Network guys,
When you set up a network with multiple access points, do all the access points simply behave as one large antenna or does the device you're using have to drop the connection from each point before it connects to the next one?
Typically, there are two primary ways to do it.
Method 1:
Both (all) AP's on the same SSID, and set each adjacent AP set to a different channel within the 8 that are available on 802.11 a/b/g WiFi AP's. This lets the same SSID be used regardless where you are within your WiFi network, and if set up correctly with smart controllers, etc., allows live roaming between AP's while still actively using a WiFi device. This is how it is typically done in large corporate networks where you might be "roaming" between access points around the building/campus while connected (WiFi phone, tablet, WiFi medical equip., etc.).
Method 2:
Set each AP up with its own SSID, let them pick whatever channel they prefer, and set your devices up with another WiFi SSID to choose from. If your device can still "see" an AP that is farther away and weaker, it may still hang on to the old connection even though there is a stronger one closer to it. Using method 2, you can either force selection on your iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device when you enter the shop, or wait for it to realize that one of it's available SSIDs is a stronger signal and it will switch by itself. Kinda like when you enter Home Depot or other place you may have added to your known networks list.
I set my second AP in the shop up using method 2, and with the AP acting as DHCP server for the devices that attach to it (same network/mask as house WiFi, with a reserved set of IP addresses that don't overlap those served by the router in the house).
MyiPhone almost always switches to the shop AP soon after I enter, but occasionally I notice it is showing a weak signal when I want to use it for something like streaming music, so I go to settings and select the "shop" WiFi, and it moves over to that. My laptop looks for the best signal among its known WiFi networks right when it starts up, so if I am in the shop, it naturally picks that one. The WiFi on the iPhone would do the same if it were turned off and on, but who does that?
I also like seeing my "Steevo1" and "Steevo2" WiFi networks listed when I "show available WiFi networks" anywhere near my house. I wonder what my neighbors think when they see that? "Why does that crazy old fart have two WiFi networks?"
