Wireless

[neilmc]

Ive got 2 wireless access points, 30 laptops and we want to split for example 15 laptops to each router,

 

Access Points both have same name and same access code,

 

So i thought either access point you put in the room the laptops will connect to, doesn't happen.

 

What do I need to do to setup both access points so that we can swap laptops between rooms. and connect to either access point, am i doing something wrong?

 

Cheers guys

[HullFC]

Ive got 2 wireless access points, 30 laptops and we want to split for example 15 laptops to each router,

 

Access Points both have same name and same access code,

 

So i thought either access point you put in the room the laptops will connect to, doesn't happen.

 

What do I need to do to setup both access points so that we can swap laptops between rooms. and connect to either access point, am i doing something wrong?

 

Cheers guys

 

When I have done this I have named the wireless points as say 'Trolley1' and 'Trolley2'. I then set the first 15 laptops to prefer Trolley1 and the 16-30 to prefer Trolley2. They still have the other access point listed so if one isn't detected they connect to the other.

 

If the SSIDs are the same then I believe it will try to connect to the strongest signal.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Shaun

[SimpleSi]

If the APs have MAC address security then you can setup 1st AP to only allow 15 of the laptops and the other for the other 15.

 

Theory only - never done it myself

 

regards

 

Simon

[mac_shinobi]

If you give both WAP's the same SSID on the same channel and just program all laptops with the same SSID / pass phrase / password would that not work

 

Not sure if the channel needs to be the same or not ? Not sure if its related to the distance between the WAP's as to whether or not they will interfere with each other ?

[Michael]

If you give both WAP's the same SSID on the same channel and just program all laptops with the same SSID / pass phrase / password would that not work

 

Two WAPs close together broadcasting the same SSID on the same channel would be a disaster! You should put them on channels 1, 6 or 11 so they do not overlap. In Europe some WAPs support upto channel 13, but I wouldn't recommend using this channel as many wireless adapters/drivers won't see it even though it's broadcasting.

 

What do I need to do to setup both access points so that we can swap laptops between rooms. and connect to either access point, am i doing something wrong?

 

Realistically you should setup the two WAPs differently. Set one as channel 6 and the other channel 11. Configure two variable SSIDs - name them network1 and network2 (for example), then use a variable for the security password using WPA/WPA2. Password1234 and Password5678, whatever you like.

[ozzy]

neilmc, I've recently set up our new trolley as Michael has described and it works a treat. there are other ways to do it but the "keep it simple stupid" method always works best.