Network Question - 2 wireless connections

enelson · enelson #1 (**permalink**)

10-08-2011, 08:43 AM

My network setup is as follows
DSL > Airport Extreme (N) > Switch > House | wifi connection1
_________________________|
_________________________|
_________________________|-> Airport Extreme Dome (G) | wifi connection2

My DSL connection connects to my Airport Extreme (N). I then connect a switch to the Airport Extreme (N) using an Ethernet cable. The rest of the house can access either my wifi connection1 that is broadcast from the Airport Extreme (N) or through a wired connection from the switch.

In my bedroom upstairs, I have an wired connection from the switch to an old Airport Extreme Dome (G). I cannot join my existing wireless network since it is an older model and I do not want to use WDS. So what I did was create a second wifi connection (wifi connnection 2).

Things seem to be working fine. If I am downstairs, I connect to wifi connection1 and am getting good speeds. If I am upstairs in the bedroom I connect to wifi connection2 and things go swimmingly.

Here's the question, is there a way for my laptop to automatically connect to the stronger wifi signal? Say I start in the basement on wifi connection1 and then walk upstairs to my bedroom where wifi connection2 is stronger, can I get my computer to auto-connect to the new stronger connection?

I have an older iBook G4, an iPad2 and a Windows 7 HP newer laptop.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks!

Eric

bobtomay · bobtomay #2 (**permalink**)

10-08-2011, 08:50 AM

I use 2 wifi networks in the house also. Have not found a way to get OS X to auto switch between two networks in that way. Easiest way is to have the airport icon on the task bar - only takes 2 clicks to switch.

enelson · enelson #3 (**permalink**)

10-08-2011, 09:47 AM

Thanks! That's what I'm doing now. It'd be spiffy if there were a way to switch to the faster connection.

Appreciate the help.

Eric

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

10-08-2011, 10:29 AM

Only thing is if there were something like that, you'd have yet another background app running full time comparing speeds using up a percentage of your CPU, RAM and bandwidth.

And I haven't looked for a tool to do that in 2-3 years.

enelson #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 08, 2011 Posts: 2	10-08-2011, 08:43 AM My network setup is as follows DSL > Airport Extreme (N) > Switch > House \| wifi connection1 _________________________\| _________________________\| _________________________\|-> Airport Extreme Dome (G) \| wifi connection2 My DSL connection connects to my Airport Extreme (N). I then connect a switch to the Airport Extreme (N) using an Ethernet cable. The rest of the house can access either my wifi connection1 that is broadcast from the Airport Extreme (N) or through a wired connection from the switch. In my bedroom upstairs, I have an wired connection from the switch to an old Airport Extreme Dome (G). I cannot join my existing wireless network since it is an older model and I do not want to use WDS. So what I did was create a second wifi connection (wifi connnection 2). Things seem to be working fine. If I am downstairs, I connect to wifi connection1 and am getting good speeds. If I am upstairs in the bedroom I connect to wifi connection2 and things go swimmingly. Here's the question, is there a way for my laptop to automatically connect to the stronger wifi signal? Say I start in the basement on wifi connection1 and then walk upstairs to my bedroom where wifi connection2 is stronger, can I get my computer to auto-connect to the new stronger connection? I have an older iBook G4, an iPad2 and a Windows 7 HP newer laptop. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks! Eric Last edited by enelson; 10-08-2011 at 08:44 AM. Reason: Corrected picture
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	10-08-2011, 08:50 AM I use 2 wifi networks in the house also. Have not found a way to get OS X to auto switch between two networks in that way. Easiest way is to have the airport icon on the task bar - only takes 2 clicks to switch. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	10-08-2011, 10:29 AM Only thing is if there were something like that, you'd have yet another background app running full time comparing speeds using up a percentage of your CPU, RAM and bandwidth. And I haven't looked for a tool to do that in 2-3 years. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

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