how can iphone automatically switch to strongest wifi signal at home

I agree that the iphone can not know that both SSID's belong actually to the same network, but does it really matter?

Yes, it does - the online connection to whatever server you were connected could break with each switch, slowing throughput considerably. Switching between stronger WiFi signals on different networks could occur several times just walking across a room.

The phone does automatically switch networks when going from cell network back and forth to WiFi, but is designed for that transition.

Again, your problem lies with an improperly extended network. It would do what you want if set up correctly.

Since I do not use it for local content I never thought about this.

If you set up your phone to automaticlly sync with your computer over WiFi, or print using AirPrint, you are using a local network.

I've never heard of this distinction either and this terminology isn't universal. I currently use an Apple Airport Extreme configured to "extend" a network (Apple's terminology) created on another Airport using the same SSID.

I was able to do that, with a WN2000RPT EXTENDER. I changed the original ssid (router) ans added _ext, so both nets are with the same ssid. it works ok.

Actually, that is not true. All laptops, and most phones, will roam between access points automatically. You can even set the aggressiveness of the AP roaming for some devices. You mentioned that they will not switch automatically because they do not know that the new network is part of the same network. They know because the name of the SSID is the same. You should overlap signals between wifi regions by about 20% using a signal analyzer.

It would help if you actually read not only what I said but the entire thread berore posting irrelevant information.

I did not say the phone didn't automatically switch to different access points based on signal strength. What I said was it wouldn't switch to another SSID automatically based on signal strength - it will only do so if it loses all signal to the original SSID.

The issue in this thread is that the OP was using an "extender" which created a separate SSID instead of creating another access point to the same SSID. (You might have understood that had you read the thread.) Thus when he moved upstairs and had weak signal from the base router the phone didn't switch to the extender. The manufacturer of the extender tried to make the distinction between an "extender" and a "repeater" as an excuse,

BTW, you do realize that this thread has been dormant for over 16 months. Right?

I know this is an old thread, but it is relevant to my situation. To improve wifi signal strength at the rear of our property, I have just installed a dLAN® 500 AV Wireless+ and set it up with the same SSID as my router. Both networks work well when a device, iPad, phone, etc connects in range. What I have yet to see however, is my iPad automatically switching from a weak signal at the edge of range of one network, to the much stronger signal, of the other. As I said, both have the same SSID, but at set to different channels on the 2.4ghz band to avoid conflict. If I switch to airplane mode and back on, it picks up the strongest signal, but I was hoping it would periodically scan the channels for a stronger signal without manual intervention?

I have a solution, but not for IOS.

Setup: I have a main wireless router, on 1 SSID. I have a separate range extender, from Netgear, with similar SSID but with _EXT appended at end of SSID name, so it's not precisely the same SSID. The login is saved on all devices and all devices are able to log in to either SSID when in range, by *manually* selecting the SSID. However, IOS mobile devices (iPad, and iPhones) will NOT switch between the two *automatically*. Fwiw, neither Mac nor Win laptops will switch automatically either. I think this is consistent w/ experience of others here.

However: my android phone DOES automatically switch between the same two SSIDs, w/out manual intervention, and it does so very reliably. I installed an android app called Best WIFI for Android, which manages the switching. This is exactly what I want, but only works on android device (so far). Point being: it's possible, it works.

What I'm looking for is a similar IOS app. Has anyone seen one? Thanks.

set them to the same channel or set the extender to automatically choose channel.

That's odd. I thought the instructions specifically say *not* to use same channel, to avoid interference. But maybe I'm not clear on what you mean, I don't understand the issue fully and I appreciate your guidance. To be clear: the range extender is connected to the main wifi AP via wifi connection, not ethernet. I'm in an 1893 home, stone, plaster, wifi signals don't travel well, and very challenging to run ethernet cable. So, 2nd wifi device is close enough to main device to connect (wirelessly) and rebroadcast the signal. When you say *same channel*, do you mean 2g vs. 5g, or same SSID, or something else? Sorry for newbie question, I'm honestly fuzzy on the terminology. It works fine on android under current setup, so I assumed it was IOS setting, not router setting, and I'm willing to experiment w/ router settings if that's a solution. Thanks.

different channel recommendation is "different from other equipment" to avoid interference.

2.4 GHz band is sensitive to "other" equipment, 5GHz is not.

Has nothing to do with extend a network.

set same channel, or the extender at 'auto channel'.