wireless router and access point

[santoshkurakula]

i'm bit confused with wireless routers and access points. are the both same. if not what is the difference between router and access point. when do we need them.

 

[The Stigenator]

Router = between your broadband modem and your pc. Seperates your network from the Internet by routing your packets to and from one ip group to another.

Ex. Broadband modem gives 189.134.55.100 as your ip. As you only have one ip and want to share you get a router with Netwotk Address Translation (NAT) and your internal pc on a wired connection has 192.168.10.x now they are seperate networks and the router joins them to work.

An accesspoint gives wireless access to your network. So when configured on the 192.168.10.x network, it allows computers to access the wireless network in that group

a wireless router combines an accesspoint into a router. It's one device that shares wireless and does routing.

Depending on your needs you get what's needed.

 

[JackMDS]

The so call Wireless Router is a combo unit that holds under the same plastic Box.

1. Routing circuits that mitigate between the Internet and the local Computers/Network.

2. Switch that make it possible to connect few computers via Network cable to form a Local Network (LAN) and get an Internet feed.

3. Access Point, does the same as a switch but does via wireless, thus No need for cables.
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Professional Networks usually use three different devices (Router, switch, and access point) to achieve max flexibility and solid performance.

End-Users Wireless Routers put the three devices in the same plastic box. It save space, reduce the price, and provides service to most "humble" End-users.