What is the difference between a wireless access point and a wireless router?

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There is a distinct difference between a wireless access point and a wireless router. A wireless access point (AP) adds Wi-Fi capabilities to a wired network by bridging traffic from a workstation onto an Ethernet LAN. A wireless router integrates broadband router capabilities (such as acting as a gateway between the Internet and a local area network) and wireless AP functionality into a single device. In simple terms, a wireless router can be a wireless AP, but a wireless AP cannot be a wireless router.

What is a wireless access point?

A wireless AP connects a group of wireless stations to an adjacent wired LAN. Conceptually, an AP is similar to an Ethernet hub, but instead of relaying LAN frames to other 802.3 stations, the AP relays 802.11 frames to all other 802.11 or 802.3 stations on the same subnet.

What is a wireless router?

A wireless router connects a group of wireless stations to an adjacent wired network. Conceptually, a wireless router is a wireless AP combined with an Ethernet router. A wireless router forwards IP packets between your wireless subnet and other subnets.

Should your business use wireless access points or wireless routers?

Typically, wireless routers are used in residences and small businesses where all users can be supported by one combined AP and router. Wireless APs are used in larger businesses and venues where many APs are needed to provide services, such as covering a larger area or supporting thousands of users. Wireless access control can be centralized on one router rather than distributed across several separate routers.

Wireless routers also have basic firewall capabilities and use network address translation to share a single Internet address between multiple wireless stations. Most wireless routers also include a four-port Ethernet switch so that businesses can connect some wired PCs to the LAN and let them share Internet access. In other words, most wireless routers combine the functions of a wireless AP, an Ethernet router, a basic firewall, and a small Ethernet switch.