How to set more than 3 access points for best coverage and performance?

I am covering a two story office building with wireless networking
using 802.11b Orinoco AP1000 (has dual radios), second floor is about
one third of first floor in area, it uses two channels 1 and 6
coresponding to network SSID A and B, I have excellent coverage.
First floor uses as well an AP1000 that transmits on channels 11 and
1, both radios are connected to directional antennas because I want to
cover only certain areas of the first floor; the first floor SSID are
also called A and B same as second floor.
1- Is using the same SSID names for the first and second floor a good
idea?
2- I need to extend the range of first floor channel 11 (there are
lots of office partitions in the path of channel 11), what would be
the best solution?
-Add another single Access point in the first floor at the end of
channel 11 range? In this case, should I use the same channel
frequency (11) or a different channel? What happens when two access
points say 300 feet apart use the same frequency? Will their
performance be degraded?
-Use a repeater?
-Or sellect a higher gain antenna?

Appreciate all your inputs

M. Wahab

1: same ssids; not good idea for different floors

2: Yes, add another AP/Bridge at the opposite end, and no, dont use the same
frequency, I have just tried this and it is not a good idea, they do respond
in an unkind way. My channels were jumping all over the place to try and get
a grip/connect, when in close proximity to the stronger AP at the opposite
end.

Adding an external antenna to your existing AP may just help you get your
clients connected, otherwise, get another AP/Bridge

There are many bridges out there that you could use, and perhaps a little
more simple to setup too.

I would use Seperate SSID's on both floors to stop you accedently connecting
to the wrong floor!

I would also space the frequencies about 3 to 4 channels apart

I hope others will add to this, as there are so many options you could
choose from, the cheapest is the obvious one! and the least messing about
keeping your clients connected and being productive with no down time is
assential.

Alan

"Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bp87fm$am8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> 1: same ssids; not good idea for different floors

May depend on if the users expect to roam with the wireless devices - WLAN
phones are now available and users will get upset if they get disconnected
whenever they take the stairs - similar issues may occur with laptops
carried powered up.

Note that security practice may turn off SSID broadcast by the AP.
>
> 2: Yes, add another AP/Bridge at the opposite end, and no, dont use the
same
> frequency, I have just tried this and it is not a good idea, they do
respond
> in an unkind way. My channels were jumping all over the place to try and
get
> a grip/connect, when in close proximity to the stronger AP at the opposite
> end.

You need to survey to find out which channels to use in adajent APs - but
based on relative signal strength rather than proximity - depending on the
building design and aerials you may get v. little signal between floors.
>
> Adding an external antenna to your existing AP may just help you get your
> clients connected, otherwise, get another AP/Bridge
>
> There are many bridges out there that you could use, and perhaps a little
> more simple to setup too.
>
> I would use Seperate SSID's on both floors to stop you accedently
connecting
> to the wrong floor!
>
> I would also space the frequencies about 3 to 4 channels apart
>
> I hope others will add to this, as there are so many options you could
> choose from, the cheapest is the obvious one! and the least messing about
> keeping your clients connected and being productive with no down time is
> assential.

A lot depends on how many users and the bandwidth requirements - having lots
of channels available is one reaosn for buying 802.11a as you get 8
channels.

If you need more APs then one thing that sometimes works well is to turn
down the power settings on the AP to reduce cross interference.

more than you ever wanted to know about deploying Cisco APs:
http://www.cisco.com/application/pdf...00800d67eb.pdf
>
> Alan
--
Regards

Stephen Hope - remove xx from email to reply

Thanks for all the feedback, it was very helpful.

M. Wahab

"shope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<sWStb.1197$(E-Mail Removed)>...
> "Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bp87fm$am8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > 1: same ssids; not good idea for different floors
>
> May depend on if the users expect to roam with the wireless devices - WLAN
> phones are now available and users will get upset if they get disconnected
> whenever they take the stairs - similar issues may occur with laptops
> carried powered up.
>
> Note that security practice may turn off SSID broadcast by the AP.
> >
> > 2: Yes, add another AP/Bridge at the opposite end, and no, dont use the
> same
> > frequency, I have just tried this and it is not a good idea, they do
> respond
> > in an unkind way. My channels were jumping all over the place to try and
> get
> > a grip/connect, when in close proximity to the stronger AP at the opposite
> > end.
>
> You need to survey to find out which channels to use in adajent APs - but
> based on relative signal strength rather than proximity - depending on the
> building design and aerials you may get v. little signal between floors.
> >
> > Adding an external antenna to your existing AP may just help you get your
> > clients connected, otherwise, get another AP/Bridge
> >
> > There are many bridges out there that you could use, and perhaps a little
> > more simple to setup too.
> >
> > I would use Seperate SSID's on both floors to stop you accedently
> connecting
> > to the wrong floor!
> >
> > I would also space the frequencies about 3 to 4 channels apart
> >
> > I hope others will add to this, as there are so many options you could
> > choose from, the cheapest is the obvious one! and the least messing about
> > keeping your clients connected and being productive with no down time is
> > assential.
>
> A lot depends on how many users and the bandwidth requirements - having lots
> of channels available is one reaosn for buying 802.11a as you get 8
> channels.
>
> If you need more APs then one thing that sometimes works well is to turn
> down the power settings on the AP to reduce cross interference.
>
> more than you ever wanted to know about deploying Cisco APs:
> http://www.cisco.com/application/pdf...00800d67eb.pdf
> >
> > Alan