Indoor Wi-Fi Roaming with OpenWRT

Post by ssl-3 » Thu, May 28, 2026, 6:21 PM UTC

esseph wrote: post #45

ssl-3 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's been my experience as well. My workaround for part of that is using many SSIDs. A. The SSID that covers both bands, in all areas B. Two more SSIDs, one for each band -- again, used in all areas C. Another SSID just for the AP in the garage (which also has A and B SSIDs) It has some advantages: I like being able to set a portable device to SSID A. These things usually figure it out well-enough while moving arou…

This also impacts maximum throughout / performance. You want to try at limit to 4 BSSIDs per AP, tops.

Post by rubenbe » Thu, May 28, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC

Post by downrightmike » Thu, May 28, 2026, 6:35 PM UTC

tra3 wrote: post #40

Question for the wifi experts in this thread... What's a good off the shelf multipoint wifi system these days? I have Amazon's Eero right now and it's ok. I'd love to go back to my linksys wrt54 roots but that's not in the cards currently..

Post by neogodless » Thu, May 28, 2026, 6:50 PM UTC

toast0 wrote: post #12

ghrl wrote: post #5

I don't quite understand the benefit of the setup. If there are legacy IoT devices that need unique named 2.4G network, just broadcast another SSID for them. So each router broadcasts main 5G (common name, fast roam etc), main 2.4G (same as above) and legacy IoT 2.4G (with a different name for each AP, and possibly worse encryption and maybe even TKIP). That wouldn't hold back the network for legacy devices.

I run a single ssid dual band network ... what tends to happen is 5Ghz is effectively ignored. 2.4Ghz has better coverage, so everything wants to live there. At least wifi 6 brought improved encoding to 2.4Ghz. I haven't had luck with the roaming extensions; when I run them, some of my devices won't connect or won't stay connected and it's a pain to monitor. I guess I could run a different SSID with roaming enhanceme…

Post by robocat » Thu, May 28, 2026, 7:01 PM UTC

ssl-3 wrote: post #60

esseph wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That works for fixed devices like a TV, but also has the effect of shrinking the effective coverage area of the wireless network as a whole. Which is normally a good thing to push the clients to roam to a better AP, OR you walked out of the building and want you phone to disconnect. But yes, does impact overall coverage area size.

That only works if there's a better AP to roam to. It's often very easy to add more APs indoors; but hanging them outside is a whole different animal. Meanwhile: As a practical matter, shrinking coverage means "Hey, honey! I fixed the TV!" gets met with a response like "Oh, so that's why I can't listen to Audible on the veranda anymore!" :)