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Newbie would like basic info about Access Point

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Denis54

Member
I know very little about network but I have done a fair bit of research about access points. I now think I know enough to try to set one up. However I still have a few basic questions that I would like to be answered.

Since the Access Pont has the same SSID and password as my main router, does that mean I would only need to log to my main router network on my iPad and it would seamlessly switch from my router to my Access point as I travel through my house?

Could I hook up my desktop to my Access Pont with a LAN cable?

As I understand an Extender reduces the speed of the network by half while an Access Pont does not. Am I correct?
 
Denis54 said:
I know very little about network but I have done a fair bit of research about access points. I now think I know enough to try to set one up. However I still have a few basic questions that I would like to be answered.

Since the Access Point has the same SSID and password as my main router, does that mean I would only need to log to my main router network on my iPad and it would seamlessly switch from my router to my Access point as I travel through my house?
Click to expand...

Basically, yes. The iPad will connect to the AP that it can "hear" better. In 98% of cases, that's the behavior you want.

However, if the two APs you have (router being one) have much different broadcast strengths, it's possible to get in a weird situation where your iPad "hears" the AP that's further away, but can't get a signal back in the reverse direction. In that case, you'd want to set them up with different SSIDs, so you can manually switch between them. Or maybe adjust the broadcast power on the "louder" router. Or something.

Could I hook up my desktop to my Access Point with a LAN cable?
Click to expand...

Depends on the AP. Typically yes.

As I understand an Extender reduces the speed of the network by half while an Access Point does not. Am I correct?
Click to expand...

Simple answer? Assuming the AP is hard-wired to the other router with either an Ethernet cable or some reasonable substitute like powerline ethernet, then yes, you are correct.
 
AFAIK, standard home networking gear won't allow for seamless switching between AP's

Desktop wired to AP? depends on AP.
 
Since Home Wireless is dually Bad at Roaming, you have also to try an Setting were the two APs have a different SSID names and each one each own Channel (like 1 and 11).

Then choose the method that works better with your hardware in your operating enviroment.


😎
 
I found that giving my access points different SSIDs works better for me. I have them all configured in my devices so they just grab the best signal depending where I am in my house. Sometimes when I am feeling particularly saucy I will configure several virtual wireless networks on each access point with outrageous names to entertain my neighbors 😉 I am in Wolverine / Spartans country and my next door neighbor is hardcore Sparty Green and White. I might name one of the SSIDs something like maizenbluearethecolorsforyou or Harbaughbusservicespartanssitintheback.
 
If I give my Access Point a different SSID, do I have to give it a different channel than the one used by my main router?
 
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