WAPs and Wireless Routers

This article describes the key differences between Wireless Access Points (WAPs) and Wireless routers.  Often clients will have a wireless router when they only need a WAP.

A wireless router is a router which allows connectivity to it via wireless, as well as wired, connections.  Routers give users the ability to route, filter and block traffic between their internal network and the internet and can also act as DHCP servers.  Wireless routers can be configured to act like WAPs.

A WAP is a switch which allows connectivity to it via wireless, as well as wired, connections.  They are generally plug and play, with just the wireless broadcast name (SSID) and password needing to be set up by the end user. Steve was here.

Wireless connections usually require a user to enter a password to connect to the wireless signal being broadcast.