Multiple APs with one SSID?

This one has me tearing my hair out guys... and I'm too young to go bald.

My network at home consists of the following (APs in bold as they should be the only thing that matters to this question... but here's the whole list just in case):

• A Smoothwall v3.0 linux-based router/firewall running on an ITX system
  ...which is connected to...
  • A Netgear FS108 8 port 10/100 switch
    ...which is connected to...
    • 2 desktop PCs used by the rest of my family
    • A Netgear WG302 802.11g AP
      ...which is connected to...
      • All of the laptops in the house
    • A Netgear GS108 8 port 10/100/1000 switch
      ...which is connected to...
      • My desktops- several PCs and a G4
      • An AirLink 101 AP431w 802.11g AP
        ...which is connected to...
        • My MBP and my Inspiron XPS

Now. I'd like to set the two APs to use the same SSID so that I can walk from the family room to my bedroom without having to switch networks. Thing is, the MBP refuses to switch APs to the one with the strongest signal strength, as far as I can tell. I tried setting them to the same channel, that had no effect... I'm not really sure if what I want to do is even possible without setting one of them up as a repeater for the other or something (and I'd rather not go there, I've never been happy with repeaters). Any ideas?

Looks like a WDS or repeater is how it works.

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