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Difference BetweenA Wi-Fi Access Point And A Range Extender

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Megan Lewis
Difference BetweenA Wi-Fi Access Point And A Range Extender

There are two types of devices used to extend the Wi-Fi connectivity at home. You can either install a Wi-Fi access point or a Wi-Fi Range Extender, but there is a difference in the functioning of these devices, which is what we are going to understand via this post.

Wireless access points and range extenders are both used to transmit Wi-Fi signals in a given area. However, the two devices work in very different ways, with range extenders designed to relay a signal that has already been created by a nearby access point. Knowing when and where to use these two types of devices will help you build faster, more robust wireless networks.

Access point

Access points act as a link between the wired and wireless parts of your network. They use antennas to transmit and receive wireless signals over a certain area, connecting to the rest of your network using cable. They also manage clients who are connected to a Wi-Fi network by requesting new client authentication and removing clients who have been disconnected. Access points are often combined with routers to produce an all-in-one wireless network device, but independent access points are also available.

Range Extender

A range extender is a device that receives and transmits the existing Wi-Fi signal. The radio waves used to transmit Wi-Fi signals reduce in quality as they travel through the air, and they have a limited range. Using a range extender allows signals to travel farther than the wireless range of the access point they were originally transmitted from. However, range extenders can only relay existing wireless networks, and cannot create new networks of their own.

Safety

Most wireless networks use security standards such as Wi-Fi Protected Access to keep unwanted customers from accessing the network. Access points generally allow you to customize these security settings, allowing you to change options such as the wireless password or the type of encryption used. In contrast, range extenders do not allow you to change the wireless security levels used on your network. They can only relay a signal using the same security standards and the passphrase that was originally transmitted with.

Use

A range extender offers a cost-effective way to gain a little extra range from your wireless network. However, extenders are not always effective at extending networks over long distances, as the signal they use decreases in quality a little each time it is relayed. For larger wireless configurations, you can get better performance from using multiple access points. This approach may be more expensive than using repeaters, but it generally ensures better quality wireless coverage across an entire large network.

That was the difference between a Wi-Fi access point and a Wi-Fi Range Extender, so if you have understood the basics of both devices, then you can now decide as to which device you want to install in your home.

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