extend wireless network from wired network?

[Midnight]

i have a condo wired for data.

i have one wireless router currently attached to my cable modem.

this is then run into the switch and connected to the rest of the condo.

i get a weak/intermittent wireless signal on the other side of the condo. i do have a network jack there.

what i would like to do is plug in another router to the switch i have over there. id like this router to extend the wireless network.

i would want to use this second router to control my HTPC via ipad. so it needs to be on the same network.

ive read a lot of dd wrt stuff on wireless bridge and wireless access points.

i dont want to extend the wireless signal.

the problem is my wireless signal doesn't exist over here. just a wired outlet.

what do i need? and how do i do it?

i have multiple linksys WRT 54 somethings. one is running DD WRT.

thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Use the wire outlet to install this at the remote location.

http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[Midnight]

so i should be able to plug my second router in and follow the above instructions?

i would be plugging it into a switch at the second location.

how do i configure the wifi?

would i need to make it all the same as the original wireless router?

security wise network name?

thanks

 

[the FooL]

If you have the same name on the SSID, it will probably get confusing as to which one you are connecting to (unless you just base it off signal strength). I used two different names just so I know which is which.

Also, since you will have multiple routers in your system, make sure to enable RIP or you may see some issues like I did.

See my topic here

 

[llee]

Does your condo have easily accessible air conditioning vents? I've been in your situation before and I ended up wiring Cat5e from one end all the way to the other. So long as you configure both access points (including wireless routers) to have the same SSID and connect them via the LAN ports, you should be fine.

 

[JackMDS]

Broadcast On in all, same SSID name, same security, and each Wireless source on a different channel.

1, 6, & 11 preferred.

 

[llee]

Broadcast On in all, same SSID name, same security, and each Wireless source on a different channel.

1, 6, & 11 preferred.

^ Pro

 

[Midnight]

thanks for all the tips guys.

i do have cat 5e running from location 1 to location 2. the thing is i want the wireless at both spots.

how does my device choose which network to use? i want to make sure its always on the strongest signal even tho they have the same name.

 

[the FooL]

thanks for all the tips guys.

i do have cat 5e running from location 1 to location 2. the thing is i want the wireless at both spots.

how does my device choose which network to use? i want to make sure its always on the strongest signal even tho they have the same name.

I'm purely speculating here, but I think it will depend on the device's intelligence when dealing with multiple APs.
Ideally, it is smart enough to latch to the strongest one with an algorithm that prevents it from a ping-pong effect if it happens to be in a mid-point where the strength of AP1 and AP2 changes based on the position of your left toe relative to how you hold the mouse.

A dumb one might be programmed to always use the same AP it latched on with initially and only rescan if it was dropped completely, even if there is an AP with a high signal strength.

At work, we only have one ssid but multiple AP. People move all over campus without an issue.

Now I'm not sure how connection based applications will work (like IM clients).
You might see a sign-off then a sign-on when you cross from one end to the other, since I doubt consumer level APs can hand-off between each other.

 

[mammador]

For a network of this size, I don't see why you need two routers. For the devices you have currently, the broadcast domain should be sufficient. As others have said, have one main router, but install access points in either side of your house.