What is the difference between a wireless AP and a wireless router?
Functional application of AP:
An important function of the AP is relay. The so-called relay is to amplify the wireless signal once between two wireless points, so that the remote client can receive a stronger wireless signal. For example, I placed an AP at point a and a client at point c, with a distance of 120 meters between them. The signal from point a to point c has been weakened a lot, so I put an AP at point b at 60 meters midway. As a relay, the signal of the client at point c can be effectively enhanced to ensure the transmission speed and stability.
Another important function of AP is bridging. Bridging is to link two endpoints to realize data transmission between two wireless APs. If you want to connect two wired LANs, you generally choose to bridge through APs. For example, I have A wired LAN composed of 15 computers, point b has a wired LAN composed of 25 computers, but the distance between the two points ab is very far, more than 100 meters, it is impossible to connect via wired, then how to connect the two LANs Together? This requires setting up an AP at point a and point b each, and enabling the AP bridging function, so that the local area networks at points ab can transmit data to each other. It should be reminded that for APs without WDS function, there is no wireless signal coverage at the two points after the bridge.
1. Advanced features:
Under the control of AC, enterprise-level APs can realize responsible functions such as seamless roaming and radio frequency optimization. These technologies are more complicated and may not be used in the home environment. However, it is very important for enterprise-level scenarios with many customers and high requirements. Significant, but also very valuable technology, these technologies make the product premium.
2. Pre-sale and after-sale technical support:
The wireless network environment is very complicated, and wireless deployment is even more complicated. Enterprise-level products generally provide pre-sales network planning, installation, debugging, optimization, and professional after-sales support at the same time. This kind of service is also very valuable and will be reflected in The price of the product.
3. Centralized management:
Home routers or APs can only be configured one by one. The maintenance of 30 APs is a lot of work. If the network is as large as 300 APs or even 3000 APs, the network administrator may go crazy, so concentrate Management is a must in the corporate network. Centralized management can also perform statistics, analysis, and monitoring of the entire network, which is also not possible with household products.
Functional applications of wireless routers:
Wireless routers are actually wireless AP + routing functions. Many wireless routers now have AP functions. If your home is ADSL or residential broadband, you should choose wireless router instead of wireless AP to share the network. If your home has a router, just buy a wireless AP, but for general industrial environment users, it is strongly recommended to choose the Ruigu industrial wireless router .
In the SOHO office environment, a wireless router can meet the demand. Through integrated broadband access router and wireless AP function, it can easily realize wireless network connection. Wireless routers generally include a network address translation (NAT) protocol to support network connection sharing, which is very useful for soho office.
Another function is that the "master-slave mode" working in this mode will be regarded as a wireless client by the master AP or wireless router, such as a wireless network card or a wireless module. In this way, it is convenient for the network management to manage the sub-network in a unified manner, and realize a point-to-multipoint connection. The client of the AP is multi-point, and the wireless router or the main AP is one point. This function is often used in the connection of wireless LAN and wired LAN. For example, point a is a wired LAN composed of 20 computers, point b is a wireless LAN composed of 15 computers, and point b already has a wireless router. If a wants to connect to b, add an AP to point a, turn on the master-slave mode, and connect the AP to the switch of point a, so that all computers at point a can connect to point b.
Because part of people's indoor network environment is a high-density environment, if the location of wireless APs are too close, it will greatly affect the use of the network. This principle is the same as the microwave oven will affect the wireless network. Therefore, current enterprise-class wireless APs will be equipped with anti-interference functions.
