Wireless Access Points

Wireless Access points basically refer to the specially configured nodes on WLANs i.e. Wireless Local Area Networks. Access points perform as the central transmitter and also as the receiver of WLAN radio signals. It is a device which is used from wireless communication devices to connect to the wireless networks through Wi Fi and Bluetooth or other related standards. The WAP connects to the router and relays data between both wireless and wired devices present on the network.

Before the introduction of wireless networking, setting up a computer network in a business, home, or school required many cables and wires passing through your walls and ceilings in order to carry network access to all the devices which are connected to the network inside the building. With the advent of the WAP, users are now able to add devices that provide access to the network with some or no cables. Now a day’s Wireless Access Points are constructed to support a specific standard for sending and receiving data using radio frequencies instead of cables. These standards and the frequencies which are used are decided by the IEEE. 802.11 is the most common WAP standard.

Accesses points are used in small businesses or in homes and are mostly small and they support Wi Fi wireless communication. Whereas very small Wireless Local Area Networks can work without the wireless access points in the peer to peer and ad hoc access point modes.

Both of these modes bridge Wireless Local Area Networks through a wired Ethernet LAN and also level the network so that it may support more users. Previously the outdated models of wireless access points could only allow 10 to 20 clients maximum but with the passage of time and introduction of newer technology access points now allow up to 255 clients.