Designing a wireless network for your home or office can be a difficult task. This comes down to the myriad of readily available devices which you can implement in your network. Beyond the standard devices like your modem and router, there are also things like switches, access points, repeaters, mesh nodes, and many others. Making a wireless network cover the entirety of your space can also be a challenge, especially when considering the area of coverage needed.
So, with all this in mind, when do you choose to use an access point or repeater? Both of these devices fulfill a similar function, but they have some very key differences. Let’s clarify some of the networking jargon, peel back whatever misconceptions you have, and ultimately guide you to the right choice to make when designing a wireless network.
Access Point vs. Repeater: Side-By-Side Comparison
| Feature | Access Point | Repeater |
| Function | Extends the coverage of a router | Extends the coverage of a wireless signal |
| Connection Method | Ethernet cable | Wireless antenna |
| Requires Cabling | Yes | No |
| Can Be Used Wirelessly | Yes | Yes |
| Degrades Signal Quality | No | Possible |
- Provides dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1200 Mbps
- MU-MIMO allows the access point to support multiple devices simultaneously
- Four external antennas with Beamforming technology focus Wi-Fi signals toward your devices
- Extends Wi-Fi throughout your home or office
Access Point vs. Repeater: What’s the Difference?
While both of these devices function similarly, their actual usage couldn’t be more different. Both have their unique utility, however, and picking which one works best for your network relies on a few crucial factors.
How They Work
Before getting into the nuts and bolts of which of these devices to choose, let’s discuss what they are. An access point is a standalone device that you connect through ethernet cabling to the router itself. Once connected, this serves as a natural extension of the router’s capabilities. There are both standalone access points as well as wireless routers capable of being placed in an access point mode.
A repeater is a standalone device that receives the wireless signal from a router and repeats it, extending the base coverage. It needs no cabling beyond its power supply to function and acts as a relay of sorts to convey the original wireless signal.
Area Coverage
When it comes down to how these devices cover an area, it’s important to consider a few different aspects of how they work. Designing your network needs to take into account the actual area needed to be provisioned by the wireless signal. A single floor with a dozen or so users might be served well by a wireless router, but if you have multiple floors or a larger location it is important to provide a good quality connection across a wider area.
In this instance, especially for business owners, it’ll require the installation of an access point for each floor or wing of a building needing coverage. The access point itself acts as a natural extension of the router, and provisions network connections to users like the router itself. It does need external cabling, which in some cases requires running cables through floors, walls, and ceilings. It does provide a quality connection but requires a bit more work when it comes down to installation and configuration.
Contrasting this is a repeater, which simply just extends the wireless signal. This is done through the installation of a base station of sorts, which is near the main device, and the actual wireless repeater which is placed in an area where coverage isn’t ideal. It is important to note that a repeater doesn’t allow more users to access the same wireless network but rather serves as an extension of the coverage provided by the wireless signal. For example, if your wireless network can only realistically provision 30 users, a repeater isn’t going to add the capability of covering another 30 users. Instead, the repeater will simply allow those 30 users to access the wireless network from a further space.
Signal Strength
Designing a wireless network will rely upon delivering a good quality connection to all devices within the device’s range. Wireless signals only go so far, so if you’re looking to extend that range, you’ll be taking a look at one of these devices.
An access point’s signal strength is equivalent to the same signal being transmitted from the original router. As it functions as a separate point of contact for wireless transceivers, the quality of the signal can be ideal for multiple users.
Contrasting this is the repeater’s signal strength, which is highly reliant upon the strength of the signal being repeated. If you place the actual repeater in an area where the signal is weaker, it will repeat a weaker signal. The strength of a repeater instead is just extending coverage to just outside the edge of optimal coverage from the original wireless router. If you’re looking to extend the wireless signal across a far greater distance, installing an access point is a better choice.
Installation
Sometimes, adding new devices to a network requires a complete redesign of how your network functions.
This is especially true for access points, which are a bit more demanding in what they need to be effectively implemented in your network’s design. You’ll require extensive cabling through network closets or other I.T.-centered rooms for businesses. This is due to the need for cabling, with an access point requiring the use of hardwiring to function. As such, when considering access points, you’ll likely have to tweak or redesign certain segments of your network to better accommodate however many devices you’re using.
A repeater doesn’t require the end-user to completely redesign a network. By design these act as extensions for a network’s wireless signal rather than acting as a new means of connection. Installing a repeater just requires line-of-sight between the wireless receivers to act effectively.
- 300MBPS with 2.4GHz processor facilitate WEP/WPA/WPA2 security protocols
- 9K+ sq ft eliminates dead zones inside and outside
- Supports as many as 45 devices without bogging down
- Stable bandwidth for online gaming, video conferencing, and streaming HD video
- One tap WPS connects your device within 30 seconds
Access Point vs. Repeater: 4 Must-Know Facts
- An access point works like a natural extension of the router’s capabilities, while a repeater receives the wireless signal from the router and repeats it, extending coverage.
- The access point is connected using an ethernet cable, but a repeater connects via a wireless antenna.
- The repeater’s signal strength depends on the strength of the signal being repeated, but an access point’s signal strength is equivalent to the signal being transmitted from the original router.
- Installing a repeater just requires line-of-sight between the wireless receivers, but an access point may require hardwiring.
Access Point vs. Repeater: Which One is Better? Which One Should You Choose?
In almost all scenarios, choosing an access point is a better choice for servicing your network. You get a better quality connection, more users can connect, and it overall provides a better experience. The major drawback to consider is the actual installation, as they can require massive changes to your network to effectively implement. This is coupled with the need for actual hardwiring from your router. That means the location of the access point is going to be heavily dependent on how much cabling you can budget for.
Repeaters certainly have their place, and work well just to extend the range of a wireless network so more users can access it. They don’t provide a greater quality signal, but they certainly have a purpose. A repeater effectively acts as an extension cord versus the access point’s proverbial entirely separate power outlet.
If space and budget allow it, the access point is always the better choice. If you need to simply extend a wireless network, a repeater will readily do so.
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- 300MBPS with 2.4GHz processor facilitate WEP/WPA/WPA2 security protocols
- 9K+ sq ft eliminates dead zones inside and outside
- Supports as many as 45 devices without bogging down
- Stable bandwidth for online gaming, video conferencing, and streaming HD video
- One tap WPS connects your device within 30 seconds
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11/29/2023 05:20 am GMT - $39.99Buy Now
- Provides dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1200 Mbps
- MU-MIMO allows the access point to support multiple devices simultaneously
- Four external antennas with Beamforming technology focus Wi-Fi signals toward your devices
- Extends Wi-Fi throughout your home or office
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/29/2023 05:16 am GMT
