If you were also confused about the difference between Wi-Fi routers and WAP routers and, more specifically, what is a WAP in networking, you are not alone. As IT technical terms can be hard to understand for many people, even IT experienced ones, we decided to clarify these terms once and for all.
Namely, a WAP or Wireless Access Point stands for a networking hardware appliance that enables the users of wireless devices to interact and access wireless applications and information services. In other words, WAP enables you to create a wireless network within an existing wired network to accommodate wireless devices.
In continuation, you can read more in detail about what you can use WAP for in networking and how to differentiate it from the standard Wi-Fi networking.
What Is a WAP in Networking?
The Wireless Access Point, or WAP, was created in 1997 by Unwired Planet, Motorola, Ericsson, and Nokia. This term is a specification for a set of few communication protocols. It is used to standardize the way that wireless devices, such as radio transceivers and mobile phones, can be used for the internet.
Moreover, to be more specific on what is a WAP in networking, we have to compare the WAP with Wi-Fi. Namely, WAP serves to add Wi-Fi capability to any pre-existing wired network by bridging traffic from wireless stations into your preferred wired LAN.
On top of this, the Wireless Access Point can be a component of a router or act as a stand-alone device, which is why this protocol suite is loved and utilized by millions of people worldwide.
Finally, it is important to note that the WAP enables devices that do not have an in-built option to connect to Wi-Fi to access a wireless network with the help of the Ethernet cable. By doing so, the signals that travel from the router to the access point are being transformed from wired to wireless.
Read more: How to Set up a Wireless Access Point
How WAP Works in Networking
The WAP’s primary function is to optimize mobile experiences of the wireless networks and handheld devices that were previously impossible because of these devices’ limits. The WAP provides this function in a few ways:
- With the help of internet standards that are efficient for wireless environments. The best example of these types of WAP networking in wireless environments is the Internet Protocol (IP), the Extensible Markup Language (XML), and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). All of these are based on HTTP, TLS, and HTML standards without using large amounts of data.
- By providing a low bandwidth, optimization for high latency, and low connection stability by utilizing a lightweight protocol stack.
- With the WML format for pages.
- Through a binary transmission that allows greater data compression.
The Difference Between the Wireless Access Point and Wireless Router
If you want to understand what is a WAP in networking, you will need to know the basic difference between the Wireless Access Point or WAP and wireless routers. We will look at function, coverage and connection, and application.
Function
As you know by now, wireless access points come as a built-in part or component of many devices, such as Wi-Fi network extenders and routers. On the other hand, wireless routers are made out of four components: an Ethernet router, a small Ethernet switch, wireless access point, and a basic firewall.
With this fact in mind, the function of these two items differs. Namely, an access point acts as a sub-device that provides access to the router’s established network within a particular and limited area network. In contrast, a wireless router helps establish a local area network by managing and linking all the devices connected to it.
Coverage and connection
When it comes to connection, most access points do not have routing functions and can not be connected to any getaway or a modem, and this is where the Wi-Fi router comes into action. Regarding wireless routers, they can connect without a problem to a PoE switch or offer Wi-Fi signals directly for any of the connected devices.
Application
The application is one of the biggest differences between WAP and the wireless router. Whereas the WAP is usually utilized in small organizations and offices, residential homes, and smaller companies, the wireless routers serve large corporations, organizations, and enterprises.
The number of WAP is always larger in larger organizations so that it can provide limitless connection and avoid any so-called dead spots that might appear due to a large number of connected devices.
Also read: How to Set Up Ubiquiti Access Point
WAP Protocol Stack
This WAP protocol stack is used for the internal connection and information exchange of various technologies, such as software, equipment, WAP devices, etc. This standard includes:
- Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTSL)
- Wireless Session Protocol (WSP)
- Wireless Datagram Protocol (WDP)
- Wireless Application Environment (WAE)
- Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP)
Benefits of Upgrading and Using Wireless Access Point
As WAP comes with numerous benefits, regardless of whether you will use this technology as an individual or as a part of larger organizations, we will take a look at the most significant ones.
- Accommodation of the wireless devices through creating a wireless network within your existing area network.
- Extend your wireless network’s strength and signal range for complete coverage and dead-spots-free connection.
- Only one WAP device is needed to configure the settings.
The Most Popular Types of Wireless Access Point Configurations
- Workgroup bridge
- Root access point
- Central unit
- Repeater access point
Conclusion
In this article, you could have read and learned what is a WAP in networking and everything you need to know regarding this outstanding technology.
Moreover, we made sure to include some additional useful information, such as the most popular types of access point configurations, the WAP protocol stack, how the wireless access point configuration works, and, most importantly, the difference between the WAP and wireless routers.
Knowing all of these things and facts will give you the necessary knowledge and know exactly which WAP model to choose for your personal preferences and needs.