Best Practice for setting up SSIDs on AP?

[waffles]

I want to add an AP to my network and was wondering what the best practice was for setting up its SSIDs:

• different SSID than the one of the router => this way one can easily see where a device connects to or
  
• same SSIDs as the one of the router, but with different channels => does this help a device when switching/acquiring a network connection?
  
• or .....?

Looking forward to your guidance!

Thanks!

 

[sinshiva]

different SSIDs for each AP, each AP on a different channel, such as 1, 6 or 11 with 2.4ghz

Honestly, i don't know what the best channels to use for 5ghz are, though. I rarely see any in use to have to negotiate around

 

[waffles]

Thanks sinshiva!

 

[TeMpL]

one SSID for 2.4 in another for 5g
channel freq. --> auto..

 

[waffles]

Thanks TeMpL.

To make sure I understand you correctly, you are saying AP and router should use the same SSID, e.g. for 5GHz, but (potentially) different channels, due to the Auto setting, correct?

 

[sinshiva]

i think he was saying use a different ssid for 2.4ghz and 5ghz, with channel frequency set to auto. i'd only recommend auto for 5ghz.

 

[waffles]

i think he was saying use a different ssid for 2.4ghz and 5ghz, ....

OK, that's how I understood him also. However, if I understood YOU correctly, you suggested using different SSIDs by device for the same band, correct?

...with channel frequency set to auto. i'd only recommend auto for 5ghz.

I have not had good experiences with Auto channel for 2.4 GHz, so like to pick them manually, after doing a survey.
5 GHz on the other hand is pretty empty in my area, so Auto might work fine, but since I am already at it, I like to pick channel as well.

 

[sinshiva]

OK, that's how I understood him also. However, if I understood YOU correctly, you suggested using different SSIDs by device for the same band, correct?

yessir.

i'm not even using 5ghz atm lol; my only machine with a 5ghz card is an alienware m11x that had the battery explode, and i've been too lazy to replace it lol. got a new lappy for somebody else in the family that is just awesome, but it came with a card that can do up to 40mhz wide only on 2.4ghz. only disappointing thing about it for me.

the m11x is in otherwise perfect condition, even the case of the thing flexed right back to normal. just wont boot until i put a new battery in it lol

 

[TeMpL]

Setting cannel to auto the only way to go at least in wifi crowded area..


I can "hear" at may home at least 20 different wifi routers/networks anything other tan auto is adjusting cannel at least 10x a month. ???? Who does that ??
and another 20 people doing the same ? LOL. No !

 

[ScottW]

Lots of different advice above. Thing is, the "best advice" is really going to depend on your particular environment, your devices, and what you are trying to accomplish.

You'll want the different AP's on different channels. Which channels, and whether 20/40 or 40, and whether fixed channel or auto.... Is really going to depend on your environment. I much prefer fixed channels, but as TeMpL says, if you have people around you and they are changing channels from day-to-day -- then you may have to join the party and go Auto to keep your sanity.

I prefer using the same SSID/Password for all the 2.4g access points, and another SSID/Password for all the 5g access points. I don't use the same SSID for 2.4g and 5g, because I want the 5g-capable devices to connect to a 5g signal, and always stay with a 5g signal. But I do want them to switch between the AP's (on the same band) as they move around the house, so having the same SSID/Password (for the same band) is the simplest way to facilitate that.

I also find that with the devices *I* own (this varies by manufacturer and the drivers they supply), they switch off just fine between two AP's that use the same SSID/password. No need for having multiple SSID's and setting up multiple profiles on each device.

So my advice is... Look at all the advice from everyone above, decide what your goals are, then test out some different methods in your particular environment, with your particular equipment -- because that's really the only way you will be able to determine what works best for your combination of AP's, devices, and signal environment.

 

[waffles]

Thanks guys!

I have been using different SSIDs and (manually set) channels for each of the bands and APs. It has been working fairly well.
I will simplify a bit by using the 'same SSIDs for each AP' (but different ones for band, plus manually set channels). Let's see how well this works.