Automatic roaming

Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to have
your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point within
range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.

Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this. In
order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
stop/start the wireless radio.

My questions are:

1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?

2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a laptop,
e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do automatic
roaming?

TIA,

Rich

I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if the
stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to manually
connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.

MD



"Rich Roller" wrote:

> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to have
> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point within
> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>
> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this. In
> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
> stop/start the wireless radio.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
>
> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a laptop,
> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do automatic
> roaming?
>
> TIA,
>
> Rich
>
>
>

Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME WLAN,
the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take your laptop to
another part of your company's offices and you want it to find the best
AP/signal available within that same network.

-Rich

"MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if the
> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to manually
> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>
> MD
>
>
>
> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>
>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to have
>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
>> within
>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>
>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this.
>> In
>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>
>> My questions are:
>>
>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
>>
>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a laptop,
>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>> automatic
>> roaming?
>>
>> TIA,
>>
>> Rich
>>
>>
>>

XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.


--
All the best,

Ryan Younger.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
Networking Weblog

(E-Mail Removed)


"Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME WLAN,
> the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take your laptop
> to another part of your company's offices and you want it to find the best
> AP/signal available within that same network.
>
> -Rich
>
> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if the
>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to manually
>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>
>> MD
>>
>>
>>
>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>
>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to have
>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
>>> within
>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>
>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this.
>>> In
>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>
>>> My questions are:
>>>
>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
>>>
>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a laptop,
>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>> automatic
>>> roaming?
>>>
>>> TIA,
>>>
>>> Rich
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

From what I've seen in the XP interface there is a choice to enter an SSID
of a WLAN and that's it. There are no settings/controls related to specific
AP's or for roaming between AP's within a given SSID network.

Is there some more advanced version of the Windows client (WZC?) that has
more settings/controls?

From my testing (and a newsgroup support engineer from MS has confirmed
this) Windows will NOT automatically roam between different AP's on the same
SSID/WLAN unless you stop/start radio, or disconnect/reconnect.

In the past when I used Cisco wireless cards w/ Cisco client, this happened
beautifully. We are bemused by the fact that the built-in Intel radio plus
WZC doesn't do this for us.

Have you had different results with auto roaming?

-Rich


"Ryan Younger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eII$Ool%(E-Mail Removed)...
> XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
> automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.
>
>
> --
> All the best,
>
> Ryan Younger.
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
> Networking Weblog
>
> (E-Mail Removed)
>
>
> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
> news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME
>> WLAN, the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take your
>> laptop to another part of your company's offices and you want it to find
>> the best AP/signal available within that same network.
>>
>> -Rich
>>
>> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if
>>> the
>>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to manually
>>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>>
>>> MD
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to
>>>> have
>>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
>>>> within
>>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>>
>>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
>>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this.
>>>> In
>>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>>
>>>> My questions are:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
>>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
>>>>
>>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a
>>>> laptop,
>>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>>> automatic
>>>> roaming?
>>>>
>>>> TIA,
>>>>
>>>> Rich
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>
>

My Dell Latitude D610, WinXP SP2, using WZC and not the Intel PROSet
Wireless app. seems to do it fine. I have 3 G AP's, a Cisco & 2 Linksys.
They're all WPA with a pre-shared key. They have the SSID hidden and
they're all on the same channel.

It doesn't seem to release the distant AP as fast as it might. It seems to
look for a new AP once the existing signal gets down to around fair, even if
the new signal is excellent.

Cleve S.

"Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
news:%23XD8tKp%(E-Mail Removed)...
> From what I've seen in the XP interface there is a choice to enter an SSID
> of a WLAN and that's it. There are no settings/controls related to
> specific AP's or for roaming between AP's within a given SSID network.
>
> Is there some more advanced version of the Windows client (WZC?) that has
> more settings/controls?
>
> From my testing (and a newsgroup support engineer from MS has confirmed
> this) Windows will NOT automatically roam between different AP's on the
> same SSID/WLAN unless you stop/start radio, or disconnect/reconnect.
>
> In the past when I used Cisco wireless cards w/ Cisco client, this
> happened beautifully. We are bemused by the fact that the built-in Intel
> radio plus WZC doesn't do this for us.
>
> Have you had different results with auto roaming?
>
> -Rich
>
>
> "Ryan Younger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:eII$Ool%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
>> automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.
>>
>>
>> --
>> All the best,
>>
>> Ryan Younger.
>> http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
>> Networking Weblog
>>
>> (E-Mail Removed)
>>
>>
>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>> news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME
>>> WLAN, the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take your
>>> laptop to another part of your company's offices and you want it to find
>>> the best AP/signal available within that same network.
>>>
>>> -Rich
>>>
>>> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if
>>>> the
>>>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to
>>>> manually
>>>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>>>
>>>> MD
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to
>>>>> have
>>>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
>>>>> within
>>>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>>>
>>>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in
>>>>> radios,
>>>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this.
>>>>> In
>>>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>>>
>>>>> My questions are:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
>>>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a
>>>>> laptop,
>>>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>>>> automatic
>>>>> roaming?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA,
>>>>>
>>>>> Rich
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

When you have multiple access points, with signals that over lap, is it
better to set them to different channels or keep them all on the same
channel?

Thanks,

Bill

"Cleve S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23VKZdlQ$(E-Mail Removed)...
> My Dell Latitude D610, WinXP SP2, using WZC and not the Intel PROSet
> Wireless app. seems to do it fine. I have 3 G AP's, a Cisco & 2 Linksys.
> They're all WPA with a pre-shared key. They have the SSID hidden and
> they're all on the same channel.
>
> It doesn't seem to release the distant AP as fast as it might. It seems
> to look for a new AP once the existing signal gets down to around fair,
> even if the new signal is excellent.
>
> Cleve S.
>
> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
> news:%23XD8tKp%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> From what I've seen in the XP interface there is a choice to enter an
>> SSID of a WLAN and that's it. There are no settings/controls related to
>> specific AP's or for roaming between AP's within a given SSID network.
>>
>> Is there some more advanced version of the Windows client (WZC?) that has
>> more settings/controls?
>>
>> From my testing (and a newsgroup support engineer from MS has confirmed
>> this) Windows will NOT automatically roam between different AP's on the
>> same SSID/WLAN unless you stop/start radio, or disconnect/reconnect.
>>
>> In the past when I used Cisco wireless cards w/ Cisco client, this
>> happened beautifully. We are bemused by the fact that the built-in Intel
>> radio plus WZC doesn't do this for us.
>>
>> Have you had different results with auto roaming?
>>
>> -Rich
>>
>>
>> "Ryan Younger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:eII$Ool%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
>>> automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> All the best,
>>>
>>> Ryan Younger.
>>> http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
>>> Networking Weblog
>>>
>>> (E-Mail Removed)
>>>
>>>
>>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>>> news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME
>>>> WLAN, the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take
>>>> your laptop to another part of your company's offices and you want it
>>>> to find the best AP/signal available within that same network.
>>>>
>>>> -Rich
>>>>
>>>> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if
>>>>> the
>>>>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to
>>>>> manually
>>>>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>>>>
>>>>> MD
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to
>>>>>> have
>>>>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
>>>>>> within
>>>>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in
>>>>>> radios,
>>>>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do
>>>>>> this. In
>>>>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>>>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My questions are:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP,
>>>>>> or
>>>>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless
>>>>>> radio/adapter?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a
>>>>>> laptop,
>>>>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>>>>> automatic
>>>>>> roaming?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> TIA,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rich
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Bill,

I'm not certain, but I remember seeing in the Linksys instructions to keep
them on the same channel. I've had it both ways, didn't see much
difference. We really don't roam here, we just can't get wire to some
areas.

Cleve S.

