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Exploring the Benefits and Features of a Wireless Access Point

Laptops, cellphones, tablets, and other Wi-Fi wireless gadgets have become commonplace in our homes and workplaces. This was true even before , and the need has only increased as the entire globe has transformed.

These wireless devices are more important than ever in supporting digital transformation while improving employee cooperation and efficiency. Yet, a growth in the number of wireless devices might have an influence on the functioning of a wireless network. Wireless access points assist in accommodating the expansion of wireless devices while maintaining excellent network performance.

In this article, we will examine all aspects of Wireless Access Points (WAP). We will start by defining WAP (or simply AP) and examining how it functions, after which we will examine the advantages, disadvantages, and restrictions associated with wireless access points. We'll talk about different wireless access points later. We'll discuss choosing AP best practices under the final heading.

A wireless access point (WAP), or more often just an access point (AP), is a piece of hardware used in computer networking that lets Wi-Fi devices connect to a wired network. A wireless access point (WAP) is a piece of networking equipment that lets wireless devices connect to wired networks. Installing WAPs is simpler and easier than using wires and cables to connect all the computers or devices in your network.

An access point is a part of a wireless local area network (WLAN), which is usually set up in a workplace or large building. After connecting with an Ethernet cable to a wired router, switch, or hub, an access point sends a WiFi signal to a certain area. For example, if you want to set up WiFi in your company's reception area but don't have a router nearby, you can put an access point near the front desk and run an Ethernet cable through the ceiling back to the server room.

To connect devices wirelessly, wireless access points are used. They operate by sending out a signal that connected devices can connect to. Devices now connect to the internet or another network devoid of cables. In residences, establishments, and public spaces, wireless access points are used.

Considering how effective they are at boosting a Wi-Fi signal, you might be surprised at how basic wireless access points are and how simple they are to set up. They operate by plugging an ethernet cable straight into your router or if you have one, a network switch. This provides the WAP with a connection to the local area network (LAN) and the bandwidth it needs to function.The WAP then receives and delivers a wireless signal in either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency bands, also known as Wi-Fi. This allows you to connect to your home network wirelessly, providing internet access where it was previously unavailable.

In today's digital age, wireless access points have emerged as a crucial tool for allowing seamless connection in homes, workplaces, and public areas. It's critical to comprehend the many sorts of accessible access points before selecting the one that best suits your demands. To assist you in making an educated decision, we will examine the various access point kinds and their distinctive characteristics in this section.

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to applications as follows:

• Commercial AP: Ideal for commercial settings that need aesthetics and have plenty of access users, such as hotels, guesthouses, KTVs, supermarkets, restaurants, and other locations. We are aware that there are hospitality access points, such as the Aruba 500H Hospitality WiFi-6 Access Points, that are intended for use in hotels.

• Enterprise-level AP: It meets strict security criteria and is appropriate for usage in major corporations, businesses, and other locations. Businesses employ commercial APs. This type of AP is offered by several vendors, including Cisco AP, Huawei AP, Aruba AP, Ruckus AP, etc.

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to installation method as follows:

• In-wall AP: In-wall AP must be anchored into the wall during installation, hence spaces must often be reserved. This type of AP is small in size and typically operates at 150Mbps or 300Mbps.

• Ceiling AP: During installation, it may be fastened directly to the ceiling or wall without penetrating the wall. Variable look, single-frequency and dual-frequency options, and a usually greater transmission rate than an AP installed on a wall.

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to frequency band as follows:

• Single-frequency AP: Generally speaking, this type of wireless AP only supports 2.4G, and its transmission speed ranges from 150 Mbps to 450 Mbps. Nevertheless, it has inadequate anti-interference capabilities.

• Dual-frequency AP: A wireless AP that supports both 2.4G and 5.8G simultaneously is referred to as a dual-band AP. When in operation, the mobile terminal has the ability to look for two WiFi signals with a faster transfer rate and more hardware.

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to controller needed as follows:

• Single-AP: It's often employed in high-demand settings. Authentication servers or switches implementing authentication features are typically needed to obtain a bai certification. This AP can only be used by configuring a specific wireless controller, which is required to utilize this AP. It is appropriate for widespread wireless deployment and cannot be modified independently.

• Controller Needed AP Most commonly employed in households and small networks, AP has a functionally comprehensive set of capabilities. Access, authentication, routing, VPN, address translation, and even firewall functionalities are typically implemented by a single device.

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to network standards as follows: IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11ax, etc.

By different standards, the access points will provide different frequency bands.

