+1 for Brett's comments. You're on the right track with having identified neighboring wireless networks, the channels they use, and the signal strength.
Identify the coverage area you want, first, then try and put the access point near the center of it. Test the signal strength and connectivity in those areas. As Brett says, you may only have to move it, rather than add an AP. Rules of thumb: shoot for -67 dBm or higher for signal strength, and 20 dB or better for signal to noise ratio. As with all rules of thumb, you might find performance okay if the numbers are different, but that's a starting point, and you will have to experiment. Make sure the antennae are perpendicular to the ground, and not right next to a wall. Imagine the radio waves spraying out in all directions parallel to the ground, and note that they will be mostly blocked by large metal surfaces or brick walls. Note the channels in use by your neighbors. 1? 11? Then hard-code yours to one that's not in use, or that has the weakest signal strength from your neighbors. Use only 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz. Important: if you do get a second AP, make sure you hard-code a different channel between your access points. (1 and 6, 6 and 11, or 1 and 11). If you don't, they will interfere with each other, especially in the areas where their signal strengths are equal. While higher-end APs can auto-detect channels in use and avoid them, on SOHO APs this functionality is either nonexistent or doesn't work well. To Brett's point about client roaming between APs when the security settings are the same (SSID, encryption), it is important to note that this is a client-specific decision, and usually happens when the signal gets very weak or when wireless retransmits reach an intolerable level; not simply when the signal strength of another AP surpasses the one to which you're currently associated. -Shawn ________________________________ From: Brett Johnson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 9:13 AM Subject: Re: wireless Hi Anthony, I'd recommend looking at placement of your existing access point. I've found lower lying areas (especially basements and/or close proximity to concrete) are horrible locations for an AP. If you have your AP in an area like that you might be well served raising it above ground level or even replacing the antenna with a higher gain one if you have one to try to boost the signal. If you are lucky you might be able to avoid a second AP altogether. APs with the same SSID are assumed by wireless clients to connect to the same network. So long as that's true (connect back to same network/subnet) and the settings are mirrored between the APs (same encryption, etc) then client roaming between APs should be seamless -- the client will pickup the stronger signaled AP automatically. If you can't run another wired AP off the network you could go for a wireless repeater (I've had success with dd-wrt, openwrt, etc.) Not as great of a solution as a hardwired AP, but repeaters can provide additional coverage, especially in places a wire won't reach. -- Brett Johnson simpleroute | 1690 Williston Road | South Burlington, VT 05403 tel: 802-881-0010 | email: [email protected] | web: simpleroute.com On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 8:33 AM, Anthony Carrico <[email protected]> wrote: Very quiet around here. > >Does anyone have advice on wireless lan? What is the recommended >architecture for adding a second access point? Must it be on a second >essid? There is an access point in my DSL modem, but doesn't provide the >greatest coverage, so I thought I might put one out it the garage to >cover the porch, etc. I only see two networks from here, mine, and one >at a neighbor way down the road, so there should be channels available. > >-- >Anthony Carrico > >
