An Access Point (wireless access point) is a small device that resembles a router in appearance and can significantly improve the quality of the Internet in the home. It is equipped with antennas and an Ethernet connector compatible with the IEEE 802.3 standard, with which you can connect to a router. The built-in wireless network interface also allows you to connect with mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops. Access Point operates in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard and offers the following features:
- DHCP server
- LAN interface,
- DSL interface,
- network hub,
- router acting as a gateway,
- USB connector (in more expensive models).
Features of the router and access point
In order to connect several types of equipment to the Internet, received over one wire, you need to buy separate equipment - a router (from the English “router”). This small box with an antenna connects to the network cable coming from the provider and emits radio waves (wireless Internet).
Thanks to the router, all smartphones, tablets and laptops will be able to simultaneously receive Wi-Fi. Features of the router: Wi-Fi distribution, from 4 to 10 or more LAN connectors for wired Internet connection of desktop PCs, firewall, DHCP server distributing IP. The task of such technology is to accept the Internet from the provider and divide it between all smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
True, not only the router can distribute Wi-Fi. The purpose of a device called an “Access Point” (“AP”, “TP-LINK” or “Access Point”) is to organize a wireless Internet connection for several types of equipment. However, this Wi-Fi distributor does not have a built-in firewall, does not distribute IP, and does not connect to the provider’s cable. A AP is a Wi-Fi distributing device that receives the Internet from a router. Some routers can operate in exactly the same mode - “Access Point” (with the firewall and DHCP server deactivated and IP address distribution disabled).
Any PC (with a Wi-Fi adapter and a driver supporting Virtual-Wi-Fi) can be turned into a wireless AP that distributes Wi-Fi. True, you can only activate a virtual network through the Command Line. Not every PC user will be able to independently configure the distribution of radio waves from a computer. But this method does not require the purchase of additional equipment.
By price
Many companies are starting to add unnecessary functionality to “Access Point” type devices:
- DHCP.
- Firewall (Firewall).
- Ability to work in modem mode.
- Network settings and settings.
In general, turning it into an additional router. In this case, the price will be much higher than a regular router. I believe that the access point should be itself without unnecessary functions. When choosing, you should focus on support for Wi-Fi standards, antenna power and input port speed. And additional husk, as practice has shown, is not needed. And in cases where it is better to buy a regular budget router.
Differences and similarities
Comparison table:
| Criteria/Similar Features or Differences | Router | Access point (separate equipment) | Access point (on PC) |
| Internet teaches | Via network cable from your provider | By wire from the router | Via network cable from your provider |
| Distributes | WiFi | ||
| Real data transfer speed when receiving 150 Mbit/s from the provider | 60-100 Mbit/s | ||
| Frequency range | 2.4-5 GHz | ||
| How to get Wi-Fi | Enter password | Enter a password or connect without a password | Enter password |
| Functions | Creates a wireless network | Expands coverage area | Creates a virtual network |
| Where are they installed? | In room | Outdoors and indoors | In room |
| Protection | Information encryption, firewall | Data encryption | Firewall, antivirus, information encryption |
| Interdependence | Can work independently, including in “Access Point” mode | Can't work without a router | Can work independently (activated on PCs with a Wi-Fi adapter) |
| Peculiarities | DHCP server distributing IP within the network, firewall | Does not distribute IP, does not have a firewall, but supports PoE technology (recharges from a network cable) | All connected smartphones, PCs, tablets automatically receive an IP |
| Number of LAN connectors | 4 or more | 1 | 1 |
| How is traffic distributed? | Based on configured priority | In equal shares between all connected equipment | Depending on settings |
Which is better 2.4 or 5 GHz?
The access point works mainly with two Wi-Fi and wired connections. But wireless technology is still the main one. Wi-Fi operates on the IEEE 802.11 standard, using two frequencies: 2.5 and 5 GHz. Not only the data transfer speed, but also the range will depend on the frequency and standard. The most basic standards are:
- a, b, g (2.4 GHz) – speed up to 40 Mbit per second.
- n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) – speed up to 600 Mbit per second.
- ac (5 GHz) - up to 6000 Mbit per second.
