Quick Wireless AP question

[nextJin]

I currently have something like this; (My apologies for the horrible format, I don't have a legit network app)

My WiFi AP is on the third floor and pretty much my whole house was built with hardwired rooms.

Is it possible to use the WiFi AP in conjunction with the rest of the wireless devices and have everything on the same network? Further, is it possible for me to be in the basement with my phone, then walk up to the third floor and have it simply switch to the stronger signal without having to tell it too every time?

As it is, I basically have two networks my wireless and my hardwired ones. I would like to get everything together under one network with an additional AP on the same one that automatically takes over.

I have this AP http://www.amazon.com/GMYLE-Wireless...=wifi+repeater

It's a different OEM name but it's the same one.

 

[nextJin]

The green dotted line simply means I can move that cat5e to the WiFi router easily as they are right beside each other.

 

[Mushkins]

That thing is a repeater, not an AP. Essentially what it does is connect to your wireless and then rebroadcasts it as a second network (with substantially reduced overall throughput). It's working as intended how you're seeing it.

Can you have multiple APs all on a single network with automatic device roaming/handoffs? Absolutely, just not with that $20 no name repeater You can do multiple APs on the same SSID with pretty much any consumer level APs and a router, the seamless handoffs without dropping the connection tend to be a feature of more expensive business class devices.

The Ubiquiti UniFi series of APs is a popular recommendation around here that has all those features for a reasonable price.

 

[Binky]

Google: ubiquity unifi

Buy one or more of those, and boom, instant mesh 802.11n network for ~$70 per AP. The pro model adds 5ghz channels, but it costs a lot more too. They have a new AC model just out, but it is also very expensive.

Since your house is hardwired already, this should be very easy to install.

edit: damn, mushky beat me to it.

 

[JackMDS]

(My apologies for the horrible format, I don't have a legit network app)

For next time

Free portable Diagram app.

http://dia-installer.de/download/index.html

Look at the Standard Shapes down this page there is a very nice Cisco Network shapes add-on.

http://dia-installer.de/shapes/index.html

As for Extending

WDS - The long Story.

The general approach that I take for Network Coverage issues is the following.

The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points (Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html ), and connect them through the cables to the Main Router.

You do not want/can not/hate/your client hates to lay Cables!

WDS (repeater) Wireless network is the answer.

Take into consideration that a Repeater cuts the Bandwidth (speed) into half past the Repeating.

Start with One affordable Wireless Router that can do WDS (the reason to start with WDS capable Router is that in case you need to add more Wireless WDS hardware the original Router has to support it). If you are lucky your environment is conducive to get covered with one Good Wireless Router, you are done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_distribution_system

Due to the added flexibility, it is a better solution to choose Routers that can work with the free 3rd party firmware DD-WRT

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network

Using a Laptop loaded with Wirelessnetview, do a Wireless survey, http://majorgeeks.com/WirelessNetView_d6102.html

According to the signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal, and spots with weak or No signal.

Repeaters have to be put in places that have relatively strong signal and are in proximity of the "dead" areas.

How many WDS units are needed? It depends on your specific environment. It is a good idea to start with one additional unit, try it, and decide on the Next step according to the outcome.