Access Point vs. Gateway vs. Router What's the difference?

[uCsDNerd]

So, what exactly is the difference between an access point, gateway, and a router? Or are they all the same thing?

 

[dnoyeb]

Same thing. Or at least they should be unless some one is pusing the envelope on their definitions.

 

[ktwebb]

The gateway is the IP of the router, input into client machines, though some Mfg's call their routers gateways. Access Point, at least in wireless terms is just a hub. Just passes data indiscriminately. Not like a router/gateway at all. Wireless Routers are Access Points with additional routing hardware/software , usually with wired LAN ports.

 

[JackMDS]

It all depends on the person's need to be involved.

According to my wife:

Router, Gateway, Access Point ? They all are Network Gizmos, that take too much of the family funds.

According to my friend the CEO:

Router, Gateway, Access Point ? They all are parts of a Network that have to do with mediation.

According to my son (the teenager):

Well, it is like the Router - A device that moves network data from one segment of a network to another.

Gateway is like the place the connecting your Network to the outside.

Access point is like a combination Ethernet Walkie Talkie, and a Hub.

 

[JerryP]

I have a gateway, setup as an access point, connected to a router, which also doubles as a print server. The router is the smartest of the bunch. He knows how and where to direct traffic. The gateway could be almost as smart though limited to less traffic. But setup as an access point, he's not too smart, and just passes the traffic over to the router because he's the smartest. At least that's how I think it works.

 

[uCsDNerd]

I see. So basically if you have a Router with a switch you have all three of them then? Heh, my friends are ignorant then b/c they wanna use a wireless router with a wireless access point, but then that would just be redundant then right? Thanks for the info, it's really helpful.

 

[PlatinumGold]

So basically if you have a Router with a switch you have all three of them then? Heh, my friends are ignorant then b/c they wanna use a wireless router with a wireless access point, but then that would just be redundant then right? Thanks for the info, it's really helpful.

uhhh, no. a access point w/ a router gives you all three.

router w/ switch just gives you gateway, router and switch (hub) but still doesn't give you wireless access (access point)

about your friends ur on exactly, hey don't need both.

 

[JerryP]

A wireless router usually has 1 to 3 wired ports. If there is an area of your home or office where you cannot get a strong signal from a wireless adapter, you could connect, via CAT5 ethernet wire, an wireless access point to the wireless router. Under this circumstance, one has a wireless router and a wireless access point.
Typically, a wireless router offers more than a wireless gateway (AP). It allows more clients and also usually doubles as a print server for the network. SMC 7004ABWR and DI-713P are two examples.
However, if one already has a wired router, adding an Access Point, to be wired into the router, offers a wireless capability to an existing wired network. I have an SMC7004BR router connected to a desktop PC, a DSL modem, an HP printer and an Orinoco RG-1100 Gateway setup as an access point. On another floor, there is another desktop and a laptop, both using wireless adapters to communicate with the router via the RG-1100. This was cheaper and more flexible than replacing the router with a wireless version.