IPAD2 roaming between access points

[goombawaho]

I've got a customer that has an IPAD2. I set him up with a home router and a 2nd router as an access point (via ethernet from router to access point).

Setup: Same SSID, same security, different channels 6, 11
Neighbor is on 1, so staying away from that channel.

It works fine, but the IPAD seems to not want to switch between access points unless signal is near zero. I don't believe there are any settings similar to "roaming aggressiveness" on the IPAD.

So, what to do??

1. Change both wireless devices to same channel??
2. Connect IPAD to each access point with the other turned OFF to make sure the IPAD knows that it's okay to connect to each.

I'm stumped otherwise. Hints anyone?

 

[MikeHalloran]

If the two routers had different SSIDs, wouldn't the iPad still roam okay? Maybe better? ... something to try.

 

[goombawaho]

Yeah, that's one possibility already in my list, but it still may hang onto to the first one connected. I have a list of things to try when I get started on this again (soon).

 

[goombawaho]

Trying a setting of "Beacon Interval = 50" on the 2nd access point to see if that keeps the iPad2's wifi connection from going to sleep. Read about that somewhere.

Unfortunately, the other/main router (Netgear WNDR3700) doesn't seem to have a setting for that.

I moved around and had good connection at various "trouble" spots. But while moving between, I did get some loss of connection. Maybe it was switching between access points.

I determined this by doing a continuous ping on the ipad's ip address from my laptop and walking with ipad sitting on my laptop. Miracle I didn't drop either/both.

Waiting for customer feedback at this point.

 

[jdeisenm]

The netgear access point may have a "radio power" setting you can change. you might me able to turn down the power on one ap so the "roaming" occurs more predictably.

 

[goombawaho]

No such setting on the Netgear. Not going to try anything like DD-WRT either even if was compatible with the router. No problems that I've heard so far.

Next step would be something like an Engenius Access Point.