Nowadays the increasing technology and rapid developments in the digital world such as AI tools etc. have led to more and more use of Wi-Fi networks. In this era, people always want to use a more convenient and fast working network so they always look for the best router and access points.
This has led people to wonder which is better among the two, an access point or a Wi-Fi range extender. So let’s take a look at the wireless access point vs extender. The wireless access point is a set up in a range of areas where it allows your gadgets to connect to any network and transmit signals. You can stay connected to your network while being anywhere.
Wi-Fi range extenders also commonly known as boosters are devices that are set up to enhance weak signals or further boost a Wi-Fi signal. They also sometimes function as centralized access points. To further understand the difference between the functions of both these devices, let’s have a look further
Features of a wireless access point:
A wireless access point allows nearby devices to connect to a local area network.
- It works as a central access point for all the nearby devices that are connected to the network.
- It works with the receiving and transmission of information between the devices connected over the local area network.
- A wireless access point is either installed inside a router or can be connected through an Ethernet cable to the router for its functioning.
- A wireless access point is a crucial part of the infrastructure of a wireless local area network that provides access to any network resources that a particular wireless device or user may be authorized to access.
- To increase the coverage of an existing wired network, access points are typically utilized in large corporations or workplaces with few employees.
Features of a Wi-Fi-range extender:
- An extender device is normally used to extend the current signals of your Wi-Fi network over the desired area to gain more coverage.
- A wireless Wi-Fi extender solves the problem of weak connections or poor signal strength of the network in certain parts of your home by boosting the signals to all areas.
- The extender boosts signals by repeating the same signal your Wi-Fi sends out on a second network that it creates to extend signal strength. This lead to boosting the signals coverage from your main booster eventually.
- It can boost the wifi signals up to the range of 2500 feet.
Which is better: a Wi-Fi extender or an access point?
The access point functions like a centralized gateway on a wireless local area network and grants access to any network resources that a particular wireless device or user may be authorized to access. A router or an Ethernet cable is used to connect it to a router.
A wireless extender duplicates your router’s wireless signal to increase its range by establishing a second network, thus increasing the first router’s coverage. For better performance, it should be kept at 20 feet from the wifi device. So both these devices have their own set of different functions but a wireless access point is considered more helpful as it supports improvements in wireless functions more than an extender
Wrap up:
A wireless access point and a Wi-Fi extender perform their functions efficiently but as an extender can only work in limited areas of range to boost your existing signals, the wireless access point can be more helpful in connection to other devices over the local area internet as well as improving the signals as well.
