Setting mulitple linked access points as one wireless network

[jonsey23uk]

Hello,

Was just wondering if anyone knew if/how it is possible to have a wireless network set up with mutliple access points but only showing up as one wireless network from any PC that wishes to connect to them? Does it require a specific type/model access point, if so can anyone recommend any?

Cheers for any help

 

[starcab]

Well,it is possible to use multiple access points in order to create one network.Each access point can have the same name ending with a different number for example.But generally,yes it can be done.

 

[dragon2309]

Well,it is possible to use multiple access points in order to create one network.Each access point can have the same name ending with a different number for example.But generally,yes it can be done.

not sure if you understood the question entirely, he wants multiple access points available to connect to but only one to be visible, this "one" would actually be all of them conglomerated together to be shown as one network access point. Is this right?

To my knowledge, i dont think it can be done, i've never heard nor seen ti be done, i could be wrong though...

Again without on hand experience i could be a bit wrong but surely if you bridged all the access points it would do that automatically...? No?

Hmmm

draogn

 

[tlarkin]

Hello,

Was just wondering if anyone knew if/how it is possible to have a wireless network set up with mutliple access points but only showing up as one wireless network from any PC that wishes to connect to them? Does it require a specific type/model access point, if so can anyone recommend any?

Cheers for any help

Yes, each AP has to have a different IP, and it is wise to set them up on seperate channels, and they all have to have the same SSID. I have set up multiple router/AP networks before for my clients and it can be done.

For example, you might set it up this way.

Router:
IP - 192.168.1.1
DNS - resolved by DHCP
DHCP server = on
SSID = name_of_your_network (or whatever you name it)
security settings must be the same - WPA, WPA2, WEP, etc

AP #1
IP - 192.168.1.2
DNS = 192.168.1.1
Gateway = 192.168.1.1
SSID = same as your router
Security = same as your router
*bump the channel up two or down two channels from your router

AP #2
IP - 192.168.1.3
DNS = 192.168.1.1
Gateway = 192.168.1.1
SSID = same as your router
secuirty = same as your router
*bump the channel setting up tow or down two channels from the last AP

Bridging is something different. Lets say you had two routers, and did not want to run cables through your location to conenct them. So, one router is the master and the other will be set up in bridge mode. It will connect over a wireless bridge but it doesn't act as an AP, ie it does not repeat the signal. Unless you run a wireless bridge + WDS mode in your set up.

A good way to do this is just buy a couple of cheap linksys routers (or buffalo) load thrid party firmware on them, set up one as the primary router and set up the others accordingly. I have done this several times for clients in the past and overall it works very nicely.

 

[jonsey23uk]

third party firmware?

Thanks for your help, you mention the need of 'third party firmware' could you expend on that a bit?

 

[tlarkin]

Thanks for your help, you mention the need of 'third party firmware' could you expend on that a bit?

Well, what I ended up doing was purchasing 3x WRT54GL routers for a client of mine since they were 50 dollars each (cheaper than a 100mW AP), set up each router differently with third party firmware from:

http://www.dd-wrt.com

Basically this firmware turns a linksys or buffalo (plus other brands) $50.00 into a $500.00 router. It uses an open source linux kernel which is very similiar to what actual cisco switches/routers run. Of course your home router will only have about 16MB of memory in it if you are lucky, so its not near as powerful as a cisco router but it is as configurable as one.

I set up something similar and used three routers to do so, instead of having one router and 2 APs. I configured two of the routers to act as APs instead or acting as a router and they are repeaters on their network all broadcasting the same SSID.