There has been a substantial increase in internet usage in this decade. Schools, businesses, colleges, multimedia, gaming, firms, commerce, government agencies, etc., are trying to establish their ventures and working models online, which has increased internet consumption at the domestic and industrial levels. Due to this, the demand for wireless fidelity or Wi-Fi services has also increased. However, it can be provided in many ways, such as access point networks and Wi-Fi routers, and extenders.
Access Point vs Wi-Fi Extender
The main difference between an Access Point and a Wi-Fi Extender is that an Access Point network is used in large offices and business houses, where a lot of people are connected to a single source of internet. Wi-Fi Extenders, on the other hand, can be used to provide internet access to small firms or households where there is relatively lower traffic.
The Access Point provides a centralized hub of internet connectivity for all the devices of a particular area. It creates an exclusive local area network using Ethernet cable for the desired area. This newly created wifi network can connect a lot of devices, which don’t have to be in immediate contact with the point.
Wi-Fi Extender is used to enhance or boost the existing range of Wi-Fi. It creates a secondary network after receiving the signals from the Wi-Fi router, which enhances the existing coverage. This replicated network can be used to connect more devices than before.
Comparison Table Between Access Point and Wi-Fi Extender
What is Access Point?
It can be defined as a device that provides a wireless internet connectivity hub for all nearby devices. A local area network or “LAN” is created around the vicinity of the connection. The router or modem is connected to the access point through an Ethernet wire and is fixed at a place. It can, thereby, connect more than 60 devices through Wi-Fi.
The Ethernet wire can also be extended, and the network area is enlarged. Access Points do not require a power supply as they are compatible with Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), i.e. a combination of Ethernet and power cord.
Access Points are often confused with hotspots and ad-hoc networks, but it is very different from both of them, as it is a fixed device, unlike hotspots, and it can connect more devices than an ad-hoc network. A single Access Point network is enough to provide connectivity in companies, offices, restaurants, cafes, etc.
Several Access Points are used to create a large network area, such as at airports, railway stations, etc. Moreover, the residential areas and households generally use access points connected with routers. There are some additional features such as Access Control List support and Captive Portal, which help in limiting the use and managing users within the Wi-Fi area.
What is Wi-Fi Extender?
Wi-Fi Extender is also known as “Range Extender” or “Wireless Repeater”. As the name suggests, this device is used to boost the range of existing Wi-Fi networks. This device is mostly used in multi-floored houses and small-scale firms. It captures the signals from the router and creates a secondary network from it.
This copied or additional network provides support to the existing network thereby, increasing the range of that. It helps to cover those areas of the user’s house which do not come under the network area and are potentially a “dead spot”. To enhance the connectivity, the range extender should be installed at a place with strong coverage and not near a dead spot.
An extender is generally installed near the router. Due to this enhancement, it can connect about 20 devices in its vicinity. One major problem with the Wi-Fi extenders is that they can just increase the network coverage area and not the bandwidth of the connection.
Hence with an increase in the number of connections, there is a deterioration in the internet speed. This is the reason why they are not used at offices and firms. However, this might not be a problem at places where the work is time-sensitive, such as household usage.
Main Differences Between Access Point and Wi-Fi Extender
- Access Points can provide connectivity to around 60 devices alone because of their larger network coverage area. Wi-Fi Extenders can just boost the connectivity of existing Wi-Fi networks to support around 20 devices.
- Access Point’s main function is to create a centralized network for all the devices. Wi-Fi Extender’s main function is to boost the network of an existing Wi-Fi by creating a secondary network out of its signals.
- Access Points do not face problems of low internet speed in their vicinity. Wi-Fi Extenders can deteriorate the internet speed substantially as the number of connections increases.
- Access Points are generally used at airports, railway stations, restaurants, schools, malls, residences, etc., to create a local area network. Wi-Fi Extenders are generally used for domestic purposes and not at big companies.
- The installation of an Access Point can be a bit costly. The Wi-Fi Extenders are installed at relatively lower prices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that both Access Points and Wi-Fi Extenders are very different from each other but have a similar function of providing connectivity. It is clear that both of them have their advantages and shortcomings, and their user base is also very different.
The Internet is more of a necessity these days rather than a luxury. Hence, the use and user base of the internet is going to increase in the future as well. Every user base has different requirements, and hence, they can set up an Access Point or a Wi-Fi router with a Range Extender as per their choice.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1637415/
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UZhcDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA256&dq=wifi+extender&ots=D6GclLfQJa&sig=66MDbrMYuOyHrPXDQys0OlThIoA