Wireless Zero Configuration

[GIDave]

I have a home network with 3 wireless access points - the
2 PCs running Windows 98 / ME can be configured to connect
with only one access point by specifying a particular
SSID.
However, my 2 laptops running Windows XP (Home and
Pro) keep switching between the 3 WAPs at random (usually
finishing up with the weakest signal strength WAP),
despite the preference listing order.
Unchecking the "Use Windows to configure my wireless
network settings" box does not seem to produce any benefit.
Is there any way to 'lock' a wireless LAN card to a
specific WAP under Windows XP - I have tried just about
every option in Wireless Network Configuration, to no
avail.
Does anyone have any other suggestions or is this really
another (dubious) benefit of the Microsoft's desire to
automate everything, including a headlong rush to disaster?
Thanks
DA

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

I don't know how these 3 access points are connected, but if you can
hard wire them to the router which is providing IP addresses via DHCP
to the computer, and if they support roaming (hopefully) you can give
them all the *same* SSID and WEp key. just run them on 3 different
channels. use 1 - 6 - 11 if possible.

 

[GIDave]

Barb,
Thank you.
The 3 access points are hard-wired and I had them on
different channels (1, 6 & 11) with the same WEP key. I
have now given them the same SSID and, after re-entering
the WEP keys several times from each of the 2 laptops
(presumably for each access point), it would appear that
the wireless LAN cards are roaming successfully.
I think that I had to uncheck the "enable IEEE 802.1x
authentication for this network" box for this to work.
Does this sound plausible? Or should I check it again
(preumably for each WAP) as each laptop makes contact
again with the individual WAPs (the difficulty being that
I don't know which WAP it using since they now all have
the same SSID!).
Anyway - thanks again.
David

P.S. Should I keep my ears / eyes open for a revamped
WZCSVC that will allow more flexibility in configuration?

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

yes, you would need to uncheck the 802.1x box. sounds like you are
roaming successfully. as for a revamped WZC, it's hard to say what the
future holds, but MS surely wants to make things easier, so I would
not be surprised ;-)