How to setup a WLAN and configure devices as repeaters to expand the wifi coverage across building

Mik3ael

Hi,

We would like to set up a local Wireless LAN, and expand across our building the Wi-Fi coverage with devices acting as repeaters.

Please find below our requirements:

The building has 3 floors (ground, 1st and 2nd).

- On ground floor, we have installed one ZyXEL with the hostname "Slave 01" with a local static IP: 192.168.1.2. DHCP was disabled. Bridge mode was chosen under ADSL and VDSL settings. The router "Slave 01" is hardwired to the "Main Router" located on 1st floor in a network rack.

- On 1st floor, we have installed a ZyXEL in a network rack and which is connected to a DSL line. "Main Router" is the hostname. DHCP is enabled. PPPoE credentials have been added under ADSL and VDSL sections. Under Home Networking, the beginning and ending IP addresses are: 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.1.254.

- On 2nd floor, we have installed another ZyXEL with the hostname "Slave 02" with a local static IP: 192.168.1.3. DHCB disabled. Bridge mode was chosen under ADSL and VDSL settings. The router "Slave 02" is also hardwired to the "Main Router" located on 1st floor.

All the 3 devices will be broadcasting the same SSID "Building ABC" and the WI-FI password would be identical on the 3 devices with the same security mode (WPA2-PSK) applied on the 3 devices.

Due to the structure of the building (brick walls), we want to hardwire our "Slave 01" (ground floor) and "Slave 02" (3rd floor) devices to the "Main router" (1st floor)

If the users change the floors we want them to be connected to the nearest wireless routers which offer the best Wi-Fi reception.

All the 3 ZyXEL routers are the same model: VMG8924-B10A and are using the same version of firmware 1.00 (AAKL.10)C0_20151008.

Would you please be able to help us on how to configure the WLAN setting correctly as per our requirements and expand the wireless range across our building.

Thank you.
Mickael

Alfonso

Hi @Mik3ael

welcome to the forum.

Let me review a few concepts:

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a system that enables the wireless interconnection of access points in a network. It allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired backbone to link them.

A repeater bridge mode tries to provide the same basic capability as WDS without requiring any special support from the remote AP. Essentially, it pretends to be a wireless client of the existing AP for every device connected to it.

The chosen bridge mode under ADSL/VSDL sections should not affect the wifi capabilities. So it can be removed.

In your scenario, all APs are broadcasting the same BSSID, but they are "isolated", they do not know the other APs, and they are not configured as a WDS. So, the decision to share the same BSSID or have different BSSIDs does not look relevant (at least from my point of view).
The client will not be able to roam from one AP to another, the client will disconnect from on AP and reconnect (reauthenticate, dhcp request ...) into another one. In most of the cases, it will take a few seconds (2-5 seconds). But it works.

You need to decide if you want to configure a WDS, 3 APS sharing the same BSSID, 3 APs not sharing the same BSSID ...
The client will always connect to the "best" wifi it sees, the difference could be the spent time to do the handover from one AP to another (In a WDS should be very fast, without WDS it could take a few seconds).

But I am sure that other users can help you better than me, sharing their wifi experience.

You network device link documentation.

Best regards

Mik3ael

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

Under WDS section, all in my scenario, can you please advice which AP mode to choose between Access Point and Wireless Bridge for my ZyXEL routers, and also which option to choose for Bridge Restrict.

We want to broadcast the same SSDI with the same password on all the 4 devices.

The main ZyXEL router (acting as a modem with ADSL line to BT) is located on the first floor in a hub room. Which settings to apply here please under the WDS section?

All the other 3 ones on ground, 1st, and 2nd floors in office areas. Which settings to apply here please under the WDS section?

Thank you.

Regards,

Mickael

Alfonso

Hi @Mik3ael

The main router should be configured as Access Point. 
Otdevicesives should be configured as Wireless Bridge.

I would proceed as follow:

First I would get a backup configuration of all devices.
Then I would get wifi MAC address of all devices (It is needed to configure WDS manually).
Then I would configure the main router as an Access Point.
After that, I would configure a second device (for example ground floor device) as Wireless Bridge.
Once WDS is running, I would test. If it works, I would continue with the next devices.

