automatic switching of access points

Hi,

A client asked me about this, and I haven't a clue, so I thought I'd query
the collective knowledge of the NG: His issue is that he's got two wireless
access points in his apartment, one contained in his router and one that he
bought. When he moves around the apartment, he gets into spots where the
connection to one is weaker than the connection to the other, and he needs
to manually switch to the stronger. What he's asked me is if there's any way
to automate this switching so that his laptop auto-switches to the stronger
signal. Anybody heard of such a thing?

--

GaryK

Hi,

It may depend on the particular equipment.

I suspect that my Buffalo EC does this, but in the reverse way.

http://www.metrofi.com/faq_adapter.html

That is, switching from the stronger AP to the weaker AP without notice
during a session.

I know that when searching for an AP that it will most of the time select
the first one, most often a weaker one when a stronger AP signal is present.

This makes it a poor choice for use with a City Wide network like
"MetroFI-Free" here in Silicon Valley where I see 10 AP's with the same
SSID.

I hope that other equipment does what you want. I would like that
information.

--
Stephen H. Fischer

"Gary Karasik" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> A client asked me about this, and I haven't a clue, so I thought I'd query
> the collective knowledge of the NG: His issue is that he's got two
> wireless access points in his apartment, one contained in his router and
> one that he bought. When he moves around the apartment, he gets into spots
> where the connection to one is weaker than the connection to the other,
> and he needs to manually switch to the stronger. What he's asked me is if
> there's any way to automate this switching so that his laptop
> auto-switches to the stronger signal. Anybody heard of such a thing?
>
> --
>
> GaryK
>
>
>

Try this..

1. Make sure both APs are using the same SSID.
2. Configure each to transmit on a different channel, ie. AP1 = Channel 1
and AP2 = Channel 11 for example.
3. Make sure both APs are using the same encryption scheme and key (WPA or
WEP).

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...


"Gary Karasik" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> A client asked me about this, and I haven't a clue, so I thought I'd query
> the collective knowledge of the NG: His issue is that he's got two
> wireless access points in his apartment, one contained in his router and
> one that he bought. When he moves around the apartment, he gets into spots
> where the connection to one is weaker than the connection to the other,
> and he needs to manually switch to the stronger. What he's asked me is if
> there's any way to automate this switching so that his laptop
> auto-switches to the stronger signal. Anybody heard of such a thing?
>
> --
>
> GaryK
>
>
>

Thanks, DC,

He's looking for a way to not have to do anything. What can I say? He's a
client.

--

GaryK


"Diamontina Cocktail" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Gary Karasik" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi,
>>
>> A client asked me about this, and I haven't a clue, so I thought I'd
>> query the collective knowledge of the NG: His issue is that he's got two
>> wireless access points in his apartment, one contained in his router and
>> one that he bought. When he moves around the apartment, he gets into
>> spots where the connection to one is weaker than the connection to the
>> other, and he needs to manually switch to the stronger. What he's asked
>> me is if there's any way to automate this switching so that his laptop
>> auto-switches to the stronger signal. Anybody heard of such a thing?
>>
>
> Yep. Have the NIC completely auto assign, not manually assigned IP etc and
> when he moves to the other point, just repair the connection. It will find
> the stronger signal and hook to it if it is allowed to connect to ANY
> access point.
>
> Alternatively, he can use Net Switcher in which he can set both ends up
> and run the prog to switch from one to the other when he wants. I would
> use the auto option, in his case, though. A simple repair ought to take 30
> seconds to get him in contact with the closest AP.
>
>

Hi
Yeah, but Repeater (Extender, WDS, whatever these type of devices go by)
cuts the Bandwidth into half.
Why? Entry Level Wireless Hardware have only one Radio. So in order to
repeat the device Flip-Flops between Send and receive.
A network of Access Point is the best and the most common used by
professional.
:sun;

"Diamontina Cocktail" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Errr...yes. Much better than my idea. However, when you think of it,
> this whole thing would have been better with probably just two boosters
> (or repeaters) at the appropriate places and the one AP. Solves
> everything.
>
> "Sooner Al [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Try this..
>>
>> 1. Make sure both APs are using the same SSID.
>> 2. Configure each to transmit on a different channel, ie. AP1 = Channel 1
>> and AP2 = Channel 11 for example.
>> 3. Make sure both APs are using the same encryption scheme and key (WPA
>> or WEP).
>>
>> --
>> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>>
>> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
>> mutual benefit of all of us...
>> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights...
>>
>>
>> "Gary Karasik" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> A client asked me about this, and I haven't a clue, so I thought I'd
>>> query the collective knowledge of the NG: His issue is that he's got two
>>> wireless access points in his apartment, one contained in his router and
>>> one that he bought. When he moves around the apartment, he gets into
>>> spots where the connection to one is weaker than the connection to the
>>> other, and he needs to manually switch to the stronger. What he's asked
>>> me is if there's any way to automate this switching so that his laptop
>>> auto-switches to the stronger signal. Anybody heard of such a thing?
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> GaryK
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>