Extending WiFi Network with multiple AP's from Netgear ?

IronFire · 09-18-2005

I have a Netgear DG834Gv2 Wireless ADSL router and two Netgear WG602v3 wireless access points. The situation I am in is that the router is at one end of a large building and the signal does not travel well through the sold walls. This means that there is a wireless signal at one end of the building and not the other.

To combat this I was planning on using one of the WG602v3 access points at the other end of the building, and the other access point in the middle of the first floor.

Now I have tried using the WG602v3’s in wireless repeater mode, so they link together and the router. This partially works as they seem to be shown linked in Netstumbler as when you view one of the MAC address it tabs down to a blue diamond which shows all three MAC address of the router and AP’s.

The downside is that the router doesn’t seem to be working correctly with the repeating and it isn’t access able or assigning ips through the DHCP server. The other downside is that the AP’s won’t support WPA when in repeater mode which leaves it pretty vulnerable.

My question is this, is it possible to have the AP’s wired to the router, yet still be seen as one wireless network, so users can just move around without having to switch to separate AP’s wireless networks when in range.

Thanks

streaker69 · 09-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronFire

I have a Netgear DG834Gv2 Wireless ADSL router and two Netgear WG602v3 wireless access points. The situation I am in is that the router is at one end of a large building and the signal does not travel well through the sold walls. This means that there is a wireless signal at one end of the building and not the other.

To combat this I was planning on using one of the WG602v3 access points at the other end of the building, and the other access point in the middle of the first floor.

Now I have tried using the WG602v3’s in wireless repeater mode, so they link together and the router. This partially works as they seem to be shown linked in Netstumbler as when you view one of the MAC address it tabs down to a blue diamond which shows all three MAC address of the router and AP’s.

The downside is that the router doesn’t seem to be working correctly with the repeating and it isn’t access able or assigning ips through the DHCP server. The other downside is that the AP’s won’t support WPA when in repeater mode which leaves it pretty vulnerable.

My question is this, is it possible to have the AP’s wired to the router, yet still be seen as one wireless network, so users can just move around without having to switch to separate AP’s wireless networks when in range.

Thanks

It sounds as though your AP's are actually in Bridge mode and not in Repeater mode. It's possible those units will only support Bridge mode. You could run CAT5 from your router to your remote AP's and then just run them in AP mode. Make sure that each of your AP's are on different non-overlapping channels, and each one has valid IP on your network.

Thorn · 09-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronFire

...
My question is this, is it possible to have the AP’s wired to the router, yet still be seen as one wireless network, so users can just move around without having to switch to separate AP’s wireless networks when in range.

Thanks

Yes.

The setup must be:
1. All the APs need different IP addresses (on the same subnet)
2. All APs must use the same SSID.
3. SSID Broadcast (i.e. Beacon Response) must be turn on for each AP.
4. A given AP's RF signal area must overlap with about 30% of the next AP's signal.

The wireless devices will automatically connect to the AP with the strongest signal, and the connection will be maintained seamlessly. When set up lile this, it is known as "Roaming", and is part of the 802.11 standard.

Starpoint · 09-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

Yes.

The setup must be:
1. All the APs need different IP addresses (on the same subnet)
2. All APs must use the same SSID.
3. SSID Broadcast (i.e. Beacon Response) must be turn on for each AP.
4. A given AP's RF signal area must overlap with about 30% of the next AP's signal.

he wireless devices will automatically connect to the AP with the strongest signal, and the connection will be maintained seamlessly. When set up lile this, it is known as "Roaming", and is part of the 802.11 standard.

One thing you might want to remember when you do this, although inter-operability between vendors should work, using identical stuff on the project will save you time and make it easy to save a setup to .bin file (some stuff allows you to save a config file)

IronFire · 09-22-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

Yes.

The setup must be:
1. All the APs need different IP addresses (on the same subnet)
2. All APs must use the same SSID.
3. SSID Broadcast (i.e. Beacon Response) must be turn on for each AP.
4. A given AP's RF signal area must overlap with about 30% of the next AP's signal.

The wireless devices will automatically connect to the AP with the strongest signal, and the connection will be maintained seamlessly. When set up lile this, it is known as "Roaming", and is part of the 802.11 standard.

That is eaxctly what I was after, thanks.

09-18-2005	#1 (permalink)
IronFire Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2	Extending WiFi Network with multiple AP's from Netgear ? I have a Netgear DG834Gv2 Wireless ADSL router and two Netgear WG602v3 wireless access points. The situation I am in is that the router is at one end of a large building and the signal does not travel well through the sold walls. This means that there is a wireless signal at one end of the building and not the other. To combat this I was planning on using one of the WG602v3 access points at the other end of the building, and the other access point in the middle of the first floor. Now I have tried using the WG602v3’s in wireless repeater mode, so they link together and the router. This partially works as they seem to be shown linked in Netstumbler as when you view one of the MAC address it tabs down to a blue diamond which shows all three MAC address of the router and AP’s. The downside is that the router doesn’t seem to be working correctly with the repeating and it isn’t access able or assigning ips through the DHCP server. The other downside is that the AP’s won’t support WPA when in repeater mode which leaves it pretty vulnerable. My question is this, is it possible to have the AP’s wired to the router, yet still be seen as one wireless network, so users can just move around without having to switch to separate AP’s wireless networks when in range. Thanks

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode