Streamlining a mixed network

[walchan99]

Just finished running an ethernet cable to a wireless-dead zone in the house, so ready to clean up my network. I've been playing around with the home wi-fi network for years, but am decidedly weak on networking knowledge, so would appreciate any pointers.

Netgear modem/router on the ground floor (street level), broadcasting an 802.11n 2.4GHz network. Ethernet connection to the basement, where a Time Capsule in bridge mode broadcasts a separate 802.11n 2.4GHz network as well as a 5GHz network. The dead zone (on the ground floor aka street level) now has my old Airport Extreme (flying saucer) in bridge mode, broadcasting an 802.11g network. All networks are secured with WPA2.

I'm planning to shut off the 5GHz network, since I haven't seen much benefit. The 'dead-zone' 802.11g network should have a unique name so it can be joined or avoided as required. The remaining question is: should I rename the Time Capsule 2.4GHz network to match the Netgear 2.4GHz network? I know I can just go ahead and try it out, but I'm just tired from the cabling and don't want to deal with any networking voodoo.

Thanks, wise folk.

[walchan99]

Okay, went ahead, changed the remaining SSID to bring it in line with the rest. Everything worked. Invoked Google and realised that this is a standard implementation of a roaming network.

It is a bit disconcerting to stay connected to a weaker signal when a stronger one is available, but realise that there is no feasible alternative for now. As for the future, who knows...?

Cheers and gratitude.

[anthlover]

Do not think your getting the most from your setup...

In order for folk to help we need to know all equipment. In addition the size/area of the home parts (distance) to be covered by wireless, construction of walls and floors. etc. What is the make and model of the ISP device (cable modem) is that the Netgear? Are there areas and equipment that could be served by Ethernet?

A wireless Time capsule is basically also an Airport Extreme N (Simultaneous Dual Band, with a hard drive).

Ethernet is always good where it can be used. Wifi Signal travels less Well Up and Down then side to side. Sometimes that means it is better to have the main router Airport Extreme in the middle, Say on ground floor and that might cover most of the place.

Depending on what needs to be served in the basement one computer or many you could just use ethernet in the basement (wired/wireless?).

Most wireless routers are also switches and the switch can be used and the wireless turned off if appropriate, since you have extra.

If your going to use multiple routers it would be good to try to use all modern N 2.4/5ghz. You might want to get another.

Apple's routers usually do a good job of choosing what is best 2.4/5ghz wise
Note 2.4ghz is slower but better able to penetrate walls, on the flip side 2.4ghz is much more susceptible to interference form other routers and cordless phones, microwaves, alarm systems, etc

You probably want to retire the older equipment, at least from wireless duty.

[agentx]

Completely do not bother with "g" equipment it will slow everything down.
Go all 'n' if all your devices are modern and always try to Ethernet uplink Access points. Mesh networks/WDS is all well and good but unless hardware is up to scratch then forget a trouble free experience. My motto is wire devices whenever you can (gigabit ethernet) or if not practical look into PowerLine adapters.

The general load on network is only going to increase in the future so good planning and the right kit now will help give a long life to your network.
I have also installed medium scale Wi-Fi systems ~up 20 in a mesh etc. But that was using high quality expensive gear.

I advise
Use the 5GHZ spectrum for same room application only ( Airplay, AppleTV Movies streaming, audio streaming etc). Some people like to split it as separate network or let devices decide or have hardware that steers devices for you....there are pros and cons to all options.

Use the 2.4GHZ for Coverage and general usage. I advise to just do it right once and stop anymore faffing about ;-) I cannot tell you how much hardware i have been through not only at home but with clients that were unwilling to spend the ££ when advised.

Suffice to say i went a little overboard at home (but it is my trade ;-).
£240 Semi-Pro Draytek 2850n Router/Firewall and 2 x £400 enterprise grade CONCURRENT dual band WIFI access points. We can have lots going on on network and it does not break a sweat. But i would advise spending around the £700 mark for a 3 floor house.

[walchan99]

anthlover, agentx, thank you so much for your painstaking responses. My profound apologies for not responding earlier.

agentx, am using the g network only for one dead corner of the house. It's fed by ethernet, and broadcasts a distinct wireless network. That should isolate it from the main networks. The other devices are all 'n' and are fed by ethernet from the modem/router. The solitary exception is an Airport Express, which serves as a wireless repeater when required, presumably picking up the best signal when turned on. I had deactivated the 5GHz network, but see your point about same room application (the access point, a Time Capsule is located in the centre of the basement, which has hardly any walls).

I am out of work and cannot spend anything for now. So making do and tinkering only with configuration.

Anthlover, thank you for the criticism. The house is brick and concrete, so very little passes through floors. The maximum distance would be the corners, rarely over 50 feet. There are brick walls, but most rooms are separated from the closest access point by only one. Have attached a network diagram (done in my bumbling amateur manner) so you can get an idea. As you can see, there is lots of ethernet, and a total of 4 wireless access points — the Netgear DGN2200v3 modem/router, the Time Capsule, the on-demand Airport Express (all these are 'n' spec) and the old Airport Extreme ('g' spec and servicing a dedicated room). There is an old Airport Express, but the antenna is broken, so it serves as a dedicated music server and doesn't need to be retired.

The only problem I'm facing currently with my roaming network is that when changing locations, wireless clients often hang on to a signal long after it has become almost unusably weak, necessitating a manual switch to the stronger network. Of course, I haven't audited the signal quality, which I suppose I could do with iStumbler...