Enjoy 

SEJ

Hi Mik3ael

If you would like to use WDS, it is better you can make sure the WIFI signal is stable across floors.
According to your description in your 1st post, slave 01 and slave 02 are installed on ground and 2nd floor and the Main Router is on the 1st floor.
Normally, the WIFI signal will much weaker if it needs to across floors and brick walls.
Therefore, your first plan, which use hardwired to connect slave 01 and slave 02 to the Main Router, has better stability and full WIFI bandwidth (WDS might half the WIFI bandwidth).
Your setting in your 1st post is mainly fine, just need to make sure you connect slave 01 and 02's Ethernet WAN port to Main Router's LAN port, and set slave 01 and 02 to use Ethernet WAN(not ADSL or VDSL) with bridge mode.
The drawback is the WIFI client will have a few seconds disconnection while moving to different floor, as Alfonso's reply.
Back to WDS, you can try to test first what the WIFI signal strength across floors, then decide if you would like to use WDS or not.

Alfonso

Hi @Mik3ael

welcome to the forum.

Let me review a few concepts:

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a system that enables the wireless interconnection of access points in a network. It allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the need for a wired backbone to link them.

A repeater bridge mode tries to provide the same basic capability as WDS without requiring any special support from the remote AP. Essentially, it pretends to be a wireless client of the existing AP for every device connected to it.

The chosen bridge mode under ADSL/VSDL sections should not affect the wifi capabilities. So it can be removed.

In your scenario, all APs are broadcasting the same BSSID, but they are "isolated", they do not know the other APs, and they are not configured as a WDS. So, the decision to share the same BSSID or have different BSSIDs does not look relevant (at least from my point of view).
The client will not be able to roam from one AP to another, the client will disconnect from on AP and reconnect (reauthenticate, dhcp request ...) into another one. In most of the cases, it will take a few seconds (2-5 seconds). But it works.

You need to decide if you want to configure a WDS, 3 APS sharing the same BSSID, 3 APs not sharing the same BSSID ...
The client will always connect to the "best" wifi it sees, the difference could be the spent time to do the handover from one AP to another (In a WDS should be very fast, without WDS it could take a few seconds).

But I am sure that other users can help you better than me, sharing their wifi experience.

You network device link documentation.

Best regards

Mik3ael

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

Under WDS section, all in my scenario, can you please advice which AP mode to choose between Access Point and Wireless Bridge for my ZyXEL routers, and also which option to choose for Bridge Restrict.

We want to broadcast the same SSDI with the same password on all the 4 devices.

The main ZyXEL router (acting as a modem with ADSL line to BT) is located on the first floor in a hub room. Which settings to apply here please under the WDS section?

All the other 3 ones on ground, 1st, and 2nd floors in office areas. Which settings to apply here please under the WDS section?

Thank you.

Regards,

Mickael

Alfonso

Hi @Mik3ael

The main router should be configured as Access Point. 
Otdevicesives should be configured as Wireless Bridge.

I would proceed as follow:

First I would get a backup configuration of all devices.
Then I would get wifi MAC address of all devices (It is needed to configure WDS manually).
Then I would configure the main router as an Access Point.
After that, I would configure a second device (for example ground floor device) as Wireless Bridge.
Once WDS is running, I would test. If it works, I would continue with the next devices.

Enjoy 

SEJ

Hi Mik3ael

If you would like to use WDS, it is better you can make sure the WIFI signal is stable across floors.
According to your description in your 1st post, slave 01 and slave 02 are installed on ground and 2nd floor and the Main Router is on the 1st floor.
Normally, the WIFI signal will much weaker if it needs to across floors and brick walls.
Therefore, your first plan, which use hardwired to connect slave 01 and slave 02 to the Main Router, has better stability and full WIFI bandwidth (WDS might half the WIFI bandwidth).
Your setting in your 1st post is mainly fine, just need to make sure you connect slave 01 and 02's Ethernet WAN port to Main Router's LAN port, and set slave 01 and 02 to use Ethernet WAN(not ADSL or VDSL) with bridge mode.
The drawback is the WIFI client will have a few seconds disconnection while moving to different floor, as Alfonso's reply.
Back to WDS, you can try to test first what the WIFI signal strength across floors, then decide if you would like to use WDS or not.

Alfonso

I agree on @Jameslacomments.

Technically both scenarios are feasible.
The final decision to configure WDS or not could be taken after some tests on your environment.

Regards