Multiple WAPs on same or different channels?

[John Gray]

To extend the wireless coverage in a very large house, I have got a couple of Wireless Access Points to improve on the dire wireless signal put out by a (Virgin Media Netgear) "Super Hub".

I am going to assign Channel 1 to the Super Hub, and 6 and 11 respectively to the two WAPs, using a different network name/SSID for each of the three (but the same password).

Is that the best way to do this? Surely one wouldn't use the same network name/SSID for all three, and certainly not put all three on the same channel!

[John Gray]

Partly answering my own question, further advice has suggested that I should:

• set all three devices to use the same network name/SSID, wireless connection password and encryption type
• set each device to a different channel: 1 or 6 or 11

Any comments, please?

[StuartR]

That's the way to do it.

[John Gray]

Thanks, Stuart - in fact I left them to fight it out between them, setting the Super Hub and the two WAPs to use Auto for the WiFi channels. It seems to work fairly seamlessly, as I wandered throughout the building with my laptop displaying inSSIDer. What a useful program that is!

[StuartR]

I use inSSIDer a lot for troubleshooting wireless issues.