What is the difference between a wireless access point and a wireless router?

What is a wireless router?

A router is a network device that supports wired and wireless connections. As an intelligent device, it directs traffic in and out of the network in the fastest and most efficient way. Earlier, routers connected wired networks with other network devices through twisted pairs. However, with the popularization of wireless network technology, routers can now provide users with friendly and convenient installation without using twisted pairs.

A wireless router is a network device that can perform routing functions without using twisted pairs. It is equivalent to a repeater. It can forward network bandwidth signals to nearby wireless network devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.) through antennas. ). For enterprise-level routers, it can support both interactive Internet TV (i.e. IPTV, which can provide a variety of interactive services including digital TV) and IP voice transmission (i.e. VoIP). In addition, they feature firewall and password protection to protect against potential threats from external LANs.

What is a wireless access point?

A wireless access point (i.e., wireless AP or WAP) is equivalent to a bridge connecting wired networks and wireless networks. It can add wireless functions to existing wired networks by bridging traffic from the wireless network to the wired network. Wireless access points can function as stand-alone devices or as components of routers.

Generally speaking, a wireless access point allows non-wireless devices to access the wireless network using a twisted pair cable, which means that the signal from the router to the access point is converted from wired to wireless. In addition, wireless access points can also be used to extend the wireless coverage of existing networks if access needs increase in the future.

What is the difference between a wireless access point and a wireless router?

While wireless access points and wireless routers both support wireless networking and play similar roles in a network, the two networking devices are more like cousins than twins. To avoid user confusion, the differences between the two are explained in detail below.

Typically, most wireless routers combine the functions of a wireless access point, an Ethernet router, a basic firewall, and a small Ethernet switch. A wireless access point, on the other hand, is a built-in component of a device such as a router or wireless extender. In short, in a wireless LAN, a wireless router can act as a wireless access point, but not all wireless access points can act as wireless routers.

There is no doubt that a wireless router plays the role of a hub in a local area network, helping to set up a local area network by linking and managing all the devices connected to it. The wireless access point is a sub-device within the LAN, which can only be used by other computers equipped with wireless network cards to access the wireless LAN. That is, network administrators can use wireless routers to change the network's configuration, but wireless access points do not have this capability.

A wireless router has a bandwidth dialing function and can be directly connected to a modem for dialing. However, a wireless access point cannot be connected to a modem and usually needs to be connected to a switch or router before dialing can be achieved.

Wireless routers are the most common network equipment today, but the coverage of wireless routers is limited. In some places far away from the wireless router, the WiFi signal will be weak, and there may even be blind spots that cannot be covered. However, if you add a wireless access point in a location with a weak signal or poor network conditions, you can eliminate dead spots and effectively expand the range of the wireless network.

Generally, wireless routers can be used in small-scale network environments such as homes and small offices to easily meet existing and potential access needs. However, because this type of router cannot be expanded, it cannot well meet the continued growth of access needs in the future. Wireless access points are mainly used in medium and large enterprise networks. If multiple wireless access points are added to the network, they can support access by more users. Therefore, network administrators can add wireless access points according to the increase in access needs. So that the network can cover a wider area.

There is no doubt that a wireless router plays the role of a hub in a local area network, helping to set up a local area network by linking and managing all the devices connected to it. The wireless access point is a sub-device within the LAN, which can only be used by other computers equipped with wireless network cards to access the wireless LAN. That is, network administrators can use wireless routers to change the network's configuration, but wireless access points do not have this capability.

A wireless router has a bandwidth dialing function and can be directly connected to a modem for dialing. However, a wireless access point cannot be connected to a modem and usually needs to be connected to a switch or router before dialing can be achieved.

Wireless routers are the most common network equipment today, but the coverage of wireless routers is limited. In some places far away from the wireless router, the WiFi signal will be weak, and there may even be blind spots that cannot be covered. However, if you add a wireless access point in a location with a weak signal or poor network conditions, you can eliminate dead spots and effectively expand the range of the wireless network.

Generally, wireless routers can be used in small-scale network environments such as homes and small offices to easily meet existing and potential access needs. However, because this type of router cannot be expanded, it cannot well meet the continued growth of access needs in the future. Wireless access points are mainly used in medium and large enterprise networks. If multiple wireless access points are added to the network, they can support access by more users. Therefore, network administrators can add wireless access points according to the increase in access needs. So that the network can cover a wider area.