Extender/repeater: best practice for naming SSID

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

I have recently set up a new mikrotik router as a wireless extender/repeater. It works fine

I am just wondering what best practice is for naming the SSID in the repeater? Works with same SSID or with different one, such as “[main SSID name]_ext”

Obvious user advantage with using same SSID is that visitors only need to know one SSID and its access details.

From what I understand, switching between routers while moving around will work according to what device is being used and how its software manages weak wifi signals. If routers have the same SSID name, then the device will distinguish by MAC address.

But generally devices will show only one SSID to the user in lists and I presume the device will generally connect to the stronger of the two signals when the user selects it.

So I guess the only benefit to giving the repeater SSID a different name is if you want to allow a user to choose potentially the weaker of the two devices.

Am I right in my thinking?

Is there anything that can be done on the router side to “encourage” devices to switch to the stronger of the two signals?

2

Your assumption is correct.

Roaming is, besides from very expensive solutions, up to the client. If you want to encourage client, you should optimize power settings. Keep the power as low as possible (to have a decent coverage), if a thresshold is reached the client will automatically search for a better radio.

3

Thanks for the confirmation and advice. I’ll test the power settings you suggest