what is ap

AP is the HUB in the traditional wired network and is also the most commonly used device when building a small wireless LAN. The AP is equivalent to a bridge connecting the wired network and the wireless network. Its main function is to connect various wireless network clients together and then connect the wireless network to the Ethernet.

Most wireless APs support functions such as multi-user access, data encryption, and multi-rate transmission. Some products even provide complete wireless network management functions. . For small-range wireless LANs such as homes and offices, generally only one wireless AP can achieve wireless access for all computers.

The indoor coverage range of AP is generally 30m to 100m. AP products from many manufacturers can be interconnected to increase the WLAN coverage area. It is precisely because the coverage of each AP has certain limitations, just as mobile phones can roam between base stations, wireless LAN clients can also roam between APs.

Function

##WDS function

WDS, the wireless hotspot distribution system, is one of the wireless APs and wireless routers The special function is simply the relay and bridge function of the AP. It can realize communication between two wireless devices and can also amplify the signal. The SSID of the product can also be different. This is a very practical function. For example, if there are three neighboring households, each household has a wireless router or AP that supports WDS, so that the wireless signal can be covered by the three households at the same time, making mutual communication more convenient. However, it should be noted that the WDS devices supported by each brand of wireless router are limited (generally 4-8 devices can be supported), and WDS functions of different brands may not be able to link successfully.

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Functions possessed by wireless AP

An important function of AP is relay. The so-called relay is to amplify the wireless signal once between two wireless points, so that Remote clients can receive stronger wireless signals. For example, I place an AP at point a, and there is a client at point c. There is a distance of 120 meters between them. The signal from point a to point c has been weakened a lot, so I place an AP at point b, 60 meters halfway. As a relay, the signal of the client at point c can be effectively enhanced, ensuring transmission speed and stability.

Another important function of AP is bridging. Bridging is to link two endpoints to realize data transmission between two wireless APs. If you want to connect two wired LANs, you usually choose to bridge through AP. For example, I have a wired LAN consisting of 15 computers at point a, and a wired LAN consisting of 25 computers at point b. However, the distance between point a and point a is very far, more than 100 meters, and it is impossible to connect through wired connections. So what? What about connecting two LANs together? This requires setting up an AP at point a and point b, and turning on the AP bridging function, so that the LANs at point a and b can transmit data to each other. It should be reminded that for APs without WDS function, there is no wireless signal coverage at the two points after bridging.

The last function is "master-slave mode". The AP working in this mode will be regarded as a wireless client by the master AP or wireless router, such as a wireless network card or wireless module. This can facilitate the unified management of sub-networks by the network management and realize point-to-multipoint connection. The AP client is multi-point, and the wireless router or main AP is one point. This function is often used in the connection between wireless LAN and wired LAN. For example, point a is a wired LAN composed of 20 computers, point b is a wireless LAN composed of 15 computers, and point b already has a wireless router. If a wants to access point b, add an AP at point a, turn on the master-slave mode, and connect the AP to the switch at point a, so that all computers at point a can connect to point b.

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