GenerationProtocolReleased DateFrequency bandWiFi .11n.4GHz, 5GHzWiFi .11acGHzWiFi .11ax.4GHz, 5GHzWiFi 6E802.11axGHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz

Wireless Access Point devices are categorized according to Environment as follows:: Indoor AP and Outdoor AP. Outdoor access points need to be designed to be more robust and durable, signal requirements need to be higher, and the signal range needs to be transmitted wider in order to adapt to harsh environments, such as dealing with severe weather, high-temperature climate, extremely cold weather, and various difficult environments. Indoor environments that are reasonably safe eliminate the requirement for these services from indoor access points.

A wireless access point (WAP) is a device that connects wireless devices to networks. WAPs are widely used in households and businesses to offer wireless Internet access.

Using a WAP has the following advantages:

• Convenience: Users do not need to be close to a wired connection in order to use wireless access because WAPs are installed anywhere in a house or workplace. Allowing workers to roam freely while utilizing their internet connection enhances productivity.

• Flexibility: WAPs allow for the simultaneous use of a number of devices, including computers, cellphones, tablets, and other smart devices.

• Enhanced security: By creating a distinct wireless network for visitors and workers, WAPs aid in enhancing network security. You control who access the WiFi network with this.

• Reduced costs: Businesses save money by using wireless access points instead of conventional infrastructure.

• Easy to manage: As they require less upkeep and are less likely to have issues, wireless access points are frequently simpler to maintain than wired networks.

Some of the disadvantages and limitations of using Wireless Access Points are listed below.

• High cost: Some individuals believe that wireless APs are a little bit pricey since businesses will incur increased costs when their corporate wireless network is scaled up, requiring additional wireless APs. So, controlling costs is a top issue for businesses, which makes many individuals unwilling to utilize wireless APs in favor of residential wireless routers with inferior performance.

• Inability to be used alone: So, unless it's a huge hotel or a public space, many people would initially think of wireless routers instead of wireless AP when the mention of constructing wireless networks is made. The major reason is that a wireless AP must be used in connection with other devices such as switches, controllers, ethernet hubs, etc. A wireless AP cannot be utilized alone and cannot be directly linked to an ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop) modem. As a result, many users would find it to be exceedingly problematic and less convenient.

  Figure 1. Disadvantage of WAP/can't be used alone

• Poor stability: Unstable performance targets cable networks. Cable networks use wires for transmission whereas wireless networks use air for the same purpose. Knowing that the cable network is quicker and more reliable than the wireless network is not difficult. Wireless AP only performs well when a cable network cannot be built.

Both a range extender and an access point (AP) are networking tools used to increase a network's wireless reach. They serve different functions and have different goals, though.

A device called an access point joins a wired network and enables wireless devices to connect to it. Wireless devices connect with other devices on the wired network thanks to this bridge between the wired and wireless networks. A wireless access point is frequently used to establish a new network or to increase the coverage of an existing one.

A range extender, as the name suggests, extends the range of an existing WiFi network. Range extenders must be installed where the WiFi router's signal is already strong since they connect wirelessly to them, not where the dead spot is. If your WiFi router is located in the basement of a two-story structure, for example, placing a range extender on the bottom level (where WiFi coverage is still good) removes any possible dead zones on the second floor.

A range extender is used to amplify and retransmit an existing wireless signal to extend its range, whereas an access point is used to establish a new wireless network or increase the coverage of an existing network by offering a physical link to the network.

A device used to connect devices to an existing local network is an access point. It's typical in workplaces and commercial buildings for many APs to be located there and provide internet access. The primary router will continue to handle device addresses and internet traffic even when routers are configured to operate in AP mode.

Although not all routers have a specific AP mode, they can nevertheless function as one. The same outcomes will be obtained by disabling routing services and allocating a special IP address. An AP couldn't have the same IP address as a home router, which is typically 192.168.1.1. The address can be changed to any unoccupied number to stop competing traffic and enable communication between the devices.

Devices connect to any AP that is configured with the same username and password as the router without having to re-authenticate. While traversing through wide areas, the nearest AP or router with the best signal is automatically chosen. Being able to move about without ever losing internet connectivity is essential for running a successful business or maintaining a cozy home.

A local area network is created by the router, which controls all of the connected devices and communication. On the other hand, an access point is a sub-device of the local area network that enables more devices to be connected to the network and offers another place for devices to connect from.

All of the access points can serve as routers, however not all access points can serve as wireless routers. Access points often only provide access to the router's established network, whereas routers administer local area networks, interface with external network systems, collect, distribute, and dispatch data in many directions, establish a point of communication, and maintain security.

