Multi Routers for Wireless Hotspot

switchrider

Hi,
Sorry for all the questions but I'm pretty novice to this...
Just wondering if it is possible to create a large wireless hotspot (with the same SSID) with the routers I have in the diagram.
Is the way I have drawn it the correct way to go about setting them up?
Would it also be possible to have a different SSID for each area if needed?
Thanks for any info.

PogMoThoin

Easy, just disable dhcp on the wgr614's so they become access points and sellotape over the wan port of each (stops them routing), connect them from lan port to a lan port of the dg834g. This leaves the dg834g to do all the routing to the net. No need for differing ssid's, You can give them all identical ssid, encryption and password but You must set them to different channels, that would be 1, 6 and 11 so they don't overlap and interfere with each other. Your laptop should be able to roam from one to the other then

switchrider

That's great - thanks for all the info...
Will users be able to see each other? (I don't want them to be able to)..
Also are there any night courses in Dublin area on basic networking, wireless etc?
Thanks again...

dlofnep

Yes, by default they will be able to. Most router's have client isolation. Check your router's config to see if they allow AP/Client Isolation. As for your original question - you only need one router, and two switches for your layout. What PMT has described will work fine, and turn the last two routers into makeshift switches. I'm assuming you already have the hardware, so no need to change now. Since wifi router's are so cheaper now, it probably doesn't really matter that you bought 3. But it wasn't always that way.

PogMoThoin

dlofnep wrote: »

Yes, by default they will be able to. Most router's have client isolation. Check your router's config to see if they allow AP/Client Isolation. As for your original question - you only need one router, and two switches for your layout. What PMT has described will work fine, and turn the last two routers into makeshift switches. I'm assuming you already have the hardware, so no need to change now. Since wifi router's are so cheaper now, it probably doesn't really matter that you bought 3. But it wasn't always that way.

:rolleyes: One router and two access points

dlofnep

Oops Yes, access points - but also acting as switches

switchrider

Yeah, I have already got the hardware... just wanted to see if I could use what I have without having to buy anything new... Thanks for all the help

fr_ted

Hi switchrider,

Might be slightly off topic but you may be interested.

If you did not have Cat5 to area 2 and area 3 the easiest setup would be a mesh network (plug and play). This might be what you want to extend your network.

http://www.open-mesh.com/store/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_mesh_network

http://robin-mesh.wik.is/Background

Cheers
Ted

switchrider

Thanks Ted, yes that looks interesting - have you used it?
Is that the best / easiest solution to creating a hotspot for a large area?

fr_ted

Hi switchrider,

Easy, that depends... I purchased some ubquiti devices and hacked the firmware so as to work in a mesh configuration.

The other alternative is buy these from open-mesh.com and plug them in.
https://www.open-mesh.com/store/categories.php?category=Compatible-Solutions

What is a large area?
http://dashboard.open-mesh.com/overview.php?id=roadrunner

Have you a plan of your area, walls, trees,distances etc?
what is your network for business or home use?

Cheers
Ted

switchrider

Wow, that is one big area!
It's for business...originally I was thinking of covering just one building but on seeing that map, I think we could go for the whole site (about 1 acre - with 2 buildings on it).
Will look a bit more into it - when I get my head around it! :eek: