The difference between a router and an access point. Wireless Wi-Fi hotspots

It's no secret that despite the stated transmission capabilities Wi-Fi signal at a distance of up to 400 meters in open space and up to 100 meters indoors, the actual figures are significantly lower.

What is the problem with Wi-Fi

The culprit is barriers in the form of walls, interference with other wireless networks that are teeming with modern world, and the very power of wireless devices is often limited due to legislative regulation and banal economic reasons.

As a result, many users encounter problems with wireless connections via Wi-Fi in the form of slowdowns, freezes, and periodic Internet dropouts.

Surprisingly, this is faced not only by owners of large estates and office workers, but also by relatively small apartments, since the signal in them is often interrupted by interference from neighboring routers. I have seen this picture more than once in a Wi-Fi analyzer.

The most common Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n, operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and provides only 3 non-overlapping bands. So if wireless networks, which you see on your laptop or smartphone anymore, they begin to interfere with each other. There are several ways out of this situation.

Transition to 5 GHz frequency

This option is more radical and involves moving to the more modern 802.11ac standard with a frequency of 5 GHz, which provides significantly more non-overlapping bands. In addition, this frequency is not yet overloaded by other networks.

But the transition to the 5 GHz frequency also has several significant disadvantages. First of all, this is the need to purchase a more expensive Wi-Fi router.

You will also have to purchase a separate 802.11ac adapter for each device (computer, laptop) that does not support this standard. This is still a considerable additional expense.

Many smartphones and tablets cannot be connected at all, since they do not support the 5 GHz frequency, and connecting an adapter to them is quite problematic and inconvenient.

In addition, Wi-Fi at 5 GHz has significantly less range and is more likely to be blocked by obstacles. So in the case of even an average-sized apartment, 2-3 walls from the router can significantly drown out the transmitter signal.

2.4 GHz Signal Boost

In this case, everything is much simpler and cheaper; you only need to amplify the signal in the widespread 802.11n range, which is supported by all modern devices.

A stronger signal will be better able to penetrate walls, longer distance and dominate competing networks without being overwhelmed by interference.

Often, this is enough to change the router to another one with a more powerful transmitter and antennas with higher gain.

You don't have to purchase additional adapters for other devices, and smartphones and tablets will connect without any problems at all.

But this method also has several disadvantages. A more powerful router will cost 1.5-2 times more than a regular one. By installing such a router, you will disturb your neighbors and interrupt their Wi-Fi. In addition, excessive radiation in the 2.4 GHz range is not very good for health.

Installing an access point

The most reasonable and correct option would be to install an additional access point, which can be found both in the 5 GHz band and in the good old 2.4 GHz. This method has a number of significant advantages.

An access point is usually cheaper than a similar router in the same frequency range and it is specifically designed to relay the signal, while not all routers can operate in bridge mode.

In a large house or apartment, you can install several additional access points that will provide good coverage throughout the room. They are usually small and can be hung anywhere - on the wall, ceiling or just placed on the nightstand.

The access point is quite compact, does not require laying an information cable, it only needs an outlet nearby or a separate power cable, and some can simply be plugged into an outlet.

The power of the access point is limited to standard values; it will not interfere with your neighbors or provide unnecessary negative impact for health and at the same time will ensure a reliable connection of your devices to the Internet, as it will simply be closer to them.

You can purchase an access point at any computer store. But, if you are interested in quality professional equipment for a large residential premises or office in Ukraine, we recommend visiting the website http://www.technotrade.com.ua/catalog-654, where you can also purchase individual powerful antennas for remote areas or rural areas and a variety of network equipment.

Connection to unified network and getting subscribers online is always a complex and rather difficult task. Most often, when implementing this type of project in an apartment building, it is used twisted pair, distributed to subscribers’ apartments through switches or a fiber-optic network such as GPON with switching through passive splitters. Indeed, a cable line provides many advantages, which include connection stability, high speed and well-developed technologies due to their huge distribution. However, it is not always convenient to create cable line, and in such situations professional radio equipment comes to the rescue.

A good example would be a situation where it is necessary to connect a cottage community located over a large area to the provider’s resources. Here you will need many kilometers of cable, moreover, twisted pair, which is good for short distances up to several hundred meters will not work, therefore, you will have to use optical fiber, which is not cheap. It is immediately clear that in such a situation it is much easier to create a wireless network topology point-to-multipoint, deploying a base station to connect subscribers in the village, which in turn will be connected to the network via fiber optic or using a radio bridge.

