Router AP

If you have any other solutions and ideas on how to build a network of multiple routers, be sure to share them in the comments. There you can also leave questions on the subject of the article. Have a nice day!

Wireless access point vs router: what are the differences?

9:00 AM: You are having a video conference in the office via your laptop. 9:00 PM: You're watching the live stream on your cell phone at home. Wait a minute, have you ever wondered what wireless devices are running on your unhindered network? Surely you've heard people around you talk about the router from time to time. What about wireless access points? Is it just like a router? Absolutely not! Below, we'll help you distinguish between two different wireless networking devices.

A router is a network device that can transmit data wired or wirelessly. As a smart device, the router can effectively direct incoming and outgoing traffic on the network. The traditional router was connected to other local area network (LAN) devices via Ethernet cables for a wired network. Over time, wireless routers, which provide a convenient installation without wiring, have gradually become a favorite in many homes and small offices.

A wireless router refers to a networking device that acts as a router by wirelessly connecting WiFi-enabled devices (such as laptops, smartphones and tablets). For corporate routers, they support IPTV/digital television services and can be used for 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 AP can act as an independent device or as a component of a router.

Generally speaking, a wireless AP allows devices without a built-in Wi-Fi connection to access a wireless network through an Ethernet cable. In other words, the signal from the router to the AP is converted from wired to wireless. In addition, if future access requirements increase, WAP can also be used to extend the reach of existing networks.

Figure 2: Wireless Access Point Connection Scenario

Wireless Access Point: What is it and what is it for?

First of all, an access point is a separate device. A router and an access point are not the same thing. Yes, in many ways they are similar. You could say that an access point is a stripped-down, simpler version of a router. The fact is that a wireless access point is designed to connect devices to an already established network. Its task is simply to organize the connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi. Also, it can work in different modes: wireless client, bridge, repeater, access point. Everything depends on the exact model.

The access point does not distribute IP, does not connect to the provider, has no built-in firewall, etc. It just gets the Internet from a router, or modem, and distributes it over Wi-Fi. Some commercially available wireless access points can distribute IP, set up a separate network, and even connect to the Internet Service Provider. But, only via Static IP, or DHCP. Most likely you will need a router or modem anyway. And one more important point, the access point has only one network connector. So, it does not distribute Internet via cable.

For example, if you need to distribute Internet via Wi-Fi from an ADSL modem, or expand an existing Wi-Fi network, then in this case the access point is perfect. That's what they are designed for. As I wrote above, many models can work in client mode, or in repeater mode. Many modern routers also know how to work in all of these modes.

In access point mode, we connect it to a router or modem via a network cable and access the Internet via a Wi-Fi network. If you want to connect the wireless access point "over the air", you can set it up in bridge mode (WDS) , or in repeater mode. You need to see what works best in your case.

Router and Access Point

The router itself also acts as an access point, it allows you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. In addition, almost every router can operate in AP mode. For some manufacturers, such as ASUS, ZyXEL, this mode is simply enabled in the router settings. Later, I will write detailed instructions on configuring this mode on routers from different manufacturers.

In the access point mode, the router necessarily disables the distribution of IP addresses (DHSP), firewall, and IP address translation (NAT). It simply disables several features of the router and turns it into an Access Point.

On some routers, there is no AP mode per se. There you just need to manually disable the DHSP server, and make a few more adjustments.

Connecting Access Point (AP) mode on routers

The router as an access point is set up through the web interface, you can find out how to log into it here. In new routers from modern manufacturers, the Access Point format can be activated in different ways. In some models, the AP is turned on with the push of a button on the control panel, and the routers, connected with a cable, will be ready to work. This option for configuring the Access Point format of operation is found in routers ASUS и Zyxel. The other method of enabling the "Access Point" is more laborious and requires the user to manually enter the updated IP address of the add-on router and stop the DHCP-server. This method is typical for routers from TP-LINK.

Connecting Access Point and the master device connected to the Internet

Both devices are connected to each other by pulling the network cable from the LAN connector on the first router (in the Home Network) to the second router. The same cable can be used to connect the devices to the second router to use the Internet.

Installing Wi-Fi network on the first router

Let's start constructively about how to make a router a Wi-Fi hotspot. Before you switch the multifunction router to a simple AP, you need to establish a Wi-Fi connection. This is done in the settings window of the device, the network from which you want to expand. If the main router is new, you must first configure it and the network:

• Bring the wire from the provider to the socket WAN in the router, and in the output LAN plug in the wire to connect to the PC.
• Turn on the device.
• Install the necessary programs, drivers. Either do all the settings via a browser, or from the disk, which is usually included with the purchase.
• To open the control panel of the router you will need the IP-address, which, together with the login and password to enter the administrative part of the settings, is written on the bottom of the device.
• Specify the IP in the address bar of the search engine. If necessary, log in to the system.
• In the window that appears, create a connection to the World Wide Web and access the local network.

