Access Point Channel Selection

This may be a dumb question, but I want to extend the range of an existing
wireless network by connecting a wireless access point (via cat5 cable) to
the router. Should I configure the WAP to use the same channel that's
already being used by the wireless router or should I use a different channel?

Linksys recommends using the same channel when setting up another access
point. Everyone else says to use a different channel. I think you should
use a different channel. Roaming should work as well in this situation
where you walk with your laptop and it will switch to the stronger signal
without losing a connection. When deciding on channel numbers, use
non-overlapping channels. Good choices would be 1 and 6, 2 and 7, 3 and 8,
and so on. Channels 1 and 11 would work fine too. You want to minimize the
interference for access points that are within proximity of each other.

As another example, let's say you had a three access points where the first
and third access point are too far apart for their signal to reach each
other. In that situation, you could use channels 1, 6, and 11 or you
something like 1, 6, and 1. Even though the first and third are the same,
they are too far apart for it too matter.

Be sure all other settings are identical such as SSID and WEP/WPA/none. The
only difference should be IP address and channel number.

Jeff


"Luminary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsBB9988C-56E6-4DAF-B700-(E-Mail Removed)...
> This may be a dumb question, but I want to extend the range of an existing
> wireless network by connecting a wireless access point (via cat5 cable) to
> the router. Should I configure the WAP to use the same channel that's
> already being used by the wireless router or should I use a different
> channel?

I used google and looked at a variety of sources. Linksys' documentation
describes roaming and says to use the same channel. Everyone else said to
use a different channel. I was successful trying it both ways. Now that I
understand how it works, it makes more sense to use separate channels. Barb
Bowman also had a good article on this.

Try searching this in google:

wireless roaming access point

Jeff


"GuitarMan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:s1U4d.1307$%(E-Mail Removed) nk.net...
>
> "Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Linksys recommends using the same channel when setting up another access
>> point. Everyone else says to use a different channel. I think you
>> should use a different channel. Roaming should work as well in this
>> situation where you walk with your laptop and it will switch to the
>> stronger signal without losing a connection. When deciding on channel
>> numbers, use non-overlapping channels. Good choices would be 1 and 6, 2
>> and 7, 3 and 8, and so on. Channels 1 and 11 would work fine too. You
>> want to minimize the interference for access points that are within
>> proximity of each other.
>>
>> As another example, let's say you had a three access points where the
>> first and third access point are too far apart for their signal to reach
>> each other. In that situation, you could use channels 1, 6, and 11 or
>> you something like 1, 6, and 1. Even though the first and third are the
>> same, they are too far apart for it too matter.
>>
>> Be sure all other settings are identical such as SSID and WEP/WPA/none.
>> The only difference should be IP address and channel number.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Where did you get this information?
>
>

Definitely use the same SSID and encryption settings to allow roaming. The
only difference should be IP address and channel.

Jeff


"GuitarMan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Wp_4d.1638$%(E-Mail Removed) ink.net...
>
> "Jeff Durham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I used google and looked at a variety of sources. Linksys' documentation
>>describes roaming and says to use the same channel. Everyone else said to
>>use a different channel. I was successful trying it both ways. Now that
>>I understand how it works, it makes more sense to use separate channels.
>>Barb Bowman also had a good article on this.
>>
>> Try searching this in google:
>>
>> wireless roaming access point
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Thanks Jeff...
> I was playing around with this myself and was wondering if I shoud have
> the WAP/Router and 2nd WAP set to the same channel and SSID or not.
>
>