I have a main house and a detached cottage. They are about 75 feet about. In my original wireless setup, I was using DSL with a CISCO a/b/g router. I could use any of my wireless devices within the main house and had really no dead spots. If I walked into my back yard, I would start to lose signal and eventually drop. If I went into the cottage, sometimes, I 'might' be able to connect but not for very long.
I switched over to Cable in November 2011. Since I was using Cable for TV/Phone and Internet, they set up a separate Netgear Modem/Router in both locations. So, I have two separate networks, one running at 38meg and the other at 18meg. Two separate SSIDs. So, now, there is no problem using a wireless device in either location. I still run into the problem when I go outside with one of my computers or IPAD. From the house (SSID=S1), starts fine, connects, but within a few minutes the wireless starts to look for the cottage (SSID=S2), connects but eventually drops.
So, I purchased the SR150 with hopes to use any wireless device in my yard. I am trying to determine the best location for the SR150. My Netgear is in my basement. First I but the SR150 in the garage, found all the wireless SSIDs, but no luck connecting. I know have the SR150 in my basement about 50 feet from the Netgear router. I am picking up about 15 different SSIDs in the neighborhood, but when I go outside, I still have the S1 to S2 roam and eventually drop.
SSID S1 = Channel 11, RSSI = 48-52 Max Rate = 300
SSID S2 = Channel 3 RSSI = 75-80 Max Rate = 300
SR150 Repeat = Channel 11, RSSI = 70-76 Max Rate = 72 (associated with SSID S1)
So my question, is , IS There a optimum location to place the SR150? It seems like I should be able to connect without any problems out in my yard with any wireless device (using "N" network) Am I confusing these wireless devices by having the two SSIDs so close? I had them on the same channel but separated them recently. All of my networks are OPEN.
Use the same ssid in both routers. Your device will seamlessly switch to the best signal.
The routers should use different channels.
Finally, you should set a password rather than running an open network.
I will give that a try. With both SSIDs the same, but on different channels, wont the wireless device
ask or look for the change?
Regarding Open vs Password, I am not sure if this is the best post to discuss this. I spent years (35) with IBM, and about 15 of them with workstation support and networking. We ran many benchmarks, and it always came out that those networks with no password and were OPEN had better overall performance.
Ok, but then you get worried about security. Access to the someone's wireless internet services is not the same as access to ones lan domain or workgroup. As long as you have the proper access control of your computers/data, open access to your router should not cause a problem. I understand that this may raise an eyebrow or two...
I am not saying this is formal black and white statements, it is really my opinion based on a number of different benchmarks.
Encryption takes place on the fast side of your network and really has no effect on the geometrically slower internet side.
Leaving an open door to your network invites probing of your private side security. Why take the risk?
Leaving open access to your internet connection allows others to use it for their own purposes while appearing to be you.
Proving to authorities that it wasn't you who <fill in nefarious activity> or downloaded proscribed files can at best be inconvenient or (shudder) impossible.
I have changed my two Networks to the same SSID, different channels. Next question, for the AMPED SR150, I just also renamed that SSID to the same as my other networks. Now, inSSIDer shows three SSID's, same names
SSID 1 = RSSI 81 AMPED SR150
SSID 2 = RSSI 47 Main House
SSID 3 = RSSI 78 Cottage
Do you see any problem renaming the SR150 to my other SSIDs? I took my IPAD out in the yard and for the first time, I
was able to connect and stay connected in a good part of my backyard.
I took out my old Thinkpad T41 (a,b,g) and had pretty good luck staying connected. My Thinkpad T400S (a,b,g,n) stayed connected as my IPAD did.
So for now, things look good, I will continue to monitor the environment.
Best location for Amped SR150
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