Equipment to solve this problem can be found in the Ubiquiti arsenal. For example, Rocket hotspot with sector ones, AirMax Sector would be an excellent option for creating such a base station. You can connect the base station to the network either using Ubiquiti AirFiber via a radio bridge or via fiber optic. In any case, you will need a switch with optical interface SFP. The most rational would be to use all-weather EdgePoint models designed specifically for solving such problems. These all-weather switches, in addition to traffic distribution functions, are also capable of providing power conversion and distribution, receiving electricity through the terminal block with subsequent distribution of PoE via Ethernet ports.

Everything seems to be clear with the base station. The next question arises - what about the client equipment? The classic solution when used as part of a base station on Rocket M would be to use NanoStation. Access point well known for its reliability and time-tested. Depending on the range in which the base station operates - 2.4 or 5 GHz, you should select specific model NanoStation. So, for example, when connecting nearby subscribers to a 5 GHz base station, the simplest NanoStation Loco M5 is well suited. Its transmitter power of 23 dbm with a gain of 13 dbi will be quite enough to connect to a base station at a distance of up to a kilometer or two (if acceptable speed characteristics are obtained)

In the case of a slightly greater distance, it is better to use NanoStation M5 - an older version of the device, where the power of the radio module is already 27 dbm, and the integrated one has a gain of 16 dbi. Both devices are assembled in all-weather housings and do not require additional protection. Like all other AirMax M series equipment, access point supports two protocols wireless communication– WiFi 802.11 n, and proprietary AirMax polling protocol.

Here a few words should be said about WiFi features, Ubiquiti AirMax and collisions. In the CSMA-SA scheme, which uses WiFi, all devices listen to the air, and if there is no data exchange between other subscribers and the base station, they begin broadcasting. However, this principle of avoiding collisions is good when everything access points able to “hear” each other. But, if data exchange is carried out, for example, two NanoStation Loco M5 which are located on different sides from the base station at a distance of 2 km, then they definitely will not “hear” each other. Thus, cross-translation of data addressed to the base station is possible, resulting in errors - collisions. In the TDMA scheme, such a situation is excluded, since each access point receives individual time slots for sending data packets, thus guaranteeing the fundamental absence of collisions. The advantages of AirMax here are obvious.

IN lately Ubiquiti equipment has received a major update, with the release of new equipment of the AirMax AC series, which supports the eponymous version of the second generation proprietary protocol. If the AirMax M protocol made it possible to obtain speeds in the MIMO 2X2 scheme of up to 300 Mbit/sec, then the new AirMax ac in the same scheme provides real data exchange speeds of up to 450 Mbit/sec and even more. This increase in efficiency is mainly due to the support of 256QAM modulation, versus 64 qam on access points AirMax M.

Therefore, if you want to achieve maximum performance, more efficient equipment should be used latest generation. The base station here can be built similarly to the previous option using Rocket AC PRISME access points. But for maximum link efficiency, client devices should be used slightly different.

The most effective client equipment would be to use the latest IsoStation. The access point has several options with different diagram directivity - 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees, with gains from 13 dbi (for sector 90 degrees) to 19 dbi (for 30 degrees) with a transmitter power of 25 dbm. According to reviews from integrators and users, new ones show highest level efficiency and, in some cases, allow communication to be established over short distances even in the absence of line of sight. You can read more about this.

At great distance client from the base station, you can use radio bridges of the PowerBeam series, which are equipped with highly directional parabolic bridges with a gain of 29 dbi in the older model PowerBeam 5ac-620. Unlike access points IsoStation and PowerBeam are more cumbersome and, due to the narrowed directional pattern, require precise adjustment during installation, but they allow you to connect to the base station at a maximum distance.

By the way, with the release operating systems AirOs 6xx for AirMax M series equipment and AirOs 8xx for AirMax AC, compatibility of AirMax M5 equipment operating in the 5 GHz frequency range with base stations (access points) AirMax AC. The data transfer rate will be limited to the maximum possible for specific device AirMax M. Thus, when upgrading the network and switching to AirMac AC equipment, there is no need to simultaneously replace all client equipment, which greatly simplifies the process of such an upgrade.

In general, there are no strict dogmas; you can experiment with various compatible equipment Ubiquiti when building a client-base station connection. However, the diagrams above are most often used and demonstrate good results. A separate topic is the creation of demons wired network on non-standard frequency ranges when the main ones are very noisy, and we will definitely talk about this in our next notes.

Wi Fi is used to transfer data between devices and the advantage of this method is its ability wireless transmission information via radio channels. Wi Fi is used to distribute the Internet, especially in places where people use portable devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, netbooks, etc.). Also today, everyone can set up a Wi-Fi network at home to connect to the Internet all devices that include Wi-Fi module, and this requires only one incoming cable from the provider. And, already using a router, you can connect any number of devices.

If you only connect to wired Internet, you can only connect one device at a time. network card, but for others it will be necessary to additional fee install cables throughout the apartment. But tablets and smartphones can only be connected via Wi Fi, so if you have these devices in your house, and laptops too, then it’s better to make a hotspot at home Wi-Fi access. The great advantage of such a network is wireless connection, which allows you not to tie the device to only one point where there is an Ethernet connector (RJ-45). And places to connect to Wi-Fi are limited only by the range of the router. Also, the advantages of this network include a set of uniform standards for all manufacturers. That is, all equipment is capable of connecting to the network if it has a Wi-Fi logo. In addition, several devices can simultaneously connect to the router at the same time.

Router for Wi-Fi point

To organize a Wi-Fi access point at home, you will need a router. A router is a device that will coordinate signals in wired internet And wireless signals in radio channels that come from or to our devices. When purchasing, you need a Wi-Fi router, and not a router that can be used to branch out a wired Ethernet network.

Wired Internet can provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi network, therefore, when buying a router, you need to look at the speed that it can support (in the passport it may be called “routing speed”). There are several Wi-Fi network standards, they differ in data transfer speeds. Real speeds are always lower than the maximum possible for each standard by about 2 times. But even with such a decrease real speed can reach tens of Mbit/s, which is quite enough for normal operation several connected consumers. It would also be useful to have a USB connector in the router, which can be used to connect to home network printers, scanners, etc. Printers that support Wi Fi can be connected like other devices via a wireless network. But if there is no such support, then a USB connection will help you organize a home network with a printer and other devices.

Many companies today produce network equipment, including routers. Therefore, you will have plenty to choose from. Any Wi-Fi router will have several connectors. One of them is WAN, this input is used to connect the incoming Internet cable. There may also be several LAN connectors to connect other devices via cable. This is when the router can also act as a router. May be USB port. And a connector for connecting the power supply. There should also be power on/off and reset buttons to return to factory settings.

Setting up the router

After purchasing and unpacking the router, you need to connect it to configure it. We connect the Internet input to the WAN connector, and to the output LAN cable to connect a computer.

After that, turn on the router, insert the disk that comes with the router into the computer, and install everything necessary drivers and programs. The disk may also contain a program with which you can make all the settings for the router. Or you can make these settings through the browser.

In order to enter the router settings through a browser, you must enter a address bar the address that is written on the sticker on the bottom of the router. There should be an IP address of 4 groups of numbers (for example, something like this: 192.168.1.1). There is also a login and password for accessing the admin part of the router settings.

IP address, login and password to enter settings

If it is not indicated on the router this information and it’s not in the instructions, then you can follow the path on the computer “Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center shared access» and in the window that opens, select “Change adapter settings.” And here you should see the “Local Area Connection” item.

By clicking on it 2 times, you will be taken to the network status menu.

By clicking on “Information” you will open a window with various information, but you need two lines.

This will be the IP address of the router and its value and enter it into the address bar of the browser. You will be asked to enter your username and password. By default, the login is “admin” and the password is “admin”. If everything is correct, a window with information about the network will open in the browser.

router settings window

To configure you need:

1. create an internet connection
2. create access to local network
3. make security settings (change the login password to the admin part)

Connecting the router to the Internet

First, go to the WAN section, where you will configure your Internet connection.

There you can configure several types of connection depending on the conditions of the provider. Set "dynamic IP address". Most providers give users a dynamic address.

After that, click “apply”, the settings page should reload (this is the router rebooting). After this, the computer should already be connected to the Internet.

If you choose PPPoE, also a common option, in this option the provider gives you a login and password, and may also give DNS addresses servers and others additional settings. Additional settings vary by provider. Basically it's just a login and password. That is, select the PPPoE item, enter the login and password from the provider, click “apply” and the computer from which the settings are made will be connected to the Internet.

If you need to select L2TP as the WAN connection (all these points depend on the provider), then in addition to the login and password, you also need to enter the server name. In addition, you may need additional information. All this information is issued by the provider and does not depend on the brand of the router.

There may also be a “static IP” for the WAN connection. In this case, you need to enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway and possibly DNS addresses.

additional data when selecting "static IP"

All the options considered are possible if you have everything necessary information from providers. What if you don’t know this data? Then you can view them on your computer. How to do it.

After entering all the data in the WAN setup window, you click “apply” and the router reboots.

Additional router settings

After that, you enter the “Wireless Network” section.

In the “SSID” item you specify the name of your network, which will be displayed in the list of wireless networks available for connection.

For WPA encryption, select “TKIP”.

Install "WPA pre-shared key", which will be the password to log into the network. This password is needed to protect your Wi-Fi connection from intrusion by strangers. After all, the Wi Fi network can extend to other apartments within the coverage radius specified in the passport.

After that, click “apply”.

After these settings, the router should already distribute Wi-Fi Internet.

