Extending home WiFi - channel numbers ?

Hi

I have a Devolo 200 "N" WiFi AV plug.

I've set it up to have same SSID & password as router wifi - for stability & performance is it best for both networks to operate on same channel or different channels ?


thanks

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Jul-12 09:35:11)

Same channel is fine.

Same channel, same SSID and key should be fine also as then devices hope seamlessly

Thanks both

It's worth keeping a check now and then on the surrounding wifi channels in use. What is best for you today could be the worst in a week, as others change to improve theirs.

InSSIDer is an excellent monitoring tool.

Except in any coverage overlap areas ...

If a user is connected to one WAP and can be seen by the second, it will affect anyone else trying to use the second WAP. I currently have four WAPs connected - Ch 1, 5, 9 & 13 with the same key and everything seems to be seamless and all run at full speed - tested with simultaneous connections on each one.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Same channel, same SSID and key should be fine also as then devices hope seamlessly

Same SSID and key but different channels is best otherwise one transmitter can affect the other.

Problem with doing it this way...

Plenty of drivers will not switch wireless channels seamlessly. E.g.

One wireless AP at front of house. One at back. Both on different channels

You connect to wifi at the front. Go to the back. Plenty of drivers will cling onto the wifi AP at the front of the house, even at 1mpbs & 1 bar even though the back AP has full signal now.

Plenty of drivers only switch AP when the signal literally completely goes.

BY using the same channel. These problematic drivers in experience will seamlessly switch access points as they SHOULD. E.g. connect at the front, go to back of the house, the drivers instantly switch to the better AP seamlessly.

HENCE I find that different channels cause more problems than it's worth.

So I vote for same channel, same SSID. Both will work though.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Sun 29-Jul-12 15:24:45)

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

So I vote for same channel, same SSID. Both will work though.

Same - I have 200+ locations containing 800+ APs and 600+ devices all working on the same channel without issue.

Except in any coverage overlap areas

agreed, the signal from any AP other than the one you are connected to is effectively noise and reduces performance. Community wireless learned this.

I'm not sure clients associate to another AP any faster if it's on the same channel or a different one. More research required.......