Using a common SSID for networks

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rossmcm

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#261420 26-Nov-2019 23:57

I have a 2d fibre connection and run both a 2.4GHz and a 5 GHz network from the FritzBox 7490. Coverage is a bit spotty at one end of the house so I have a second 7490 with a wired connection to the first and running as a fixed IP address client. I thus have 4 wireless networks and have named them all differently so that I can know which one I am connected to (for no particular reason). All have the same key.

Now there is no issue with wandering around the house and transferring between networks as all 4 are remembered by my phone, but we recently acquired a robot vacuum cleaner and it seems that it wants to know only one SSID to connect to.

Obviously, I'm going to try it, but I'm interested to know if there are any hidden pitfalls in running a bunch of networks all with the same SSID and key.

Yogi02

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#2361273 27-Nov-2019 06:29

Im sure you will get a raft of other more informative replies.

I have mine set up with 3 wifi routers using the same "hidden/non-broadcast" SSID with the same password key but you have to have them running off different channels. (Have a broadcast guest network running as well)

You also need to only have the routers assigning DCHP/DNS from just one of the routers - usually the gateway router/modem in my case.

This would mean that they are all running on one network.

This enables a device to move between different wifi points seamlessly.

cyril7

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#2361278 27-Nov-2019 07:03

Hi, there is no real issue using a single SSID but ensure all WAPs have the same setup, ie WPA2/AES (not TKIP) etc but all are on different channels, for 2.4GHz Ch1,6,11 and 5GHz using 40MHz Ch36,44,52

Dont use Hidden SSID's this creates a bit of a network overhead that pulls the overall speed down.

As mentioned when setting up the other "remote" WAPs turn off their DHCP servers and connect them via a LAN port back to the main router, ie only one router in the network.

Cyril

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#2361343 27-Nov-2019 09:06

rossmcm:

Obviously, I'm going to try it, but I'm interested to know if there are any hidden pitfalls in running a bunch of networks all with the same SSID and key.

yep
Some devices will try to stay connected to that devices original AP, no matter what : ie they wont roam properly & wont try & wont connect to the AP with the best signal .

And, some devices will not connect to another AP with the same SSID of the 1st connection, they will ONLY connect to that 1st AP . That ones rather rare though .

rogercruse

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#2361364 27-Nov-2019 09:31

I used to do this - setup additional routers, connected to the primary router by ethernet cable, with their DCHP/DNS function disabled and use them as Switches to extend my wired network. I would also setup each additional router with the same SSID & password to extend my wifi network.

Now, I use Google Wifi pucks alongside the additional routers to extend the wifi. The additional routers are still have their DCHP /DNS function disabled and their wifi capability disabled too.

Additional.

One feature of the Google Wifi that I find very useful is the ability to setup a reserve IP for each device. So, as a new device is added, I allocate a reserve IP address. This means I can better manage it and I beleive it speeds up the re-connection process.

muppet

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#2361377 27-Nov-2019 09:56

I have 5 Unifi Access points around my property, they all use the same SSID regardless of 2.4 or 5Ghz (the devices get to pick themselves, though I have band-steering enabled to try and push devices to 5Ghz)

Works fine. The only time to really use separate SSIDs is if you want to take the roaming decision away from the device, or you want a particular device to only ever connect to a particular AP.

Otherwise, single SSID all the way. As @cyril7 mentioned, you want to make sure they're on different channels.

cyril7

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#2361384 27-Nov-2019 10:14

Just a further note and to recommend muppets comment, you are better off deploying a proper multi AP setup independant of your router if you want best performance, this way a fully extendedSSID is deployed and will get over the issue of some devices not happily roaming between standalone WAPs broadcasting a common SSID.

I also run several UniFi Inwall WAPs at home broadcasting a common SSID with band steering to 5G, system works very well.

Cyril

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richms

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#2361394 27-Nov-2019 10:28

If there is any difference in encryption settings then most devices will refuse to use the other AP since that's a potential spoof AP, it will normally either show twice in the network list or one will just not work.

Also consumer stuff has no minimum signal options, so it will happily let a device sit there blabbing away at 1 megabit air speeds at -80dB of signal wasting spectrum and not kick it off. Unless the device continues to scan for networks while connected then it will be no wiser to having a great signal to swap over to.

Richard rich.ms

rossmcm

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#2361474 27-Nov-2019 12:32

Thanks for all the replies - very helpful. I hadn't given any thought to channel allocation, so those tips are useful also.