Blanket wireless with WRT54GL

[BBrian]

I've bought three WRT54GL routers as I've needed them, using ddwrt. Now I've three access points (schoolname1,2,3) but would like one network covering the whole school. I tried just setting the SSID, channel and WPA key to be the same, but the laptops we are using (Dell) stick to whichever access point they pick up first.

What's the correct way of doing this?

[strawberry]

change the channels, you need 1,6,11.

At the moment your laptops are getting interference . imagine watching channel 1 on your tv and receiving bbc1,bbc2 and itv all at once.

[IanL]

I agree with Strawberry that you should use 5 channel separation but I suggest the main problem is WPA. WPA modifies the preshared key and this modified key is not passed between these access points, hence you would stay with the same access point you first authenticate with until the signal is lost.

There are solutions to overcome this but not using the WRT54GL (e.g. Colubris MSC + mobility). Try using WEP encryption to prove the point, as this should work.