Bug with multiple routers

[Blablazzz]

Hello,
i found bug that is related with multiple routers using same SSID. In my house i have 3 routers which covers whole house. All 3 share same SSID, so i can use same network in all home without problems. But, as appeared it is a problem for OpenGarage. Firstly, i noticed that in setup phase all three SSID’s are visible with same name – in all other devices i see only one. And then, after setting OG i can not use it from other part oh house there i use another router. Ping is not reaching OG, i can not connect to it. And only if i switch off two other routers, or change their SSID to different, only then i can connect to OG. Could you please fix it.
Thanks!

[lawrence_jeff]

I’m not the developer but from looking at the code, the first part of your issue (the same SSID listed multiple times) is simply because the code doesn’t filter out duplicates and it picks up your 3 instances, the good news is the only thing it really gets from this is the SSID name and password so you can pick any of them (assuming the ID/pwd is the same) -it won’t hurt anything

The second part is a bit more complicated, the built in software (that OG is built on top of) method to connect to an Access point handles finding the access point with the access point you specify – so perhaps it doesn’t connect to the strongest AP with the SSID you specify – or gets confused if it detects multiples. If you go through the integrated webpage – does the connect button and text tell you it successfully connected and provide an IP?

[Blablazzz]

Yes, i am getting message that OG was succesfully connected, and i am getting IP. Also, i can see same on IP on my main router. But i can not connect to this IP nor from my phone, nor from computer, unless i am switching off 2 other routers, or i am changing SSIDs.

[lawrence_jeff]

So OpenGarage is happily connected to Router A (with IP acknowledged by both router and Device)
But any device connected to Router B and Router C can’t reach the IP? But if you turn off B and C forcing everything to talk to Router A (So everyone is on the same device) access works?

This sounds like you have an issue routing requests between routers (which you work around by forcing your clients to the same router by either disabling the others or changing the SSID so you can force a specific router), does access to other devices work cross routers?

If you change the router closest to the device to a new SSID, say ‘Garage’ (leave the others on and alone) and connect the OG device to that what happens with the following
Connect your PC to Garage SSID – does connectivity work (Assuming yes)
Connecting your PC to SSID used by other routers – does connectivity work (assuming this won’t)

[Blablazzz]

So, the problem is that Opengarage connects to the weakest signal and thus it appears not to be working. And it is not reconnecting to same SSID with strongest signal. The problem isnt related to the fact that it cant connect across multiple routers, but the fact, that it doesnt reconnect or initially connects to the strongest SSID. I dont know if it is possible to solve with firmware, if yes, would be great.

[lawrence_jeff]

There is mention of similar here
http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2396&start=8

Their workaround was to set the channel of the AP you want it to connect to a lower channel number than the others.
You can specify a BSSID to force a specific AP in the OG firmware but it would take quite an update to store and handle that.

[lawrence_jeff]

If it would help I can at least add the BSSID (MAC of the AP you are connecting to) in a debug screen – but you would have to use my custom firmware, discussed in another thread here

[Ray]

The ESP8266 API we use in the firmware only depends on the SSID name and password. If all three routers have the same SSID name, it’s not entirely clear to me how it decides which one to connect to. What kind of network arrangement do you have with the three routers? Are two of them repeaters or something like that? There has to be some way that they are aware of each other, right? Otherwise how does routing working, when a device from one router tries to reach another device connect to another router?

[Blablazzz]

Router A – main, also it is DHCP server. All devices are seen on this router, even though they connects to B or C. While B and C works as repeaters covering wifi zone where router A isnt reaching. Till OpenGarage i havent noticed any weak connection spots in my house. But Somehow OG was connecting to router A which wasnt covering that area well. So i saw OG in connected devices list, it has IP, but ping wasnt reaching it. I solved the problem with turn off 2,4Ghz network on router A. Now OG always connects to routers B wifi, which is strong at that spot. No problems anymore with connection.

[lawrence_jeff]

Ray,

The thread I liked to above has a quote from Espressif where they indicate it picks the AP that has the lowest channel number (given multiple SSIDs) unless you specify a BSSID in your WIFI connect.

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