Some Users Think Of Router And Access Point As A Single Product, But This Is Not The Case. An Access Point Is A Device To Which Other Wireless Devices Are Connected, While A Router Is One Of The Main And Important Equipment Of A Network That Is Responsible For Directing Packets To Destination Nodes In An Internal Or External Network.

What is an access point?

An access point is equipment with the same function as a switch in cable networks, except its position is associated with wireless networks. Expenditures allow connecting multiple computer systems over wireless networks and creating a wireless local area network (WLAN). Given that the primary function of the access point is to connect Wi-Fi devices, it does not have much use alone.

In other words, to connect devices within a wired network to each other and eventually to the Internet, we need to click the access point to the router.

The router’s primary function is to assign IP addresses to devices on the Network, receive data packets from devices such as access points, connect the devices to the Internet, and provide a platform for implementing a wireless network. The access point creates a network name (SSID) by creating an access point so that other Wi-Fi devices can connect to the built-in access point using Wi-Fi.

Devices that connect to the Expend are connected on a local network, so they will have trouble accessing networked services such as file sharing. Note that in new wireless routers, routers and access points are provided to consumers as a single device, just as modems and routers are used as a single device today.

How to turn a router into an access point?

Many users put their old router aside after purchasing a new router, so it is possible to convert the second router to an access point without buying a unique access point. It would help if you did this. It is not very complicated and is easily achievable.

To do this, we use TP-link routers. This method connects the main router to the N-series TP-Link router via a LAN port. Also, since many of the devices used by users may not support the 802.11ac standard, there is no problem if your second router only supports the N series standard.

Note that we do not need the WAN port of the second router in this method. In the figure below, the router on the left is the primary router, and the router on the right is the access point.

Step 1:

Connect your computer to the second part of the LAN port on the T-TypeLink router using an Ethernet cable. Type the router’s IP address in your browser so that the user interface under the web router TIPLink appears. Then enter the relevant password to display the router settings page. While it is not possible to do this using Wi-Fi, we do not recommend doing so.

Step 2:

Go to Network> LAN from the menu on the left. In the LAN IP address field of the N-Series router, you must enter the same IP address as the IP address of the original router. Note that this IP address must be outside the range of IP addresses used by the central router DHCP server.

For example, if the DHCP server of the primary router uses IP addresses in the range 192.168.2.100 to 192.168.2.199, you must specify the IP address of the N-type router 192.168.2.x. The X character here must be outside the DHCP range. An address similar to 192.168.2.11 is appropriate.

After changing the LAN IP address, reboot the router to apply the changes. Note that you must connect to the NTypeLink router using the new IP address in the next visit.

Step 3:

Go to Wireless> Wireless Settings and specify the network name (SSID). This name can be the same or different from the name of the original router. Click the Save button after applying the change.

Step 4:

Go to Wireless> Wireless Security and specify the wireless network security mechanism. We suggest choosing the WPA / WPA2-Personal option, which is more secure. After selecting the desired option, click the Save button to apply the changes.

Using a dual-band router, you must repeat the same process on the 5 GHz band.

Step 5:

Go to DHCP> DHCP Settings, select Disable the DHCP Server, and click the Save button. If you do not disable the above option, the second router will automatically assign IP addresses.

Step 6:

Go to System Tools> Reboot and select Reboot to reboot the device.

Step 7: Connect the LAN ports of the main router to the NTypeLink router using an Ethernet cable. All LAN ports on the NTypeLink router now allow Internet access to the devices. It is also possible for Wi-Fi devices to connect to the Internet via the NTiplink router using the network name and password you set earlier.

This way, you can use your second router as an access point and increase the range of the Wi-Fi network without having to buy an access point.

last word

The access point allows wireless devices to connect to the Network, while the router connects the access point to external networks such as the Internet. The access point cannot redirect packets, but the router’s primary function is to route packets to the destination node.

The router can send packets received from various inputs to the intended outputs, but the access point only directs packets received from the Wi-Fi receiver to the wired interface. Routers use unique routing algorithms, one of which is the routing table, while exponents do not.