Expanding wireless network

[dj4uk]

We have a small wireless extension to our wired network using Linksys 802.11g devices. We are now thinking about expanding the number of computers with wireless access.

At present we have one access point but as there will be 19 machines within one area I don't think this will be enough so I considering adding another access point at the other end of the area. The reason I am considering this additional access point is to ensure the bandwidth available for each machine is as high as possible.

My questions are these:
Does what I'm suggesting make sense?
Do I set up both access points with the same SSID and channel?
If they both have the same SSID will a machine "choose" the access point with the strongest signal or will I have to manually choose the closest?

Any other suggestions welcome.

Cheers

DJ

[mbossman2]

yes it does.

the SSID's should be the same across the enterprise (or at least the same on the campus). this way no one has to worry about changing SSID's when they move for place to place within the company.

Yes, the clients will choose which AP to use as long as the client software supports that (most do) and does not inexorably associate a client with 1 access point.
You will find a funny thing happen tho and that is a few clients will "prefer" 1 access point over another regardless of the AP's status (can never figure out why).

[dj4uk]

Excellent thanks for you reply.

So adding an extra access point in one area should increase available bandwidth two fold.

Thanks again.

DJ

[bigpuma]

Originally posted by dj4uk So adding an extra access point in one area should increase available bandwidth two fold. DJ

Adding an AP doesn't affect bandwidth it only increases coverage area. Each computer would select 1 AP to use at a time and switch to the one with the strongest signal.

[dj4uk]

What I really meant was if I have two access points in one area rather than just one then assuming that the machines within this area are split equally between each access point then the available bandwidth will not be used by as many machines - hence more bandwidth available for each machine.

DJ

[glc]

It would depend on exactly how the access points are connected back to your switch. You have no more bandwidth than the slowest shared link in your network.