"Bill Steiner" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eHFbCek$(E-Mail Removed)...
> When you have multiple access points, with signals that over lap, is it
> better to set them to different channels or keep them all on the same
> channel?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
> "Cleve S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%23VKZdlQ$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> My Dell Latitude D610, WinXP SP2, using WZC and not the Intel PROSet
>> Wireless app. seems to do it fine. I have 3 G AP's, a Cisco & 2
>> Linksys. They're all WPA with a pre-shared key. They have the SSID
>> hidden and they're all on the same channel.
>>
>> It doesn't seem to release the distant AP as fast as it might. It seems
>> to look for a new AP once the existing signal gets down to around fair,
>> even if the new signal is excellent.
>>
>> Cleve S.
>>
>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23XD8tKp%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> From what I've seen in the XP interface there is a choice to enter an
>>> SSID of a WLAN and that's it. There are no settings/controls related to
>>> specific AP's or for roaming between AP's within a given SSID network.
>>>
>>> Is there some more advanced version of the Windows client (WZC?) that
>>> has more settings/controls?
>>>
>>> From my testing (and a newsgroup support engineer from MS has confirmed
>>> this) Windows will NOT automatically roam between different AP's on the
>>> same SSID/WLAN unless you stop/start radio, or disconnect/reconnect.
>>>
>>> In the past when I used Cisco wireless cards w/ Cisco client, this
>>> happened beautifully. We are bemused by the fact that the built-in
>>> Intel radio plus WZC doesn't do this for us.
>>>
>>> Have you had different results with auto roaming?
>>>
>>> -Rich
>>>
>>>
>>> "Ryan Younger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:eII$Ool%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
>>>> automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> All the best,
>>>>
>>>> Ryan Younger.
>>>> http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
>>>> Networking Weblog
>>>>
>>>> (E-Mail Removed)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME
>>>>> WLAN, the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take
>>>>> your laptop to another part of your company's offices and you want it
>>>>> to find the best AP/signal available within that same network.
>>>>>
>>>>> -Rich
>>>>>
>>>>> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to
>>>>>> manually
>>>>>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> MD
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access
>>>>>>> Point within
>>>>>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in
>>>>>>> radios,
>>>>>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do
>>>>>>> this. In
>>>>>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>>>>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My questions are:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP,
>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless
>>>>>>> radio/adapter?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a
>>>>>>> laptop,
>>>>>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>>>>>> automatic
>>>>>>> roaming?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> TIA,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rich
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Rich,

I'm glad you posted this because it was just a coincidence I was trying to
setup the same thing at home and was searching the newsgroup to find a
solution. I have a Linksys wireless router downstairs and added a Microsoft
wireless router as an access point. I wanted to do this because the signal
from the router in the basement would get weak in certain areas upstairs.

The Compaq Presario I had with a wireless card would automatically recognize
the stronger signal among the router and access point and automatically
switch as I walked around the house. However, I also have an IBM Thinkpad
(running XP) with the built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G and it would not
switch as I walked around. I did figure out how to get it to work.

Go to Device Manager
Go to Properties for the Intel PRO/Wireless device
Click on the Advanced tab
Click on the "Roaming Aggressiveness" Property
Mine was set to "Lowest" which, according to the Description, it will not
switch unless there is significant signal degradation.

I changed mine to one level below Highest and now it automatically switches
as I roam around.

-Jason


"Rich Roller" wrote:

> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME WLAN,
> the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take your laptop to
> another part of your company's offices and you want it to find the best
> AP/signal available within that same network.
>
> -Rich
>
> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What if the
> > stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to manually
> > connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
> >
> > MD
> >
> >
> >
> > "Rich Roller" wrote:
> >
> >> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to have
> >> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access Point
> >> within
> >> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
> >>
> >> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in radios,
> >> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do this.
> >> In
> >> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
> >> stop/start the wireless radio.
> >>
> >> My questions are:
> >>
> >> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP, or
> >> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless radio/adapter?
> >>
> >> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a laptop,
> >> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
> >> automatic
> >> roaming?
> >>
> >> TIA,
> >>
> >> Rich
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Bill's right. You should not have overlapping AP's using the same channel.
If you have 3 AP's you can use channels 1, 6 & 11 which will ensure that
there is no interference or contention between the AP's. -Rich

"Cleve S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:et6d7Qq$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Bill,
>
> I'm not certain, but I remember seeing in the Linksys instructions to keep
> them on the same channel. I've had it both ways, didn't see much
> difference. We really don't roam here, we just can't get wire to some
> areas.
>
> Cleve S.
>
> "Bill Steiner" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:eHFbCek$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> When you have multiple access points, with signals that over lap, is it
>> better to set them to different channels or keep them all on the same
>> channel?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Bill
>>
>> "Cleve S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%23VKZdlQ$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> My Dell Latitude D610, WinXP SP2, using WZC and not the Intel PROSet
>>> Wireless app. seems to do it fine. I have 3 G AP's, a Cisco & 2
>>> Linksys. They're all WPA with a pre-shared key. They have the SSID
>>> hidden and they're all on the same channel.
>>>
>>> It doesn't seem to release the distant AP as fast as it might. It seems
>>> to look for a new AP once the existing signal gets down to around fair,
>>> even if the new signal is excellent.
>>>
>>> Cleve S.
>>>
>>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23XD8tKp%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> From what I've seen in the XP interface there is a choice to enter an
>>>> SSID of a WLAN and that's it. There are no settings/controls related
>>>> to specific AP's or for roaming between AP's within a given SSID
>>>> network.
>>>>
>>>> Is there some more advanced version of the Windows client (WZC?) that
>>>> has more settings/controls?
>>>>
>>>> From my testing (and a newsgroup support engineer from MS has confirmed
>>>> this) Windows will NOT automatically roam between different AP's on the
>>>> same SSID/WLAN unless you stop/start radio, or disconnect/reconnect.
>>>>
>>>> In the past when I used Cisco wireless cards w/ Cisco client, this
>>>> happened beautifully. We are bemused by the fact that the built-in
>>>> Intel radio plus WZC doesn't do this for us.
>>>>
>>>> Have you had different results with auto roaming?
>>>>
>>>> -Rich
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Ryan Younger" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:eII$Ool%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> XP's WZC does do this. Setup an ESS with different AP's and XP will
>>>>> automatically roam to the AP with the strongest signal.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> All the best,
>>>>>
>>>>> Ryan Younger.
>>>>> http://spaces.msn.com/members/wirelessnetworking/ - Ryan's Wireless
>>>>> Networking Weblog
>>>>>
>>>>> (E-Mail Removed)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Rich Roller" <rich@*REMOVE-THIS*r2c.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:OTyTyXe%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>> Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm talking about roaming to the SAME
>>>>>> WLAN, the SAME SSID, just a different AP. In other words, you take
>>>>>> your laptop to another part of your company's offices and you want it
>>>>>> to find the best AP/signal available within that same network.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Rich
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "MadDog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:32DDA781-3E7E-478A-B370-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>>> I'm curious as to why you think auto roaming is a good idea. What
>>>>>>> if the
>>>>>>> stronger network is one you have no access to ?? You'd have to
>>>>>>> manually
>>>>>>> connect back to the network you do have access to anyway.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> MD
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Rich Roller" wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Automatic roaming seems a generally desirable feature of WiFi... to
>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>> your laptop automatically detect when there's a stronger Access
>>>>>>>> Point within
>>>>>>>> range and transparently switch to that better/stronger AP.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Myself and my customers have noticed that laptops with built-in
>>>>>>>> radios,
>>>>>>>> using Windows XP to manage their wireless connections, do NOT do
>>>>>>>> this. In
>>>>>>>> order to re-associate with a nearer/better/stronger AP they have to
>>>>>>>> stop/start the wireless radio.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My questions are:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 1. Is automatic roaming controlled by the wireless client, e.g. XP,
>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>> rather by the physical/network layer, e.g. the wireless
>>>>>>>> radio/adapter?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 2. If it's the hardware, does anyone know if/how one might get a
>>>>>>>> laptop,
>>>>>>>> e.g. IBM Thinkpad, with built-in Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 B/G to do
>>>>>>>> automatic
>>>>>>>> roaming?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> TIA,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Rich
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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