The best option would be to choose support for two frequencies: 5 and 2.4 GHz. As you can see, 5 GHz has a higher speed, plus it is more reliable in terms of data transmission over a short distance. There will be less response and packet loss is almost negligible. But as you probably know from physics, the higher the frequency of the wave, the faster it decays, so the radius will still be larger at 2.4 GHz.
Examples of using a wireless Internet access point and router
There are several ways to organize Wi-Fi distribution. The easiest one is to buy a router. This device just needs to be connected to your provider’s network cable, configured, and it’s ready to use. Within the range of the router, all users of smartphones, tablets, and laptops will be able to receive Wi-Fi.
True, sometimes there is a need to expand the coverage area. In this case, additional equipment is purchased - TD. This device is connected via cable to an already working router, and then distributes its radio waves. On the street, in a cafe, in a hotel you can’t do without a TD. In a small office, one router is enough. At home, you can create a virtual network on your PC and not buy additional equipment.
Antenna power
It is measured in decibels and increases the coverage radius of the WiFi zone. If the area is not large, then you can use internal antennas. But there will be a problem in expanding in the future. So, it’s probably worth purchasing with regular external 2-3dB antennas.
In cases where you can buy more powerful ones and change them. They are easy to unscrew and connect. But you can take it right away with a margin of 10-12 dB. The number of antennas also affects coverage, but on dual-band devices, you can enable two networks, 2.4 and 5 GHz. It all depends on the model.
What's better
To distribute Wi-Fi you will have to buy a router. The more expensive the router, the better (more options and capabilities). Any router has a limited range. It will be possible to expand the coverage area with the help of additional equipment - TD. This device is connected to the router via a cable and, for example, taken outside.
For office network
For an office you will have to buy both a router and an AP, and perhaps not one, but several. The number of devices depends on the area of the office premises.
For home
For an apartment or private mansion, one router is enough. The main thing is to pay attention to the range of action. The more expensive the equipment, the wider the coverage area. For a small room, the cheapest router will be enough.
Varieties
First of all, they are divided into:
- External – installed outdoors. They have a stronger body, as well as protection from moisture, dust and cold. Before purchasing, be sure to check the permitted temperature range, which will depend on the winter in your region.
- Internal - installed at home and do not have special protection.
It can also be divided according to the form and method of connecting to the network:
- Receptacle - connection goes directly to the outlet.
- Tabletop - we have already talked about them. They have a separate connector for power, into which a separate unit is inserted.
Quick comparison table
Comparison (tab.):
| Criteria | Router | Access point (special equipment) | Access point (on PC) |
| What does it give out? | WiFi | ||
| Data transfer rate | 2 times lower than the Internet from the provider | ||
| Purpose of use | Creating a Wireless Network | Expanding coverage area | Activating a virtual network |
| Where is it used? | In offices, apartments or houses | In cafes, hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, on beaches, in offices | In an apartment or house |
How to Find a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Your wireless laptop or other device, such as a tablet or smartphone, can notify you when it is in range of wireless networks. If you don't see an information prompt about available wireless networks in that area, go to Network Settings to find access points in that area.
You can find them in many places. For example:
- When you enter an internet cafe, your smartphone will soon notify you that there is a Wi-Fi hotspot. Each store has its own home network. Just click Accept and connect.
- Typically, restaurants that offer a hotspot will post the information on a table card or at the entrance. You may need to request a password to log into the service.
- When you stay at a hotel, ask the receptionist for the Wi-Fi password or login. The service may be free, or you may be charged a daily fee to use it. While hotels typically offer wired Internet access, some are switching to wireless, especially in public areas.
- Most airports offer free hotspots and display the login procedure at all terminals. Shopping centers do the same.
- Many bookstores have hot spots for customers.
- Libraries and other public buildings often have Wi-Fi hotspots.
A quick internet search for hotspots in [your city] (or the city you'll be visiting) will reveal a long list of places where you can access the internet. While many are free, some hotspots require a fee or subscription.
conclusions
One ISP network cable cannot be connected to multiple devices. However, all modern smartphones, tablets, and laptops are capable of receiving Wi-Fi. However, to distribute Wi-Fi you will need to create a wireless network. For this purpose you will have to buy a router.