To configure access to the World Wide Web, select dynamic connection type in the WAN menu (this is usually the connection option provided by ISPs). Save the choice, then the router will restart and the browser page with the settings will be refreshed. Next, configure the Wi-Fi:

In the "wireless network" settings section, enter the network name in the SSID. It is preferable in terms of network security to specify the type of encryption in the menu "Authentication method". By default, it is best to use "WPA Personal" and select "TKIP». «The " WPA pre-shared key" will be the password to log into the network, which will protect the connection from unauthorized connections, as the area of wi-fi can extend beyond the premises. Save your changes and check to see if the Wi-Fi is working. After setting up the wireless network and verifying that it works, you can proceed to activate AP mode.

Evolution of devices

However, progress, as you know, does not stand. In home applications, wireless technology has reached a level where even the refrigerator needs to provide Internet access via WiFi. In the corporate sector, they have also become increasingly important. So what have manufacturers started to offer?

Home Hotspots

Simple functionality did not always suit the consumer. The consumer had to buy both a router to connect directly to the ISP and create a local area network, and an access point to provide wireless access to this network for laptops, computers, tablets, and smart phones of all family members, as well as TVs and, as we mentioned, refrigerators.

This was not profitable, and many manufacturers, including TP-link, D-Link, and others began to add router functionality to access points. The devices are often called that: "Wireless Access Point and Router/Router", "Access Point with Router". Take for example the D-Link DAP-1360.

This access point has routing, NAT, firewall, port forwarding, and many other features inherent in routers.

In addition, many access points have expanded their basic functionality. Additional modes of operation have become available, such as:

• Wireless Client – Receives traffic over a wireless connection and broadcasts further over a wired connection;
• Wireless bridge – transmitting data over WiFi in a narrow band from one device to another;
• Wireless repeater – it receives traffic wirelessly and transmits it wirelessly as well.

Everything is mixed up in the House of Oblonsky.

What is now the result, that is, in the range of network equipment?

• Most home access points also have router functionality, in varying degrees of truncation, but it is still there.
• Many of the corporate access points are also combined with a router (take the same Microtic).
• Almost all home routers have basic access point functionality, i.e. they can connect client devices wirelessly.
• Corporate routers are often also supplemented with a built-in access point.

That is, we have a large number of devices, which, regardless of the name (access point or router) are multifunctional and partially or completely duplicate each other.

But, although with great difficulty and very relative, some differences can still be found. In this case, with devices for the corporate segment is easier – they are more highly specialized. With home devices it is more complicated.

Access Points, both home and corporate, are geared more toward to transmit wireless traffic, And these functions are the primary focus of the manufacturer. Most of the time they don't have an interface to connect devices over a wired network and have only one port to receive data from the router. Router capabilities in access points are usually trimmed down just enough to meet the basic needs of the application for which the manufacturer has positioned them.

Routers routers, on the other hand, are designed for their primary purpose: to distribute, route, manage trafficboth wired and wireless. The WiFi router provides additional ports in order to connect the devices with a network cable. At the same time, depending on the price and versatility of the model, router may not have all the features of an access pointFor example, it may not be able to work as a wireless client or repeater.

How to combine two routers into one Wi-Fi network?

It is quite clear that in order to combine, for example, two (or more) routers into one network they need to be somehow connected to each other.

• Connecting two or more routers with a cable. It is necessary to run a network cable from one router to the other. This is not always convenient, and does not always work. But it is the most reliable and stable way. If you need a stable network, with good speed and for a large number of devices, it is best to connect routers with cable.
• Connecting routers without wires, over Wi-Fi. In this case, the connection is used in bridge mode (WDS), client, or repeater mode. In essence, it is the same. Just on different routers, different manufacturers, these settings are made differently.

This has been sorted out. For example, we have a main router which is connected to the Internet, and it distributes Wi-Fi network. We need to install another router, for example in another room, or on another floor. We can connect the second router to the first one by cable, or by Wi-Fi. Almost all modern routers have this feature.

Also, we need to decide if we need one Wi-Fi networksimply amplified by the second (third, fourth) router, or should each router create a separate networkor each router should create a separate network with a different name and password. This depends on the router mode that we need to configure. Basically, we need a single wireless network, just an amplified one. So that the devices can switch between the access points by themselves and unobtrusively.

Let's now look at both ways of connecting: wirelessly, and with a cable.

How do I connect two routers over Wi-Fi to the same network?

