Re: SSID for multiple access points

From: Pete Mainwaring (peter.mainwaring_at_virgin.net)
Date: 07/07/04


Date: 7 Jul 2004 00:47:27 -0700


"Sooner Al" <SoonerAl@somewhere.net.invalid> wrote in message news:<ujMAtP6YEHA.3988@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>...
> The AP SSIDs, I believe, should all be the same but the individual APs should be set to different
> channels...
>
> --
> 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...
>
> "Indy Tech" <IndyTech@att.UNSPAM.net> wrote in message
> news:t5FGc.1730$aj.384@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com...
> > howdy all,
> >
> > Let me start off by saying I have searched online for answers to this
> > question, but apparently haven't been able to discover the right syntax to
> > turn up my answers. With that said, feel free to post abusive or stupid
> > responses and I will suffer them with good graces. :)
> >
> > I am deploying a WLAN to cover 3 warehouses. We will be using this network
> > to keep Compaq iPaq's in contact with an inventory application. I did the
> > initial setup, and gave each of the APs distinct SSID names. The iPaqs
> > cannot roam between them
> >
> > As this client is 120 miles away, I wanted to establish before I drove back
> > down there: Can I give all 3 APs the same SSID name, or do they need to be
> > unique?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for all information!
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > Jim Peterson, A+, Net+, MCSE
> > Indy Tech
> >
> > To e-mail me, remove everything between
> > "att" and ".net" in my e-mail address.
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.714 / Virus Database: 470 - Release Date: 7/2/2004
> >
> >
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.716 / Virus Database: 472 - Release Date: 7/5/2004

Al is correct. All the AP's can have the same SSID, but any AP that is
near another AP should be on a different channel. This part is
probably the most challenging as you can only use 3 channels to be
sure that there is no overlap.

I implemented a wireless solution in a corporate HQ using about 70
AP's. Every AP used the same SSID but AP's nearest each other on the
same floor used different channels as far as possible. There were
generally 4 AP's per floor, so two AP's that were diagonally opposite
had to use the same channel. The AP transmit power was set to 1mw, and
we didn't suffer from any problems. We were able to roam around the
whole building with a laptop connected to the WLAN and maintain our
network connection (constantly running a ping -t to a target address,
plus other more demanding tests as well).

The transmit power settings in a warehouse may need to be set
differently though, depending on whether there is high racking or not,
what type of materials are stored, etc.

Pete



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Two access points in same house
    ... the same SSID, but different WEP or WPA keys. ... but I'll disable it on both the router and the AP temporarily. ... I change the AP to use channel 1 and leave the router on channel 6. ... I don't think the DLINK products like to devices ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Hiding the SSID ??
    ... I decided to hide my SSID from being broadcast but then when I ... rebooted I could not connect - Vista could not see my router. ... I can then change the channel back to original ... something to be said about using wifi in poured concrete houses. ...
    (uk.telecom.broadband)
  • Re: Wireless router problem
    ... >>Even if you don't have any other networks I have found that channel ... If I suppress the SSID on my ... there's no genuine security gain in trying to hide the ...
    (uk.telecom.broadband)
  • Re: Wireless Network Question
    ... Should setup each Access Point with the same channel and SSID? ... FYI, last time I checked Microsoft had something like 6,000+ WAPs throughout ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: wi-fi problem
    ... ifconfig ral0 ssid name authmode shared channel 13 wemode on \ ... ether 00:14:85:16:d2:11 media: IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet autoselect ... ssid name channel 13 ... then run ifconfig to see if it's at least associated. ...
    (comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc)