A wireless access point, also known as access point, is a device that connects
wireless communication devices to form a wireless network.
In a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access points
perform the role of a central transmitter/receiver of radio signals Although very small WLANs can function without
access points using peer-to-peer mode of communication; access points support "infrastructure" mode. This
mode bridges WLANs with a wired Ethernet LAN. Access points make it possible to communicate data from a wired to a
wireless medium. This mode also allows the expansion of the network to support more clients. Older and base model
access points allowed a maximum of only 10 or 20 clients; many newer access points support up to 255 clients.
Wireless networks conform to various standards such as; 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. Any wireless device you
purchase should be compatible with the network standard of your computer network. To make an informed network building
decision one must have an understanding of the various wireless network standards. Let us look at the common wireless
network standard.
1.1 - 802.11a
802.11a supports data transfer speed of 54 Mbps and transmits/receives signals in a 5 GHz range. This higher frequency
compared to 802.11b (2.4 GHz) limits the range of 802.11a. Also due to the high frequency signals have more difficulty
in penetrating through walls and other obstructions. Because 802.11a and 802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two
technologies are incompatible with each other. Some manufacturers offer hybrid 802.11a/b network devices, which support
both standards.
1.2 - 802.11b
802.11b supports data transfer speed of 11Mbps and transmits/receives signals in the 2.4 GHz frequency range. 802.11b gear
faces interference from appliances such as; microwaves and cordless phones, which also use the same 2.4 GHz range. The 2.4
GHz frequency is unregulated; manufacturers often prefer using unregulated frequencies as it lowers their production costs.
1.2 - 802.11g
In 2002 and 2003, WLAN products supporting a new standard called 802.11g were released in the market. The 802.11g standard
was designed with the intent of combining the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b standards. 802.11g supports bandwidth up to
54 Mbps, and it uses the 2.4 GHz frequency which allows it to cover a greater range. 802.11g is backwards compatible with
802.11b, what this means is that 802.11g access points are compatible with 802.11b wireless network adapters and vice
versa.
Most wireless access point models have built-in dual radios—one for 802.11a (5-GHz band) and one for 802.11g
(2.4-GHz band). These access points also support 802.11b; however the presence of "b" clients on the network,
will drop the performance of "g" clients down to "b" levels. An access point with dual band is more
versatile, in terms of supporting multiple networks than an access point with single band radio.
2.2 - Data Encryption
Security of the network is a major area of concern for wireless networks. To ensure better security of data being sent
over the wireless network, it is necessary to encrypt data before it is transmitted over the network. Encryption on a
wireless network is important because your wireless data will be broadcast across your entire neighborhood, so anyone
intent on gaining access to data on your network can intrude into your network and pry into your data. This is where
encryption comes in; encrypting the data that is sent over the airwaves makes it much more difficult for anyone to snoop
around on your network. The two most common ways to encrypt the data between your client and the access point are WEP,
and WPA.
2.3 - WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
All access points available today support WEP. You may be able to choose between 40-bit WEP and version that uses more
bits (104-bit, or 128-bit, or 152-bit) for its secret key. Devices that support 40-bit WEP are able to interoperate. As
WEP can essentially be cracked in the same amount of time regardless of the version you use, longer key lengths do not
add any additional security.
2.4 - WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
Quite a few newer access points and wireless clients also support WPA. WPA addresses quite a few security deficiencies
in WEP; hence a WPA encryption is more secure than WEP encryption.
2.5 - Number of Antennae
Access points with multiple antennas provide a more stable and reliable wireless link. Multiple antennas also help in
improving the potential data transfer rate. Opt for access points with more than one antenna if you want to extend the
range of your network and ensure better connectivity to the network.
2.6 - Data Transfer Speed
Remember, when you are networking, your connection is shared with all active users. Access points commonly available in
the market support a data rate of 11, 22 or 54 Mbps. Having an 11, 22, or 54 Mbps network connection does not make your
Internet connection "faster," however, it will allow faster data transmission between the users on the same
wireless network, which means faster file transfer between users.
2.7 - LAN Port
LAN ports are required to connect the access point to an existing LAN network. Most accesses points have at least
one LAN port. LAN ports make connectivity between wired and wireless networks possible.
2.8 - DHCP Support
Dynamic Host Configuration protocol is used to dynamically assign IP address to devices that connect to the network.
Devices on the network do not have a fixed IP address. Generally the administrator of the network grants IP address
to devices connected to the network. In a network with DHCP support, software is used to give IP address to devices
as and when they connect to the network. This allows wireless devices to easily connect to the wireless network, making
the task of adding devices to the network simple.
2.9 - Bluetooth Support
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology that allows wireless communication between devices. It runs on the 2.45
GHz band and offers a data transfer speed of 2Mbps. It is used to transfer data between cellular phones, PDAs and PCs.
2.10 - Data Transfer Speed
It is advisable to opt for reputed brands of access points as they provide better after-sales support for their products.
Cisco, Dlink and NetGear are some of the popular brands.
Access points play a crucial role in providing network access to wireless devices, hence proper consideration should
be given to all aspects of performance and usage before one selects an access point to be used in the network.
