Question : WDS wireless with Linksys WRT54g, and WRT54GL, both running Tomato firmware

Ok i Just got a WDS (wireless distribution system) working.  However I am a little confused on how the client decides to connect to which Wireless Access Point.  Here is the setup.

Cable Modem ====> Cisco 831 Router ====> Linksys WRT54GL(running tomato firmware) Connected via Wireless ====> Linksys WRT54G(running tomato firmware)

So a main cisco 831 connected Via Ethernet connection to the first wireless AP using WDS we will call it "AP-A".  Then I have the Second wireless AP connected Via wireless that is about 100 feet away from the first, we will call it "AP-B"

The problem I have is when I am sitting on my laptop next to AP-A (before i connect to the Wireless Network, that has the same SSID) the signal strength is full bars.  So I connect.  Right after I connect I have one to two bars of signal.  I monitored the bandwidth on both wireless AP's and determined that My laptop had connected to AP-B that was about 100 Feet away and then is passing the traffic over the WDS to AP-A, then AP-A is sending the info back to AP-B and then wirelessly sending back the info to my laptop.

Ok if that was not confusing enough.  I am getting very very poor connection because I am connecting to the far AP-B.  Does anyone have any idea on the best practice to get the clients that are closest to the AP to take the better signal, and then switch to the higher signal if they move around?

I have the laptop that is connecting to AP-B and two iPhones that attach to AP-B.  I have a iMac that attaches to AP-A.

I have cleared out the wireless profiles and re-added them to the config of the Vista Laptop, and the iPhones but still the same thing, they attach to AP-B.

I am off to bed but I will respond to questions bright and early tomorrow.  Thanks for your help.

Answer : WDS wireless with Linksys WRT54g, and WRT54GL, both running Tomato firmware

> The problem I have is when I am sitting on my laptop next to AP-A (before i connect
> to the Wireless Network, that has the same SSID) the signal strength is full bars.
>  So I connect.  Right after I connect I have one to two bars of signal.

I have observed that behavior using the 'Connect' button in View Available Wireless Networks on XP. But it wasn't from connecting to the far AP. I think either WZC can't really tell them apart or the number of bars just isn't accurate until after it makes the connection. Turn off AP-B to ensure you're connecting to AP-A and you should still see the same thing happen (number of bars drops off full after connecting).

Does your laptop's wireless driver have tunable roaming decisions?
e.g. see attached.

Roaming-Broadcom-Driver-Adv.png (25 KB) (File Type Details) 

Wireless driver Advanced options