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What is better for accessing the Internet: a USB modem or a smartphone as a Wi-Fi router? What is the difference between APN and router and how to set it up

The question is indeed very relevant and interesting. But in order to answer it more fully, you should first understand - how do these two devices differ? Indeed, at first glance, there are practically no differences - they allow you to connect computers, laptops and other devices to the Internet. But it may seem so only at first glance. If you study the topic, it becomes clear that the purpose of these devices is completely different.

What is an access point?

What are the functions of an access point? First of all, this is the reception and distribution of Internet traffic via a cable or via a wireless connection. Also, the access point can receive data via a wireless connection in order to transmit via a cable.

In other words, its main function is to broadcast traffic. But at the same time, the access point does not perform any operations with traffic - more. When connecting several devices, the traffic is divided equally between them. In this case, the device usually has only one LAN port, which can significantly limit the functionality of the device.

What is a router?

A router or router has much more functionality. It is capable of both receiving and transmitting data, and redistributing them, acting according to the rules set by the user.

For example, he can:

work as a firewall, providing network security;

assign an IP address to all devices connected to it;

distribute Internet traffic between networks and subnets;

limit the rate of transmission of data packets.

The simplest model can do this - the more expensive ones have much wider functionality.

With such capabilities, a modern wi-fi router can also provide wireless connection to the Internet for PCs, laptops, tablets and other devices. In other words, it successfully combines the duties of a conventional router and an access point.

What to choose?

Let's summarize - which device is better to buy in order to satisfy your needs. In this case, it all depends on what requirements you place on the equipment.

If you just want to provide your apartment with wireless Internet in order to be able to use the World Wide Web from the kitchen, bedroom and living room, then it would be better to purchase a regular wifi router. It is enough to set it up once so that you can easily connect to the Internet from any device.

If you need to distribute wireless internet for large room(hotel, cafe, office), then in this case the access point will be more efficient. This will allow all customers of a spacious room or even the entire building to enjoy the benefits of the World Wide Web.

I found here the other day a stupid adsl router with a built-in wifi hotspot access - ZTE 531B. The adsl port of this router died, and therefore, for its intended purpose - to grab the Internet from the telephone socket, and distribute it to the right and left - it didn’t work out well - there was no DSL signal, and that’s it, it didn’t connect. But everything else worked like clockwork. It's a pity to throw it away, so it was decided to screw it on like a normal wireless hotspot access to a regular switch in one of the rooms where there was only wired Internet.

So input:

There is a wired Internet, it enters the computer on a network card with a static IP, for example, 213.33.218.2, the mask is 255.255.255.0, the gate for it is 213.33.218.1, respectively. In the properties of the connection is publicly available.
The computer has a second network card, which is automatically assigned the address 192.168.0.1, through which a simple hub (not a router) is connected, the Internet is distributed through it to two more computers, their addresses are 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3, respectively, masks 255.255.255.0 .

I connect it with a cable to its usual LAN port, from the hub, assign it IP 192.168.0.4, mask 255.255.255.0. It should be noted that the vast majority of such devices come with wired IP addresses 192.168.1.1 - it will not be seen from a card with IP 192.168.0.1, therefore, in order to change the IP on it to the above 192.168.0.4, you need to set ip on the network card from the range 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254, go to it, change its ip from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.0.4, then assign IP 192.168.0.1 again to the network card Next. I set up a Wi-Fi access point on it (well, there’s nothing to describe here - everything is as usual), turn off DHCP Server, I tell the phone and laptop to use static IP 192.168.0.5, and 192.168.0.6, respectively, mask 255.255.255.0, and as a gate - 192.168.0.1 of the first computer- all zashib - manually connects Wi-Fi to them through it, everything flies, the Internet is everywhere, fortunately there is no limit.

