What's the difference between Access point and Router?

Question

I want to know the difference between access point and router. I am making an assignment on building a wireless LAN for small business which will connect to larger network (WAN). Which one should i use? Access point or Router?

Answer 1

access point is the device that allows the wifi devices to gain access to the wired network.

a router is used to route the connection, to connect the LAN to the WAN. The router is also a firewall and can be used as a simple server.

You need to use a router from your LAN to gain access to the WAN. If you are planning wireless, use the access point for the wirelss devices to join the LAN.

Answer 2

A Router connects your internal lan (network) with the internet.

A router may include wired ports and an antenna for wireless access. The router will usually give out internal (LAN) IP addresses to the devices attached to the router (or connected via wireless).

Some routers also include a DSL modem (like the Versalink gateway that Verizon bundles with DSL).

A wireless acess point (WAP) is the part of the router that lets wirless devices communicate.

The terminology is a bit confusing.

Answer 3

In computer networking, a wireless access point (WAP or AP) is a device that allows wireless communication devices to connect to a wireless network. The WAP usually connects to a wired network, and can relay data between the wireless devices (such as computers or printers) and wired devices on the network.

In packet-switched networks such as the Internet, a router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that determines the next network point to which a packet should be forwarded toward its destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and decides which way to send each information packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to. A router is located at any gateway (where one network meets another), including each point-of-presence on the Internet. A router is often included as part of a network switch.