Access point vs. Router vs. Repeater – What are the differences between these network devices?
Different devices have been designed to help you access your Wi-Fi with ease and to give you a chance to experience ultimate network performance. Among these devicesare the Wi-Fi access points, wireless routers and wireless repeaters. Let us take a look at the differences of these network devices in enhancing your Wi-Fi experience.
As technology advances, different devices are designed and manufactured to help you experience both internet access and efficiency throughout your daily online activities. The wireless access point, wireless router and Wi-Fi extender are all different network devices in terms of their functions, performance and efficiency as they operate.
Table of Contents
What is a Wireless access point?
A wireless access point is a network device that has been designed to serve as a gateway through which you can connect your device to a local area network. You can use wireless access points to extend the wireless coverage of your already existing home network .Additionally, you can use it to increase the number of users who can connect to your network.
A Wireless Access Point device works as a hotspot for all your Wi-Fi devices. For it to transmit signals via its in-built radios, you need to attach it to your router by using Ethernet cables.
There are two types of wireless access points, that is, standalone access points and those that you combine with your already existing router. You can use the standalone access points in small offices or big business and you can make use of the combined type in your residential home.
What is a Wireless Router?
A wireless router is a network device that has been designed to serve you in two ways. The first function is that it helps you connect multiple devices- your phone, laptop, tablets and any other electronic devices that you own to set up a managed local area network (LAN). Secondly, it provides you with internet access to all of your devices that have been connected to the router.
To set up a local area network, you need to install your router and connect your devices to it. You can do this either by using Wi-Fi or by using Ethernet cables. The router then distributes and delivers data within the established local area network but it has to be connected to equipment by your internet provider through an Ethernet cable.
What is a Wi-Fi repeater?
A repeater, also known as an extender, is a network device that works to regenerate your Wi-Fi signal over the same network your using before the signal becomes too weak in order to extend the length to which the signal can be transmitted over the same network. Repeaters are simply used to boost the Wi-Fi signal in your devices and extend the connection in your home by re-broadcasting the signals from the strong connection.
What are the differences between wireless access points, routers and Wi-Fi repeaters?
The differences between wireless access points, wireless routers and Wi-Fi repeaters is seen in their functionality, performance and efficiency.
Functionality
Access points and repeaters are used to extend an already existing network while a router is used to manage and control the path through which the signal passes when forwarding data.
Performance
Wi-Fi repeater
If you are a user that is under the coverage of a Wi-Fi repeater, your signal passes through the repeater and is taken back to the router. Whatever your router response is, the repeater duplicates it to your devices and whatever your device declares is repeated to your router by the repeater. In short, without a router, a repeater cannot function. When you place your repeater too far from your main router, it begins to produce a lot of noise as it operates.
Wireless router
A wireless router helps you to connect your smart devices within a local area network by passing on dada packets between the two which is done by assigning a local IP address to each of the devices on the network. A wireless router can work with or without a repeater or it can be used as a repeater.
Wireless access point
Access points operate by directly connecting to your network switch or main router via a data cable or an Ethernet cable. By doing this, it supplies the access point with the bandwidth and the internet connection that it needs. Once this is done, it transmits and picks up a wireless signal in two frequency ranges, that is, the 2.4 GHz and the 5GHz.A router can function as an access point but an access point cannot work as a router.
Efficiency
Wi-Fi repeater
When you are using a Wi-Fi repeater, you will notice that the bandwidth of the devices that you have connected to is often halved. The cycle that the repeater goes through to extend your Wi-Fi signal tampers with the efficiency of the network in general.
Wireless access point
Wireless access points, on the other hand, allow for more user access. When compared to your router which can support a connection log of about ten to twenty devices at the same time, a wireless access point allows you to connect over fifty devices to it simultaneously because of its high ability to send and receive Wi-Fi signals.
Wireless router
A technologically advanced router is often efficient based on its different features such as throughput speed, frequency bands and range coverage among others. In an instance that it is not, there are alternatives such as combining it with the use of extenders, repeaters and wireless access points.
Comparison table between access point, router and repeater
Comparison |
Access point |
Router |
Repeater |
Functionality |
It provides a second centralized hub after a router where multiple devices join to connect to an existing local area network. |
It is a hub that creates a local area network and controls all devices and their communication with the router. |
It boosts an existing network signal and expands the range that the signal covers. |
Type of network |
Broadcasts its own network |
Joins two networks and creates its own signal |
Repeats an already existing network |
Suitable for |
Homes networks and large businesses |
Home networks and large businesses |
Home networks |
Efficiency |
Maintains network quality and expands user access |
Maintains network quality but can be adjusted it is not efficient |
Compromises network quality by half |
Availability |
Conclusion
Your choice of network devices between a router, access point and a repeater, is highly influenced by your network needs.
FAQs
When extending my Wi-Fi coverage, is it better to use an access point or a repeater?
The advantages of using an access point over a repeater/extender is that it is much faster because it works by communicating wirelessly to your devices meaning that it would significantly reduce the load on the unit and eliminate wireless collisions between devices.
What network cable should I use with my access point for it to work?
For your access point to work efficiently, you will need to run a Cat5 network cable to the access point.
