Do you need assistance choosing a wireless router or access point? Please send help!
Do you need assistance choosing a wireless router or access point? Please send help!
I’m trying to clarify the distinction between an Access Point and a Wireless Router in my home setup. My ISP uses a Netgear Modem, and I also have an ASUS Wireless Router. After some investigation, I’m considering two main options: using the router as a wireless access point or as a wireless router itself. If I set the ASUS router as a wireless access point, can I still connect my devices (like PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X) over a wired connection to my ISP modem? And if I opt for an Access Point, can I link my devices via Ethernet cables from that router while also using it to extend the wireless signal? I’m also thinking about future plans to add a router for outdoor use—would a wireless router or an access point be more suitable then? Your insights would be really helpful!
Your on the right track trying to fully understand things... but your not quite there. Modem does public to private IP translation (sort of, this isn't exactly whats going on, but think of the Modem as the bridge between your Public IP and your house). It "does almost nothing for you" when you think of appliances inside your house. It just always has to be there... Next is your router. A router does many things, it has a firewall in it, it does DHCP, it does routing. The Router is what hands out IP addresses (via DHCP) to all your devices connected to it, wires or wireless. Routers *usually* have IP address of 192.168.1.1, and all devices connected to it will get a 192.168.1.x, thats because they are part of that routers subnet. (there is A LOT more to this, and this is a very basic look at how this works, routers can have multiple subnets, etc etc, but for this, my explanation is fine). Routers have switches built into them, thats why they have multiple ethernet ports on the back.... those are just a switch. Wireless...... is also just a switch. WiFi routers have "wireless switches". Again, this is because all of the "smart routing" is done by the router, the "connecting to the router" is done via switches, either internal or external to the router. A wireless AP is just another wirless switch. a wireless AP doesn't have any "smarts in it", by that I mean it doesn't router. Just as a normal 4 or 8 port switch wouldn't. It just lets things communicate with the router, the router assigns out IP's and does all network translation work. Hopefully this makes some sense... With that info, you NEED a router between your modem and everything else. Without one, you 1) won't have a firewall which is REALLY important 2) will only be able to connect 1 device at a time to the internet. It has to go Modem -> Router -> switches. Wireless AP's are just a wireless switch, so it goes after the router
You can still utilize the ports normally when switching to AP mode. Connect the router to the upstream device using one of the switch ports instead of the WAN port on the AP. A 4-port router (with one dedicated to WAN) will have the WAN port inactive, leaving three ports available for your devices. For more ports, consider purchasing a switch.