · 2012-04-30, 04:25 PM

Yes, you can have multiple APs with the same SSID. I have done that in a business installation. However, you should have them on different channels to avoid interference.

BTW, you can find some info here about this, though it is aimed at larger sites.

Tikker · 2012-05-02, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

It will work. Portable devices will just connect to the AP with the strongest signal. APs can be on the same or different frequencies. Not sure which is best. Devices should switch APs as they move between "zones."

They should, but usually won't switch until signal drops

tripod · 2012-05-13, 12:24 AM

I have some ideas that my help you out

Try and put the router as central in your house as you can, you might get by with only one router.

You could also look into getting higher db antennas,

or a higher powered router like the Asus N66, Asus N56, Netgear WNDR4500, ect. They will run you about $150-180-ish but have excellent range.

or you want to use your existing equipment and if your routers can support WRT firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT, Tomato, Gargoyle, ect - can add features to your $80 router that essentially turn it into a $300 router.). You can flash your secondary routers (or all of them if you want) and configure them as repeaters, bridges, ect. for whatever your needs are.

As an example - My laser printer is hooked up through ethernet to a router bridged wirelessly to my main network.

k4kman · 2012-05-27, 08:55 PM

I just setup two wireless routers both with the same SSID and things work.

My problem is if I take my portable device and start it in one room it does not switch to the other one unless I start and stop WiFi on it.

Is there any way to make it do that the device will auto pick up the stronger signal?

If I do load on DD-WRT or something and put my 2nd one in repeater mode will things work between the two better then how I have it now?

JamesK · 2012-05-27, 09:31 PM

No, repeater mode will just make things worse, as it has to receive and then retransmit the data and you'd still have the same issue of not switching to the stronger signal. I do not know of any way to have it switch to the stronger signal, so long as it's receiving one, at least not with consumer level equipment. There is some industrial grade equipment that will do that, but it's expensive and meant more for large sites with multiple access points.

Update: I was just looking into something that might work and found a setting "Roaming Sensitivity Level", which might have some effect on this, but I haven't found any solid info on it. In Windows 7, it's on the Advanced tab of the adapter properties.

rsoares28 · 2012-06-01, 10:36 AM

I would go the ddwrt route. I have the same setup but with 2 linksys E2000 routers. My main router is in the bsmt and the second is on the top floor.(no router on the middle main floor) i used to this guide to configure them. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...s_Access_Point

all my devices switch to the stronger signal seemlessly

notsure · 2012-06-01, 11:09 AM

If your router can handle dd-wrt I would personally give Tomato a try as well.

All around, I found it to be a little better than dd-wrt in most/all categories from ease of use to features.

Tikker · 2012-06-01, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsoares28

I would go the ddwrt route. I have the same setup but with 2 linksys E2000 routers. My main router is in the bsmt and the second is on the top floor.(no router on the middle main floor) i used to this guide to configure them. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...s_Access_Point

all my devices switch to the stronger signal seemlessly

there's nothing in what you linked that's different from what anyone else has described. I've also used DD-wrt on various routers over the years, and have never seen clients switch to the strongest available signal while roaming.

clients will tenaciously cling to the WAP they initially synced to as long as they're getting a semi decent signal. drives me nuts (this is laptops, iDevices, android devices, etc etc)

JamesK · 2012-06-01, 09:56 PM

^^^^
Quite so. WiFi devices do not scan for better connections so long as they have one. Such switching to stronger signals has to be done by the network and consumer level access points don't support that.

2012-04-30, 02:51 PM	#1
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	Can you use the same SSID on multiple WAPs? I have three floors on my house (basement, first and second) and I have put additional wifi routers (configured to work as just WAPs/switches) on the first and second floors. Currently I am using different SSIDs for each WAP/router. Would it cause a conflict to use the same SSID (and password) for all three routers? I notice that many commercial installations seem to have many WAPs all using the same SSID but I wonder if you need a special setup to use that or if you can do that at home. Or will my wifi devices get confused if they happen to see three devices all called "WayneWifi"? Note - I have several different brands of router - Netgear, Linksys, Asus if that matters.

2012-04-30, 03:25 PM	#2
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	It will work. Portable devices will just connect to the AP with the strongest signal. APs can be on the same or different frequencies. Not sure which is best. Devices should switch APs as they move between "zones." __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2012-05-27, 09:31 PM	#7
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,047	No, repeater mode will just make things worse, as it has to receive and then retransmit the data and you'd still have the same issue of not switching to the stronger signal. I do not know of any way to have it switch to the stronger signal, so long as it's receiving one, at least not with consumer level equipment. There is some industrial grade equipment that will do that, but it's expensive and meant more for large sites with multiple access points. Update: I was just looking into something that might work and found a setting "Roaming Sensitivity Level", which might have some effect on this, but I haven't found any solid info on it. In Windows 7, it's on the Advanced tab of the adapter properties. Last edited by JamesK; 2012-05-27 at 10:04 PM. Reason: More info

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2012-04-30, 04:25 PM	#3
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,047	Yes, you can have multiple APs with the same SSID. I have done that in a business installation. However, you should have them on different channels to avoid interference. BTW, you can find some info here about this, though it is aimed at larger sites.

2012-05-13, 12:24 AM	#5
tripod Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 44	I have some ideas that my help you out Try and put the router as central in your house as you can, you might get by with only one router. You could also look into getting higher db antennas, or a higher powered router like the Asus N66, Asus N56, Netgear WNDR4500, ect. They will run you about $150-180-ish but have excellent range. or you want to use your existing equipment and if your routers can support WRT firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT, Tomato, Gargoyle, ect - can add features to your $80 router that essentially turn it into a $300 router.). You can flash your secondary routers (or all of them if you want) and configure them as repeaters, bridges, ect. for whatever your needs are. As an example - My laser printer is hooked up through ethernet to a router bridged wirelessly to my main network.

2012-05-27, 08:55 PM	#6
k4kman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Newmarket Posts: 220	I just setup two wireless routers both with the same SSID and things work. My problem is if I take my portable device and start it in one room it does not switch to the other one unless I start and stop WiFi on it. Is there any way to make it do that the device will auto pick up the stronger signal? If I do load on DD-WRT or something and put my 2nd one in repeater mode will things work between the two better then how I have it now?

2012-06-01, 10:36 AM	#8
rsoares28 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 107	I would go the ddwrt route. I have the same setup but with 2 linksys E2000 routers. My main router is in the bsmt and the second is on the top floor.(no router on the middle main floor) i used to this guide to configure them. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...s_Access_Point all my devices switch to the stronger signal seemlessly

2012-06-01, 11:09 AM	#9
notsure Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON; OTA, XBMC, ATV Posts: 1,609	If your router can handle dd-wrt I would personally give Tomato a try as well. All around, I found it to be a little better than dd-wrt in most/all categories from ease of use to features.

2012-06-01, 09:56 PM	#11
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,047	^^^^ Quite so. WiFi devices do not scan for better connections so long as they have one. Such switching to stronger signals has to be done by the network and consumer level access points don't support that.