whats the difference between a router and a WAP?

[Spongo]

Enlighten me! Thanks...

 

[JackMDS]

If you mean Wireless Cable/DSL Router and an Access Point.

Access Points are usually more expensive.

Link to: Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point ? What should I get?

Link to: Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

 

[p0lar]

A router connects two separate networks together, either with or without the same media. An access point, when referred to in wireless terms (commonly), is basically an ethernet to wireless bridge. Some APs can incorporate routing algorithms and separate the bridge between the ethernet and wireless interfaces; however, it needs to be stated that technically they operate in separate OSI layers.

The wireless operates on layer 2 (and to some degree the first layer is different as well), the router operates in layer 3. A router + switch is layers 2 and 3 - so you can relate it, basically, to that.

Hope that helps.

 

[wjsulliv]

At the most basic level.

A wireless router is a wireless version of a router. It can be configured to assign IP addresses to client computer that connect to it. This is what you want to share a broadband type connection directly from the broadband modem.

A wireless access point is a wireless hub. It can not assign IP addresses, etc. What it will do is turn a wired connection (10/100/1000) and allow wireless clients to connect to that network. If you have a usb broadband modem and would have reason to share the broadband connection (Internet Connection Sharing) this would be one means of doing so.