access point hardware and setup

[nobozo]

I have an RT-N66 as my main router and would like to add an access point connected to it via ethernet. While using a second N66 would probably be the best, I was wondering about using another member of the same family to save money. Both the N56 and AC56 are at similar price points and are good values. Would either of these be suitable?

Here are a couple of related questions:


Is it recommended to set up main router and access point with the same SSID and channel?

Do handoffs happen automatically?

If I go with the AC56 for an access point, are there issues with the main router not being AC capable?

 

[rototiller]

I would suggest using a different SSID for your AP than your main router. That way you can tell whether you are connecting to your AP or router.

Also, definitely a good idea to use different channels for your AP and router and make sure they don't overlap so, the non overlapping channels are 1, 6, & 11. If your router uses channel 1, your AP can use either channel 6 or 11.

Since your AP and router would have different SSIDs, handoffs wouldn't happen cause each SSID would have a different name/encryption key, etc.
Wherever you are located at the time, whether it is close to the router you could connect to the router if that is the stronger connection or AP, if that is the stronger connection.

No, it doesn't matter if you AP is AC capable and your main router isn't. By adding an AP that is AC capable you are adding AC to your network. That is my situation as well...my main router is just an N router and my AP is N and AC.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Do handoffs happen automatically?

If you use the same SSID on both access points you can control the point at which clients switch from one to the other by enabling Wireless > Professional > Roaming assistant

In network configurations that involve multiple Access Points or wireless repeaters, wireless clients sometimes cannot connect automatically to the best available AP because they are still connected to the main wireless router. Enable this setting so that the client will disconnect from the main wireless router if the signal strength is under a specific threshold and connect to a stronger signal.