What is wireless AP
A wireless AP is a wireless network access point, commonly known as a hotspot. Mainly include routing exchange access equipment and pure access equipment, integrated device access and routing work, pure access devices only responsible for wireless access to the client, pure access devices are usually used as a wireless network extension, and other AP or connect the AP, to enlarge the coverage of the wireless, and integrated equipment is usually the core of the wireless network.
Wireless AP is the use of wireless devices, wireless devices like mobile phones and other mobile devices and laptops) users into the cable network access points, mainly used for broadband home, building, campus, campus and warehouses, factories need to wireless monitoring, typical from covering dozens of meters to hundreds of meters, there are also can be used for long distance transmission, At present, the farthest can reach about 30KM, and the main technology is IEEE802.11 series. Most wireless aps also have the AP CLIENT mode, which can connect to other aps wirelessly to extend the coverage of the network.
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Second, the role of wireless AP
1. As the central point of the wireless LAN, other computers equipped with wireless network cards can access the wireless LAN through it;
2, by providing long distance wireless connection to the wired local area network, or to provide long distance wired connection to the small wireless local area network, so as to achieve the purpose of extending the network scope.
Wireless APS can also be used to connect small wireless lans to achieve the purpose of expansion. When there are enough wireless network users, a wireless AP should be connected to the wired network to connect the wireless network to the wired network backbone. AP acts as a bridge between wireless workstation and wired trunk, realizing seamless integration between wireless and wired. An AP allows wireless workstations to access network resources while adding available resources to wired networks.
Differences between a wireless AP and a wireless router
1. Different functions
Wireless AP: ACCESS POINT (AP) converts wired networks to wireless networks. According to the image point, wireless AP is a bridge between wireless network and cable network. The signal range is spherical, and it is best to put it in a high place to increase the coverage. A wireless AP is also a wireless switch, which is connected to a wired switch or router. The wireless terminal connected to the AP belongs to the same subnet as the original network.
Wireless router: A wireless router is a wireless AP with routing function, which is connected to ADSL broadband line and realizes automatic dial-up access to the network through the router function, and establishes an independent wireless home network through the wireless function.
2. Different applications
Wireless aps are mostly used in large-sized enterprises, which require a large number of wireless access nodes to cover a large area of the network. In addition, all access terminals belong to the same network, which facilitates network control and management by network administrators.
Wireless router is generally applied to home and SOHO network environment. In this case, the coverage area and users are not large, and only a wireless AP is enough. A wireless router can connect to an ADSL network and convert it into a wireless signal, making it a cheaper and more convenient option than buying a router and a wireless AP.
3. Different connection modes
A wireless AP cannot be connected to an ADSL MODEM and must be mediated by a switch or hub or router. The wireless router has the function of broadband dial-up, which can be directly connected to the ADSL MODEM for dial-up Internet access to achieve wireless coverage.