Each such device has a limited range. In order to take Wi-Fi outside, you will need additional equipment - an AP. This device is connected via a wire to the router and expands the Wi-Fi coverage area.
What are the main characteristics of an access point?
These devices are mainly characterized by a lot of advantages for most users , especially those who have malheureusement little access to the Internet, at home or at work . Thus, these devices are responsible for the ability to transport the network signal to places where it does not reach or there is very little of it.
For this, it has 3 important characteristics, which we will show you below:
La Vitesse
We can say that the main advantage of this proposal is speed , since these devices are connected via an Ethernet cable to the router, this allows them to use all the speed of the main device to distribute it in one specific area through a wireless signal . Par Serial, its speed will be equal to the speed of the main router .
This has undoubtedly become a big advantage for most users, because those who connect to this access point will also receive the maximum speed of the underlying equipment , allowing them to have excellent connectivity at all times. .
adjustment
Another of its main features: its configuration , it is characterized by simplicity and speed of execution, as well as its installation . In this case, the user has the opportunity to set an access password to limit connections to the equipment and make it much more private , thus avoiding the network being overloaded with a large number of devices connected to it.
Thus, the user will be able to configure all the necessary details of the access points very simply and quickly.
Safety
Finally, let's find out that security is another point that needs to be taken into account, which is extremely important. Typically, when an access point is connected to a wired network whose security is based on physical access control, it can become an unstable and dangerous network because any user on the local network can enter the connection and cause significant damage to it.
In this case, one of the best options to protect and guarantee excellent connection performance is to create network encryption . Nowadays, new access points are capable of accepting WPA2 encryption , which is one of the strongest encryption available today. While older computers do only support WEP encryption which is not completely secure against the cyber attack that is happening today.
In this case, it is important that you can set the word to obsolete which is safe enough and who has different characters who makes it difficult to guess. Likewise, it is recommended to create a guest network with a different password so that only people who want it can use it.
How to connect an access point on your phone
The access point activation mode is available on all mobile devices, regardless of which operating system it runs - Android or iOS. The connection is made using a similar algorithm. For example, you can use a Samsung smartphone.
- Enter "Settings". You can do this from the list of applications or from the quick access panel (use your finger to lower the curtain and select the gear icon).
- Open the “Network Connections” tab.
- Go to the “Other networks” section (in earlier versions it is called “Advanced settings”).
- Select the “Modem and Access Point” category.
- On the next page, activate the “Portable access point” option by moving the slider to the right.
Point-to-Point / Wireless Bridge (WDS)
(Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge) - Point-to-Point / Wireless Bridge mode allows a wireless point to communicate with another access point that supports point-to-point wireless bridge mode. However, keep in mind that most manufacturers use their own proprietary settings to enable wireless bridge mode on the access point. Typically, this mode is used to wirelessly connect equipment in two different buildings. Wireless clients cannot communicate with the access point in this mode. As a rule, it only works with identical access points. Operation with different devices is impossible due to the lack of standards for WDS technology
How to disable an access point
After receiving or transmitting the necessary information, in order to save mobile traffic, it is recommended to deactivate the mode. Knowing how to connect an access point, you can do this in a matter of minutes. The scheme is simple:
- You need to click on the “Settings” icon.
- Open the “Network Connections” section.
- Expand the “Other networks” (or “Advanced settings”) tab.
- Select the “Modem and Access Point” category.
- On the page that opens, disable it by moving the slider to the left.
What affects the operation of Access Point
The Wi-Fi AP is unable to perform standard tasks of a router or router; the AP is not able to form a new network. The main task of the device is to connect to a ready-made infrastructure and enhance its main parameters. When used in a large room, the power of the equipment may not be enough, which requires assembling a set of several Access Points.
Functionality may be affected by:
- walls, partitions;
- household appliances operating in the same range;
- metal objects that reflect the signal.
Important! Sometimes the cause of an unstable connection is related to the performance of the underlying network equipment or problems on the service provider's side.
Impact on Wi-Fi signal