If you need to change your login and password to enter the admin part, then you need to go to “additional settings”. Next, in the “Administration” section, look for the “System” item.

After logging into the system section, you will be able to change your login and password.

After that, click “apply” again and the router will reboot.

You also need to configure the security of your network connection and your router is ready to use Wi-Fi distribution at your home.

Today the range wifi equipment simply huge. It is often quite difficult for the average user to make a choice. And the subsequent setup of the router will not be complete without understanding simple technical Wi-Fi characteristics routers or access points. In order not to make a mistake with a purchase, you need to know which one wireless equipment suitable for your computer, as well as for everyone mobile devices. Now we will tell you how to choose the right one wifi point access.

For home use, when connecting several desktop computers, smartphones, tablet computers, perfect wifi router, equipped with an access point function. From a functionality point of view, a significant parameter is the wireless communication standard.

Antenna selection. Without exception, all access points are equipped with internal antennas. Their number and signal amplification parameters will determine the distance confident reception. If, for example, all your wireless devices will be located in the same room, then the choice should be made in favor of an access point without external antennas. Access points with two or three external antennas are used only when it is necessary to distribute the Internet within a large house. For an average two-room apartment, a device equipped with one or two external antennas. If you need to transmit the Internet through a large number of thick walls, then you should take a closer look at devices with three antennas. If the antenna does not cope with the task, then it is worth purchasing PowerLine equipment.

DHCP function servers. This feature allows the wireless access point to dynamically assign IP addresses to all connected devices. This useful option allows you to significantly simplify the configuration of wireless equipment.

Built-in firewall. Firewall- this is a kind of filter for incoming traffic. If you care about the security of your computer, as well as everyone mobile devices, then it’s worth taking a closer look at devices with this function.

It is unlikely that anyone can imagine their life without the Internet. To date world wide web covered both computers and mobile gadgets. Moreover, the connection speed on smartphones and tablets sometimes even exceeds that of desktop PCs. If you want to organize high-speed wireless connection at a reasonable price, then you should know how to choose the right access point.

Selecting a device

Stylish and ultra-fast Buffalo WZR-1750DHP

Transmitter power and antenna gain

These are two main parameters that are responsible for the quality of signal reception and transmission. As you might guess, the transmitter power characterizes the level of radiation at the output, that is, it determines the range of signal propagation by the access point. For home use you can select a device at 13-17 dBm.

As for the gain (directivity) of the antenna, this parameter determines the level of radiation in certain directions. The principle of operation of the KU can be explained using the example of a flashlight: the larger the radius of the light beam of the flashlight, the closer it shines, than when the light flux has a smaller radius. It’s the same with an antenna: the wider the directivity coefficient, the higher its dissipation and the lower its gain. Returning to access points, we can say that antennas with indicators in the region of 9-10 dBi are capable of organizing an excellent signal only in certain areas of the room. Analogues with a 4-5 dBi control unit distribute an even signal throughout the house.

We take into account data encryption

First-class data transfer speeds are, of course, good, but neither a budget nor the most “advanced” access point can do without the proper level of protection. And if the problem were only unauthorized connection of users looking for free wifi. The point is that with the set special programs and skills, hackers are able to completely stop the operation of your station. To prevent this, be sure to consider the type of data encryption.

We strongly recommend choosing a device with WPA2 security. This is the type of encryption that the Wi-FiADSL access point has. Thanks to the application AES algorithm, the level of information security, compared to the WEP and WPA standards, is significantly increased.

Reliably protected D-link DSL-G804V

Additional features

In addition to the basic types of capabilities, some access points have additional functions. Sometimes they come in very handy, and therefore it’s worth paying attention to their list:

• The print server function allows you to connect a printer to the station and make it accessible to any computer on the local network;
• PoE support provides the ability to transmit both data and electrical energy via regular twisted pair on remote devices in an Ethernet network;
• The FTP server allows you to work with the access point as a device for storing files on its hard drive or on a connected USB flash drive;

We decide on the manufacturer

When the selection according to all the necessary parameters is completed, you can proceed to selecting the company that developed the access point. This is also important point, because the more authority a company has, the greater the confidence in its products.

Now the clear industry leaders are D-link, TP-LINK, Asus, ZyXEL and TRENDnet. Among the list of devices produced by these manufacturers are: budget solutions for performing basic tasks, as well as multifunctional products for serious work. The choice is truly huge - you just have to make it.

Choose any one for yourself

Resume

Do you want to distribute Wi-Fi to mobile gadgets from an existing network? Or maybe you need to combine several PCs into one network? In this case, the access point is the device that you were looking for and have already found. But in order to choose it correctly, it is necessary to take into account many nuances: type, Wi-Fi standard, transmitter power and other details - we tried to talk about all this as clearly as possible in our article. We hope you found the above information useful.