What is the difference between a wireless router and a wireless AP?

Wireless AP, that is access point, that is, wireless access points, in simple terms WiFi shared Internet wireless switch, it is the mobile end user access to the wired network access point, mainly for home broadband, enterprise internal network deployment, wireless coverage distance of dozens of meters to hundreds of meters, At present, the main technology for the 802.11X series.

One, wireless router

For the extended AP, they can be interconnected within a short distance, and if the distance needed to be transmitted is far away, then a wireless network bridge and special antennas will be needed to help.

From the appearance, the two are basically similar, it is difficult to distinguish. But believe that careful users have seen the difference between the two, that is, their interface is different. A simple wireless AP usually has a RJ45 network port that is connected to a wire, a power interface, configuration port (USB port or through the Web interface configuration), and fewer lights, and no line by the more than four wired network port, in addition to a WAN for upper network equipment, four LAN ports can be wired to connect the computer in the intranet , and the light is naturally more.

Second, wireless AP

The General wireless AP also has access point client mode, which means that the AP can be wireless link between, so as to expand the coverage of WiFi sharing network, and the current wireless AP can be divided into two categories: simple AP and extended AP.

Because of the lack of routing function, the simple AP is the equivalent of a wireless switch, providing only a wireless signal launch function. It works is the network signal transmission through twisted-pair, after the compilation of wireless APs, the electrical signals into radio signals sent out to form a WiFi share of the Internet coverage. According to the different power, the network coverage degree is also different, the general wireless AP's maximum coverage distance can reach 400 meters.

The extended AP is what we often call a wireless router. Wireless routers, as the name implies is a wireless coverage of the router, it is mainly used for users to the Internet and wireless coverage. Through the routing function, we can realize the sharing of Internet connection in home WiFi sharing, and also realize the wireless sharing access of ADSL and community broadband. It is worth mentioning that wireless routers and wired terminals can be distributed to a subnet, so that the various devices within the subnet can easily exchange data.

To sum up, if you are a home or Soho user, wireless router is your first choice, if you are enterprise users, wireless AP for you.