An access point or wireless access point allows multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones to connect to a wired network using wireless connectivity. It bridges the wired and wireless networks.
Access points have antennas to transmit and receive radio frequency signals and create a wireless “hotspot” with a specific coverage area. They support different Wi-Fi standards like 802.11a/b/g/n/ax for different speed and range requirements. 802.11ax is the latest and fastest standard.
Access points operate in infrastructure mode with a distribution system SSID and password or in ad-hoc mode with a peer-to-peer network. Infrastructure mode is more commonly used for home and enterprise networks.
Access points require a wired internet connection to provide network access to connected Wi-Fi devices. They allow the wireless devices to access network resources like internet, files, printers, etc.
Enterprise grade access points are more rugged, secure and support features required for large corporate networks like load balancing, band steering, captive portals, VLANs, QoS, etc. They provide better performance and management.
Mesh access points can automatically form and maintain connections between each other and provide seamless roaming as Wi-Fi devices move around the network. They eliminate the need for wiring backhaul connections between access points. Mesh networks are self-organizing, self-healing and provide wider coverage area.
Bridging access points allow two separate networks to connect and operate as one at the data link layer. Routing access points forward traffic between networks at the network layer. Bridging access points are easier to set up but limited in capabilities.
Cloud-managed access points allow remote monitoring and configuration through a network management system hosted on the cloud. This simplifies deployment and management of large wireless networks with multiple access points.
Common access point types are residential gateways, small office access points, enterprise access points, mesh access points, bridging access points, etc. The type selected depends on requirements like coverage area, scalability, security, performance, cost, etc.