More often than not, it is over the air that connects routers. It's understandable, because you don't need to run a cable. But if you need a stable network with no loss in speed, it is better to use cable. Although, wireless routers also connect and work.



I think it is better to consider specific connection methods for each manufacturer:

• TP-LINK. If the router you want to use to extend your wireless network is from TP-LINK, you must use bridge mode (WDS) to connect it to another router. This is not a repeater mode, so, there will be two Wi-Fi networks. But, you can try to set on it exactly the same Wi-Fi settings as on the main router (SSID and password). Then there will be one network, just amplified. Detailed instructions: setting up a Tp-Link router in bridge mode (WDS). Connecting two routers over Wi-Fi.
• ASUS .. Here everything is a little easier, because in routers of this manufacturer, there is a repeater mode, about the setting of which I wrote in the article: setting up a router Asus as a repeater.
• Zyxel Keenetic.. These routers also have a repeater mode Wi-Fi network. Set up is very simple, here are the instructions: configuring Zyxel Keenetic in repeater mode. In addition, you can also use the client (bridge) mode. Here you have to see what suits you best.
• D-LINK. All set up through the only mode of operation "Client". Everything works, tested. Recently I wrote a manual: "Client" mode, "Bridge" and "Repeater" on a D-LINK router.
• Netis. These routers also have different modes of operation. Among which is the repeater mode, which we configured in this article.

What is a wireless router?

A classic router refers to an intelligent network device capable of racing data through cable and wirelessly in the incoming and outgoing directions. The box can also be connected to other networking gadgets via Ethernet. Often there are horn antennas sticking out of the router to distribute the signal over 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), ac (5 GHz), ax (6 GHz) Wi-Fi. Thanks to the simplest setup system and the ability to provide a signal without a long tangle of wires, routers in their current generation have captured the attention of homeowners, apartment owners and small office owners. In addition to the standard features, they can provide IPTV access, VoIP (voice over Internet), built-in firewall, firewall, subnet protection, VPN/VPS and a lot of other bonuses.

• Number of Ethernet ports;
• wired connection speed (100 Mbit / 1 Gbit per second);
• firewall support (anti-virus, intrusion detection and prevention, application access control);
• creation of a virtual protected network (VPS) for quick connection of new consumers;
• availability of USB socket or SIM card slot to organize a backup LTE channel (optional);
• support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi (or 6 GHz for growth);
• easy configuration of the device before use (interface);
• setting priority access to individual resources for each user (especially useful for commercial use).

The rest is secondary. More precisely, these functions are only important in a corporate environment, where terabytes of data from local and global networks pass through a single router, and it is necessary to deliver them promptly to the subscriber in the form of packets, without losing anything on the way.

What is a wireless access point

Now this is something else. Often referred to as an AP or WAP, it is a networking hardware that adds the ability to distribute traffic over Wi-Fi to the current wired network.

The second useful feature of an AP is to extend the current wireless coverage in your home or apartment. If you do not have the desire or ability to buy equipment for the Mesh network, you can connect the AP to the "parent" router and install it in another room / on the second floor of the room. And for convenience, set the same passwords for Wi-Fi to make it easier for gadgets to switch to a stronger signal.

What is better for organizing a small home or office network: buy a Wi-Fi router or an access point?

In fact, even if the difference between these two devices has already become clear, the average user still has a question, what actually to buy, if the price is almost the same?

We suggest comparing some of the nuances in building networks on both devices, so that everyone can make the right choice:

WiFi router	Access point
The router connects to the provider's network "on its own behalf". In other words, you need to configure the connection to the ISP on the device itself and set the conditions for distributing traffic over the home network. Then all the equipment already deals only with the router, which means that you do not need to configure all the hardware in the network to connect to the Internet.	The access point only transmits the connection, which means that if there are several computers in the home network, they will need to be configured separately. This issue is not always relevant for small local providers, which configure the network themselves and do not require users to configure the home connection.
Easy organization of the local network between home devices. The functionality of the router itself distributes IP to the devices in the network.	Setting up a local network between your home devices can be a problem. Sometimes you may even need to contact your ISP to organize the problem.

Conclusion and additional recommendations

If it were possible to make a clear choice between these devices, the router would most likely defeat the access point and it would disappear from store shelves. But, in fact, each device has its own purpose. If you need to set up a home network, the easiest way to do it is with a Wi-Fi router. A single network configuration and all your phones, tablets and computers have access to the Internet (over the air and through cable). To set up a HotSpot in a cafe or to create a seamless network in a large space, you should pay attention to a wireless access point.

Buy WiFi router in Kazakhstan or hotspot in our online store at the best price. We will arrange delivery to any city. Are you located in Astana or in Almaty? Take advantage of self-delivery.

Read More: