Wireless roaming problem (WAP4410n)

[johncucumber]

Hello, I have two WAP4410n and I want to use it in roaming mode. All two points configured to use same SSID, psk-key, but used different channels (5 and 9). The problem is that sometime second point is not accessible until I restart it. I connect to the wlan using first point than move to the room with second and there is no roamig. Is this a point problem or bad settings?

[Tom Watts]

Hi llya, I assume you mean to say using as a repeater.

The AP has a couple known issues

CSCts76476—The access point may periodically experience loss of

connectivity when configured in bridge mode. Workaround: Unplug the

power adaptor or PoE cable, and then plug it back in.

• CSCtx62203—In certain environments and traffic model, the WAP4410N

may lockup after some undetermined time. Workaround: Reboot the

device.

-Tom
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[johncucumber]

Hi Tom, saying "roaming" I mean this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_LAN#Roaming

I already deploy roaming wireless networks based on cheap wireless access points and it works good but have problems with lots of wireless clients. So the idea was to change cheap AP to WAP4410n and I have no success.

In bridge mode we repeating signal from base point but the wireless link between this two points is too low. It works worse than roaming model.

[Tom Watts · Accepted solution]

Hi llya,  seamless "roaming" is not really achievable without a wireless LAN controller. Your only option with the WAP4410n is as a repeating function and this device has a known history of dropping connectivity.

-Tom
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[johncucumber]

Tom, can you explain why I can't configure seamless "roaming" without  "wireless LAN controller"? Is there any way to use any software instead of real hardware controller? Thank you.

[johncucumber]

I found this conversation and it's clear

https://supportforums.cisco.com/thread/2018524

One more question. WAP410n already bought is there a way to upgrade firmware (may be non official) to enable seamless roaming? I think that is a software restriction. May be it's not a good idea to ask this here =)

[Tom Watts · Accepted solution]

llya, seamless roaming is not really achievable unless you have a wireless lan controller. You will always have a service interruption or connection impact. Additionally, repeating causes automatic 50% penalty of throughput per repeat. This is not a Cisco limitation, this is a global, vendor-neutral limitation.

I am sure there is a beta firmware, you would have to call the support center to request escalation for beta software.

-Tom
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[johncucumber]

In russian there is a bad translation of "helpful post". It's called "right answer".That's why I didn't click it =) I don't know right it or not =)

Thank you Tom I'll follow you advice.