9:00 am: You are videoconferencing in the office via a laptop. 9:00 pm: You are watching a live broadcast on your mobile phone at home. Wait a minute, have you ever wondered what kind of wireless devices are running on your unhindered network? Of course, you have heard people around you talk about the router from time to time. What about wireless access points (access points)? Is it the same as a router? Absolutely not! Below we will help you to distinguish between two different wireless network devices.
What is a wireless router?
A router is a network device that can transmit data either wired or wirelessly. As an intelligent device, a router can efficiently route incoming and outgoing traffic on the network. Traditionally, a router has been connected to other local area network (LAN) devices via Ethernet cables for a wired network. Over time, wireless routers that provide a convenient, wire-free setup are slowly becoming a favorite in many homes and small offices.
A wireless router refers to a network device that functions as a router by wirelessly connecting WiFi-enabled devices (such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets). For corporate routers, they support IPTV/Digital TV services and can be used for Voice over IP (VoIP). In addition, they also have a firewall and password protection to protect against potential threats outside the local network.
Figure 1: Wireless router connection scenario
What is a wireless access point?
A wireless access point (also called a wireless AP or WAP) is a network hardware device that adds Wi-Fi capabilities to an existing wired network by connecting traffic from a wireless station to a wired LAN. A wireless access point can act as an independent device or as a component of a router.
Generally speaking, a wireless AP allows devices without built-in Wi-Fi connectivity to access a wireless network through an Ethernet cable. In other words, the signal from the router to the access point is converted from wired to wireless. In addition, if access requirements increase in the future, WAP can also be used to expand the reach of existing networks.
Figure 2: Wireless Access Point Connection Scenario
Wireless Access Point vs Router: What's the Difference?
Both wireless access points and wireless routers support Wi-Fi network connections and play a similar role. So there was confusion. In fact, these two network devices are more like cousins ββthan twins. The differences between them will be explained below.
Figure 3: AP vs Router
Function
Typically, most wireless routers combine the functions of a wireless access point, an Ethernet router, a basic firewall, and a small Ethernet switch. Wireless access points
are usually built-in components of devices, such as routers or Wi-Fi network extenders. In short, wireless routers can act as access points, but not all access points can act as routers.
There is no doubt that a wireless router that plays the role of an Ethernet hub helps create a local network by linking and controlling all devices connected to it. However, the access point is an auxiliary device in the local network and provides access only to the network established by the router. Therefore, if you are a network administrator, you can use a wireless router to change network settings, but a wireless access point does not have this function.
Connection
Router mode vs AP mode, connection method is different. The wireless access point cannot connect to the modem. Typically a switch or router will be used as an intermediary. The wireless router has a broadband dial-up function and can be directly connected to a modem to access the Internet.
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Wireless routers are the most common network equipment today. But if the router cannot cover the Wi-Fi signal, it will be weak or no signal. Conversely, wireless access points can be added in places with poor network conditions, which eliminates dead zones and expands the wireless network.
application
Typically, wireless routers can serve residential, SOHO work environments, and small offices or organizations, and can easily meet the needs of fixed and medium access. Obviously, such routers cannot be scaled up to reflect the growing demand for predictable future networks. As for wireless access points, they are mainly used for large and medium-sized enterprises and organizations, including multiple wireless access points to support multiple users. Unlike the previous situation, network administrators can add other access points as demand grows to cover a wider physical area.
Experience has shown that more powerful products can meet more needs. Simply put, the end effect must be considered. If you only want to use the wireless network at home to meet the needs of family members, then a wireless router is enough. However, if you want to build a more reliable wireless network that benefits a large number of users, a wireless access point is more suitable.
Conclusion
Wireless routers and wireless access points - it all depends on your needs. For the future Wi-Fi architecture, there are some key factors to consider: the physical size of the site, network coverage, the current number of Wi-Fi users, and even expected access requirements. As the first choice for many users, wireless routers are essential for almost every home and small business. Since the advent of wireless access points, today's large enterprises are looking to use them to cover larger areas or support more users on larger LANs.
Source: habr.com