Multiple Wireless Access Points?

krugdm

krugdm

Registered
Here's my situation: I have a Linksys wireless router at one end of my house where the cable comes in and where the cable modem is set up. This gives me decent coverage over half my house for my PB, and shoddy coverage for the rest.

A couple years ago, I ran an ethernet line from the router to a room on the other end of the house and installed a jack and a switchplate there for a desktop which is no longer there.

My question is: Can I install another wireless device in the remote ethernet jack, such as one of those wireless bridges? Would it work to expand the wireless "bubble" in my house or would there be a problem having two access points in the house? Will my PB automagically handle the two antennas and pick the one with the strongest signal?
 
To clarify, I think it is possible to set up several access points and have them be 'on the same network', but I'm not sure how. A repeater is bound to be more expensive than another access point, so if you can find out how to make the former work, try that first :)
 
Okay, so here is how to set up the APs so they are on the same network.

Configure the AP to have the same network name (SSID) as your wireless router.

Set the AP to a different channel than the router. 802.11b/g only has three unique, non-overlapping channels: 1, 6, and 11. You want the channel to be different so your access points don't interfere with each other.

Make sure your access points are in the same subnet. So if your router is 192.168.1.1 and the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 you could make the AP anything in 192.168.*.* (I like to keep all of the APs in the same section, like 192.168.2.* It helps me remember where they are and you can keep DHCP form giving out those addresses, but your network is too small to run into those kinds of issues) Anywho, this will allow your computer to not need a new IP if it is roamed to the distant AP.

The rest of the work is up to your wireless card. When you get to the point in your house where the remote AP has a stronger signal, it will automatically start talking to the other AP.

BTW: I noticed you mentioned a wireless bridge. Just FYI you can't use a wireless to ethernet bridge (like the linksys WET11) as an access point, but I'm guessing you knew that already.
 
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