I have two ap’s setup with some over lap in coverage on 900 frequencies at opposite ends of the spectrum. I’ve come to realize that a good number of radios could be served by either ap.
Is there a way to setup that if the client can’t connect to ap1 it would search down a list for a second configuration until it connects to either of the aps?
I wasn’t sure if the connect list in the client might do something like this. (My understanding is I could use the connect list to ‘lock in’ one ap. why not give it a choice?)
My only reasoning is I have an area that is predominantly seasonal lake front homes that leave in sept. If I can have units fail over I can power down an ap in the off season and save power will year round people ‘fail over’ while there is no foliage etc. The facility is solar powered and turning down a radio in the shorter days might make sense and take some strain off the batteries.
That sounds great. I’ll work up a strategy for our network for it.
What about frequency? Each ap is on a different frequency so the clients are also setup to a specific frequency. Will a client set for ap2 freq 915 and ssid ‘primary’ for example be able to swap to ap1 freq 906 ssid ‘primary’. I’m missing how the client will accomodate the frequency change.
So i’ll need to specify a frequency initially to create a link but after that it can adapt to link to the ap with the strongest power provided the ssid and access lists are setup properly.
If I wanted to lock a radio to a specific ap I assume I could then remove it from the other access list?
Are you talking about clients as in wireless chipsets in laptops, or are you talking about clients as in point to multipoint wireless links serving CPEs?
On the former frequency doesn’t matter. On the latter I’m not sure (though if it’s not a true point to multipoint link but just a CPE behaving like an end user wireless client would, frequency shouldn’t matter).
I am curious about this, what would happen if the CPE was associated with AP 1 and this developed a problem where the levels received at some CPE’s were reduced from say for example -62 to -84 just enough to hold association but did not drop, would the CPE still stay with AP 1 rather than moving to AP 2 running at higher power,
Also on bootup while the CPE scan looking for SSID does it scan from low to high frequencies ( ie starting at 5200 to 58..)
and what if the AP 1 (@-84) was the first target SSID the CPE encountered or will it continue on the scan for a stronger signal ?
i disagree. if both macs are on the Acl the radio’s going to bounce between the two. especially if there as close as the OP stated. plus it makes for more work when trying to find what ap the radio is connected to. especially if its flapping in and out of both ap’s.
also if its set up this way, the EU will have many registrations while its bouncing. the signals would have to be super steady with no big fluctuation or that radio is going bounce around looking for the better signal.
Wrong! Nothing will bounce, client will not disconnect until the signal is gone. Once connected, it will be attached to the same AP, even if the signal drops below the other level. Once you are disconnected, then it will reconnect to the stronger AP.
Of course, this is how it should be. And this is how RouterOS clients work.
In rare cases, depending on some driver and Windows peculiarities, the client could reconnect to the other AP sooner, if the software is designed to do so. Now this is beyond our control what the windows laptop does.
That answers my first question about established connection and signal level
Which leads me to my second question i asked about the frequency scan
Also on bootup while the CPE scan looking for SSID does it scan from low to high frequencies ( ie starting at 5200 to 58..) and what if the AP 1 (@-84) was the first target SSID the CPE encountered or will it continue on the scan for a stronger signal ?
Can i take your answer that the CPE will scan the entire band for stronger AP rather than stopping at first AP it finds on the scan
...Once you are disconnected, then it will reconnect to the stronger AP.
