I am new to Mikrotik and I am trying to get a mesh network setup. This is the equipment I have
(1) RB433/R52hn radio x 1 (should I be using 2 radio cards or is one good enough) - this would be the mesh portal
This is setup in ap-bridge mode
DHCP server is setup on wlan1
Eth1 port is internet connection
hotspot is enabled on wlan1 also
(2) RB411AH/R52hn radio x 1
wlan - ap-bridge
DHCP client on wlan1
There is no etherent connection for this device.
As simple as I can make this. I would like (1) to be the mesh portal for all ap's. (2) would connect to (1) and clients that connect to (2) would receive DHCP address and connect to hotspot portal that is setup on (1). What is the best way to setup a mesh? Should I use WDS or HWMP? Thanks for any help.
-
-
walkbyfaith
Frequent Visitor
- Posts: 80
- Joined:
Re: Mesh setup
This is an update.
I was able to get a mesh setup.
(1) RB433 is the mesh portal
(2) RB411ah is a station connecting to the mesh portal
I can ping both ways between (1) and (2) and In the Mesh FDB I can see the RB411ah is connected.
(2) is receiving a DHCP ip address from (1) and I can ping to websites on (2) wlan1 port. The routes on (2) are good. So is there anything else that I need to do on (2) to be sure that when clients connect to the mesh, they are indeed connecting to (2) if it is closer to them and not (1). On (2) do I need to go into Mesh to connect it or no? Thanks again for any help you can provide. Should I setup 802.11n on the radio card on (2)? Thanks
I was able to get a mesh setup.
(1) RB433 is the mesh portal
(2) RB411ah is a station connecting to the mesh portal
I can ping both ways between (1) and (2) and In the Mesh FDB I can see the RB411ah is connected.
(2) is receiving a DHCP ip address from (1) and I can ping to websites on (2) wlan1 port. The routes on (2) are good. So is there anything else that I need to do on (2) to be sure that when clients connect to the mesh, they are indeed connecting to (2) if it is closer to them and not (1). On (2) do I need to go into Mesh to connect it or no? Thanks again for any help you can provide. Should I setup 802.11n on the radio card on (2)? Thanks
-
-
walkbyfaith
Frequent Visitor
- Posts: 80
- Joined:
Re: Mesh setup
Update.
I was able to get this to work. After reading more about Mesh, I discovered that I need to setup WDS. I did this on both and set the wlan1 interface on both nodes to ap-bridge and it worked. I placed the RB411 in a room about 70ft where the signal was always poor trying to connect to the RB433 and after powering up the RB411 the signal was fantastic. Throughput was great. I did get the hotspot portal also.
Just a couple questions.
1) Is it ok to use just one R52HN radio card with mesh or should I use to on the mesh portal and connecting ap's.
2) When I performed a wifi test I noticed there are 2 SSID's that are the same. One if for the RB433 and the other for the RB411. But when I go to connect to the wifi I only every see one SSID, is there a way to make it that only every one shows up or doesn't this matter? Thanks again.
I was able to get this to work. After reading more about Mesh, I discovered that I need to setup WDS. I did this on both and set the wlan1 interface on both nodes to ap-bridge and it worked. I placed the RB411 in a room about 70ft where the signal was always poor trying to connect to the RB433 and after powering up the RB411 the signal was fantastic. Throughput was great. I did get the hotspot portal also.
Just a couple questions.
1) Is it ok to use just one R52HN radio card with mesh or should I use to on the mesh portal and connecting ap's.
2) When I performed a wifi test I noticed there are 2 SSID's that are the same. One if for the RB433 and the other for the RB411. But when I go to connect to the wifi I only every see one SSID, is there a way to make it that only every one shows up or doesn't this matter? Thanks again.
Re: Mesh setup
Hi.
With two SSIDS the same your client device will only show one as it has the same name. Use two diff SSID, like WIFI-North and WIFI-South.
I've got 5 in a mesh all with the same SSID and am hoping to get roaming over the mesh. Although, we're having some trouble with this so are looking at the naming convention as per above...
cheers
With two SSIDS the same your client device will only show one as it has the same name. Use two diff SSID, like WIFI-North and WIFI-South.
I've got 5 in a mesh all with the same SSID and am hoping to get roaming over the mesh. Although, we're having some trouble with this so are looking at the naming convention as per above...
cheers