Routers can provide either wired or wireless connectivity to many end-user devices, whereas an Access Point (AP) primarily is designed to support wireless devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Fundamentally, an access point (AP) enhances the wireless functionality of a wired network. A router integrates the functionalities of an access point (AP) with the capabilities of a broadband router, therefore merging the local area network (LAN) and internet.

Commonly, wireless routers serve&#;residential homes and&#;small businesses, where a single device that integrates access point (AP) and routing capabilities can easily fulfill the rather limited user requirements.

How many access points will be required is frequently one of the first queries people have when designing a WiFi installation. The following details must be provided in order to give the best response in the access point deployment:

• Area of Coverage and Floor Plan

• Area's dimensions and floor layout

• Material for buildings or walls

• Number of users

• Requirements for capacity/throughput per user/application

The estimate will be very approximate without knowing the information above. But for those who merely want a starting point, a ballpark estimate is one access point for every 30 users or square feet per access point for most scenarios.

A smart place to start is by knowing the area in square feet or meters. A very basic estimate is that there should be one entry point for every square feet/150 square meters, as was described before. Here are the presumptions for this number.

• Typical Workplace Or Residence

• Area With A Rectangular Or Square Form

• Single Floor Area

• Cubes Or Drywall Partitions

• Basic Prerequisites For Streaming and The Internet

Knowing the area's shape is necessary for a more accurate estimation. The internal area may be the same as point #1 if the space has an "L," "H", or "T"-shaped floor plan, however, it is unlikely that access points can be installed at a location that will be central to all users without the signal traveling through several external or inside walls. The following many factors can be employed for each sort of floor layout in these instances.

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• Square footage estimate by two for an L-shape building.

• Multiple square foot estimate by three for the T shape.

• H Shape: Fourfold the square footage estimate.

Knowing the type of material used in each wall is necessary for a more accurate estimate. The number of access points required will rise if the interior wall is made of brick, cement, or cinderblock. If you need a general estimate, one access point should be present per 75 square meters or 800 square feet. The low-strength client signal returning to the access point, rather than the access point signal itself, is typically the major problem.

Knowing the user count will help with improving the aforementioned coverage estimations. When the location is designed for a high number of users, such as lecture halls, auditoriums, and stadiums, estimating the access point count using the number of people or devices is preferable.

For instance, a huge sports arena with a rectangle-shaped seating bowl and 80,000 people has dimensions of 650 feet by 750 feet. An access point may easily span 10,000 square feet thanks to outdoor WiFi signal dispersion, but we'll go with the more typical figure of square feet per access point from earlier. 487,500 square feet / = 305 access points when calculating coverage alone.

User count-based estimation is more accurate. There will be 40,000 WiFi users if it is assumed that just 50% of the spectators would connect to or utilize WiFi. We may estimate that, out of those 40,000 WiFi users, 25% are actively utilizing WiFi at any one moment. Considering the aforementioned assumption of 30 people per access point, a stadium with 80,000 seats would require roughly 334 access points.

The aforementioned estimations are mostly based on the number of access points required to provide a strong signal to all users (-67 dBm or greater / 4+ bars). This leaves out a number of elements that frequently contribute to WiFi's inefficiency in settings with lots of people.

Estimating the number of access points based on needed capacity is a different approach. The outcomes for the stadium scenario in #4 might look somewhat like this.

• Choose a throughput rate per user of 1 Mbps or kbps.

• Estimated adoption/take rate for users who will connect to WiFi: 50%.

• 25% is the estimated percentage of people that are concurrently online.

• 20 Mbps per AP is the desired throughput per AP/RF efficiency (5 GHz).

AP Throughput Divided By User Throughput = Users Per AP

20 Mbps / 1 Mbps = 20 users per AP sharing 20 Mbps

Users Per AP Divided By Active Users = Serviceable Users Per AP

Just 1/4 of the sitting area's 80 users will have access to WiFi simultaneously (20/0.25)

Serviceable Users Per APDivided By Take Rate/Adoption Rate = Service Area/Cell Size

80 divided by 0.5 is 160 users per cell/seating area (half will utilize WiFi).

Stadium Spectator Capacity Divided By Service Area = AP Count

500 APs for an 80,000-seat stadium with 160 users per cell.

Wi-Fi was preceded by the first wireless access points. In , RangeLAN2, a product of Proxim Company (a distant relative of Proxim Wireless), was the first of its kind. Soon after the first commercial Wi-Fi devices arrived in the late s, access points became widely used.

Although some APs are wired devices, the industry progressively switched from calling them WAP devices to calling them AP devices (in part to prevent confusion with Wireless Application Protocol).

