Extending Wireless coverage of Cisco based network (with non Cisco equipment)

RouterOS Beginner Basics
1

Hello all

I have just purchased a MikroTik Metal SHPN in order to see if it is possible to extend the range of our wireless network.
Some history so you can understand the “why”…I work for a large company that has outsourced its’ IT infrastructure and trying to get anything done is like dealing with a government organisation.
Our network infrastructure is all Cisco based and we are running two Wireless LAN Controllers 4400 series. We have a “small” wireless footprint and I’m hoping to try and extend it.
From discussions I’ve had with a vendor, they suggested the device I purchased may be able to do the job.
What I would like to know is if it is possible to use the SHPN the extend the network (primarily to a building or two which has at times week wireless signal). If it can be used as a repeater or bridge, then how would I go about configuring it? If you need more information please let me know and I will try to answer it.

Thanks in advance.

2

Let me start by saying a 2SHPN isn’t a device intended to provide office wireless devices access on an office, let alone with an omni antenna.

If you want 2x2 N, RB951Ui-2HnD or RB951G-2HnD provide top-class wireless connectivity, ideal for your scenario.

If Dual band AC wireless is preferred, then a wAP ac, Hap ac, or a Hap ac lite are the ones to look at.

You can “transparently” integrate them into your existing cisco network by:

1.- Setup only wireless portion on the routerboards; (SSID, wireless mode, security profile with the same security already used on your company SSIDs) no DHCP server, no firewall, nothing else.
2.- Create a bridge, and add all wlanX/etherX interfaces as its ports.
3.- Connect one ether port from the routerboard to your existing network switch.

This way you’ll had programmed the routerboard as a L2 wired/wireless “switch”; DHCP on your existing network will take care of the rest for connecting wired/wireless clients.

If you want to be able to manage the routerboard by IP, or monitor it by pinging, add a DHCP client on top of that bridge, this way the routerboard will get an IP from your cisco equipment.

“repeater mode” (i.e. using routerboard radio in both station mode to connect to your cisco wireless network, and in AP mode to serve local wireless clients) degrades performance by half as the radio has to play two roles, so you can expect throughput to be cut in half. The best practice is running a cable, or fiber to the building to connect the AP.

If that’s not possible, next best option is using a couple SXTs (5 Lite, or 5 ac lite are ideal candidates) to build a PTP, then connect an AP to the remote SXT (setup the way I described).

If that’s not possible, next thing you can do is using the 2SHPN (much better with a directional antenna) as the wireless client device connecting to your cisco wireless network, then connecting an AP setup the way I described to it.

3

Thankyou pukkita for the information. I shall look into it.
So in the mean time (and so I can say we havent just spent money for nothing), could the 2SHPN be used connected directly to a PC and used to connect to the existing network?

4

Yes, that’s perfectly possible.

The same configuration referenced in my previous post will work, just plug the 2SHpN to that PC instead of a switch.

You can also use QuickSet CPE as a reference.

When I stated not intended for such use I meant it isn’t the optimal hardware suiting the task; it’s a routerboard and thanks to the huge flexibility RouterOS provides can be used for almost any duty.