G+_Ben Cunliffe (superblit Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 On episode 122, Padre was talking about using different channels when accessing using the same SSID for multiple routers. My experience with multiple routers using the same SSID, when router A and router B are on separate channels devices connected to router A can't see devices on router B; so separate channels didn't work when it came to sharing files. Therefore if you want to share files over the network then use the same channel, if you don't need to share files then don't use the same channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 The only way that happens is if you have NAT turned on all for all the routers. Only one router should have DHCP and NAT. All others should be connected via their LAN ports on the same flat network. Watch 122 again to hear the explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jerry Ham Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ There is one issue that I get having the setup as you describe - it is with Chromecast. We have three of them, and unfortunately need two WAPs to cover the house. (Only one is in router mode; the other is a bridge mode). They are same SSID / different channel. Unfortunately Chromecast works by checking for connection to the same AP. So when your phone / tablet gets connected to one AP and the Chromecast connected to the other - well you can't see the Chromecast. Quite frustrating. After fiddling and fiddling, turning WiFi off and on on the phone, you usually get it to work. It sucks when it shows two Chromecasts - but they are not the one in the same room you are in. Once in awhile you even need to turn off WiFi completely on the phone and use guest mode to get the Chromecast to work. It is a design issue with the way security works on Chromecast - but it is certainly something users can hit with a multiple AP, single SSID, multiple channel setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Cunliffe (superblit Posted December 29, 2014 Author Share Posted December 29, 2014 in my network it is setup i have a router setup as wireless repeater and the main router down stairs. DHCP is off and NAT is as well. Main is a D-link while the secondary is a WRT54g with DD-wrt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Akira Yamanita Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Benjamin Cunliffe Consumer grade and even basic commercial grade APs only have a single radio so having to use the same channel makes sense in your case. As a repeater, it has to communicate on the same channel as the (main) AP. Jerry Ham The problem might be with the way the "bridge" works or is configured. A wireless bridge is not the same thing as a repeater (a.k.a. range extender), but I've seen the term "bridge" in consumer grade equipment to indicate a merged client/bridge/repeater mode. If you can get Ethernet to both APs, both should be in AP mode (on different channels). If the AP functioning as a "bridge" has a repeater/extender mode, try using that instead (on the same channel). AFAIK, the Chromecast does not require you to be on the same AP, considering that you can cast from a desktop on a wired connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I've got a similar setup at my parents house and the Chromecast works fine regardless of which AP you're connected to. Main router is I think something supplied by the ISP if I remember right and the extender/repeater is a WRT54G running DD-WRT and completely wireless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Stede Bonnett Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Jerry Ham Along the lines of what Akira Yamanita said, while you do need to be on a chromecast-accessible network for initial setup (I had to change my phone from it's usual 5g to the 2.4g access point), after that anything on that LAN will see it. Getting any given WiFi router to just be an AP and forget all the routing/DHCP/NAT that it normally does requires a modicum of hoop-jumping for most models. It doesn't help that the "consumer-friendly" terminology some of the interfaces adopt is misleading or that it just doesn't do the thing you want it to at all. If you are adventurous and have compatible hardware that's a good enough reason to try alternate firmware like DD-WRT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Pepe La Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ "Only one router should have DHCP and NAT". Would enabling NAT on multiple routers using separate subnets create conflicts? ex. external router 1.1 and internal router 2.1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Cunliffe (superblit Posted February 3, 2015 Author Share Posted February 3, 2015 Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ? thank you for discussing this in episode 127. My 2 routers are on seperate floors and an Ethernet between the 2 devices is out of the question, so the 2 routers are going to have to be on the same channel correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 They don't have to be on the same channel necessarily, but they'll have to have the same SSID if you want a cleaner hop from one to the other with your devices. I could be wrong, but I think if there is much overlap between the two access points than being on the same channel could cause a bit if degradation of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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