Two access points, one network and roaming

[9lives]

I need two APs to get adequate signal in my entire house. I am using Buffalo routers with Tomato and I also have a Fonera 2200 running DD-WRT I can use.

At the moment both APs are using the same SSID but on different channels. The problem is my devices don't switch from one to the other without me disconnecting and reconnecting them to the network. I usually just turn wifi off and then back on again to do that. I have an IBM Thinkpad with Intel 2915 ABG wifi card and a HTC Hero running Android with an unknown B/G wifi radio.

The HTC Hero in particular has very few options for the wifi. Is there any way I can make my devices switch to the strongest signal automatically?

 

[thiggins]

Is there any way I can make my devices switch to the strongest signal automatically?

Unless your clients have a roaming adjustment you can tweak in their properties, you can't.

 

[9lives]

This suggests that it should be possible if certain conditions are met:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18784&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So you need to use WPA/WPA2 with a pre-shared key. Different channels but the same SSID.

As you say, it appears that the client must support it, which is a requirement for being 802.11g and WPA2 compliant. More testing is required I think.

Either that or I get a bigger antenna.

 

[thiggins]

Smooth roaming support isn't a requirement in the 802.11g spec. It's optional and not many clients implement it.