Virtual assistants for smart homes have gained popularity recently. They include Google Home and Amazon Alexa, which connect wirelessly to an access point just like laptops, smartphones, printers, and other peripherals to become part of a wireless network. They provide voice-activated web browsing and home-related device control over the Wi-Fi network that the access point supports, including lighting, thermostats, electrical appliances, televisions, and more.

A wireless access point is essential for any business or institution that needs to support many wireless Internet users. Compared to a traditional wireless router, the wireless access point offers several distinct advantages. Read on to discover how a wireless access point can facilitate the best Internet connection for your needs. 

What Makes An Access Point Different Than a Router? 

Essentially, an access point is useful for enabling more devices to connect to a network while a router is what sets up a Local Area Network, or LAN. But let&#;s break down the details between these two technologies:

Routers 

A router connects multiple devices to form a LAN and provides Internet access to all devices connected to the router. Devices can connect to routers via Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi. For the router to distribute data to these devices within the LAN, the router must be connected to an Internet service provider&#;s CPE, or Customer Premises Equipment, via another Ethernet cable. A router acts as a hub that sets up a LAN and manages all devices and communication in it. 

Access Points

APs are wireless network devices that act as a portal for devices to connect to a LAN. An AP is useful for extending the wireless coverage of an existing network and increasing the number of potential users. High-speed Ethernet cables run from a router to an access point, which transforms the wired signal of the router into the wireless signal of the access point. An AP is a sub-device within a LAN that provides another location for devices to connect from, which enables more devices on the network without slowing down connectivity. A router can sometimes act as an access point, but not all access points can be routers. 

More User Access

While a wireless router can only support about 10-20 users access at a time, a wireless access point can allow over 50 or even hundreds of users access. The wireless AP has a much stronger ability to send and receive signals, which enables such high usage. If you are considering wireless Internet for a large area, using a wireless access point gives you a better guarantee of efficiency. 

Broader Transmission Range

A wireless router&#;s signal transmission can cover about a dozen meters before its signal is lost. A wireless access point, however, can cover up to 100-300 meters. The broad range is excellent for businesses that cover large office spaces or multiple buildings. With a wireless access point, employees can communicate across buildings and larger distances. 

Flexible Networking

The networking mode of a wireless router is low flexibility and relatively single. A wireless access point has a variety of modes to choose from, to encourage flexible usage. These modes include Simplex AP, Wireless Client, Wireless Bridge, Multi-point Bridge, and more. 

Multi-Access Point Interconnection

Multi-AP applications are often found in businesses. The coverage of a single AP may be too limited for a large enterprise, so to extend the coverage of wireless networks, a multi-AP interconnection will be used. The multi-AP interconnection allows clients to roam within the network seamlessly. 

What to Consider Before Installing 

Cost

The wireless access point will cost more than a wireless router because there is more coverage. If your business requires multi-AP interconnection, that will raise the price as well. However, the price is worth it for reliable and consistent Internet access. 

Equipment

A wireless access point needs to be used in conjunction with specific equipment, including switches, controllers, and ethernet hubs. The required equipment can be intimidating if you are installing yourself. However, if you hire a professional installer, they can set up your wireless access point and inform you of the necessary maintenance required to run the wireless AP.

Who Benefits From a Wireless AP?

A wireless router, which is cheaper and more straightforward, is best for home users and students who have basic Internet connectivity needs. Wireless access points are better for businesses because of its broad transmission range, high users access, and stronger signal sending and receiving capabilities. Wireless APs also have a better safety performance, which is essential for any business. 

 

Get in Touch with FiberPlus

FiberPlus has been providing data communication solutions for over 25 years in the Mid Atlantic Region for a number of different markets. What began as a cable installation company for Local Area Networks has grown into a leading provider of innovative technology solutions improving the way our customers communicate and keeping them secure. Our solutions now include:

•     Structured Cabling (Fiberoptic, Copper and Coax for inside and outside plant networks)

•     Electronic Security Systems (Access Control & CCTV Solutions)

•     Wireless Access Point installations

•     Public Safety DAS &#; Emergency Call Stations

•     Audio/Video Services (Intercoms and Display Monitors)

•     Support Services

•     Specialty Systems

•     Design/Build Services

FiberPlus promises the communities in which we serve that we will continue to expand and evolve as new technology is introduced within the telecommunications industry.

Have any questions? Interested in one of our services? Call FiberPlus today 800-394-, us at , or visit our contact page.  Our offices are located in the Washington, DC metro area, Richmond, VA, and Columbus, OH.  In Pennsylvania, please call Pennsylvania Networks, Inc. at 814-259-.

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