However, if you climb on the router, turn on the DHCP Server so that it automatically distributes IP over Wi-Fi, turn off the use of static IPs on the phone and laptop - they are automatically assigned the same 192.168.0.5 and 192.168.0.6, respectively, they are connected, the router c they look great at 192.168.0.4, from the computer 192.168.0.1 - it also looks great. But the Internet is neither on the laptop nor on the phone.
It feels like they are trying to use it as a gate instead of 192.168.0.1, but he, the dumb piece of iron, does not know that it is necessary to route packets between 192.168.0.4 and 192.168.0.1.
What to do with it is not clear. There are Static Route settings, but what I did not try to enter in Destination, Netmask, Gateway - nothing helps. On ixbt they say that you need to raise a DHCP server on your computer, but for a number of reasons you don’t want to bother with this.

In principle, since everything works with a static gate and IP, hardcoded on the devices, you can go further and not take a steam bath.

Also, similar settings can be approximated to other situations, when, for example, the Internet is distributed not from a second network card, but from a regular wired router - no matter adsl or not. I connected their lan ports with a cable, and forward.

Only it will be even easier: it will most likely be seen from the computer, even if you do not change the IP on the computer, but you will need to reconfigure it so that its IP and the IP of the wired router are different. Well, in the router with an access point, turn off the distribution of addresses, and the wired router will distribute them, since the dhcp server is built into all of them.

Just don’t tell me that it’s easier to buy a regular WLAN router, plug an incoming ethernet cable into it, and let yourself distribute both ports and Wi-Fi - I myself know this very well, the task here was to utilize the most useful way this.

When a router supports multiple operating modes, the question may arise what is the difference between them. This article provides a brief overview of the two most common and most popular modes, as well as the features of each of them.

The end result of the device configuration is stable internet everywhere. Unfortunately, circumstances do not always allow this to be achieved. Let's consider each mode in turn.

A wireless access point allows all devices to connect to a wired network, it serves as a kind of transitional link for those devices that cannot physically do this. Of course, you can find several adapters to connect your phone to a wired network, but it's much more convenient to use a wireless connection. An access point can be compared with just such a set of adapters, only it works for a larger number of devices. Router mode offers more options than AP mode and is more versatile, but may require more effort to set up.

Dependency on provider requirements

To access the Internet, you may need to set up a connection. In access point mode, these settings will have to be performed on each device, for example, enter a username or password. This does not need to be done only if the Internet connection is established immediately when the cable is connected. If the Internet works immediately when the cable is connected, then the provider can limit the number of connected devices. In this case, the Internet will work only on one device and will either be tied to a specific device, or the first connected computer or phone will get access.

In router mode, everything is much simpler, because all settings are performed only once on the router. All other devices need only connect to a wireless connection.

Working with traffic

In access point mode, the device does not have protection against network attacks, if it is not provided, and there is also no way to restrict traffic. On the one hand, this may not be very convenient, but on the other hand, everything works “as is”, nothing needs to be configured additionally.

In router mode, each connected device is assigned its own “internal” IP address. Network attacks from the Internet will be directed at the router itself, the likelihood that they will detect a specific computer or smartphone is extremely small. In addition, some routers are equipped with a built-in firewall, and this is an additional protection, which is undoubtedly a big plus.

In addition, depending on the capabilities of the router, you can limit the incoming or outgoing speed for both connected devices and programs that use the Internet connection. For example, audio or video communication can be most comfortable and stable if a file is downloaded from the Internet. Connection prioritization allows you to do both at the same time.

Working on the same subnet

If the Internet provider installs a router in the entrance, then in access point mode, computers will see each other on the same subnet. But it may be that all devices are connected by login and password, then computers in the same apartment may not be connected to each other.

When the router is in access point mode, devices connected to it will see each other on the same subnet. This is very convenient if you need to transfer a file to another device, because it will happen much faster than when sending via the Internet.

Configuration complexity

Setting up your router to act as an access point is relatively easy and usually doesn't take much time. The only thing you definitely need to figure out is to decide the password encryption algorithm and the mode of operation of the wireless network.

There are more options in router mode than in access point mode. But that also means it's harder and longer to set up. To this we can add the fact that some programs will not work correctly if the router does not make certain settings, for example, port forwarding. Router configuration does not necessarily require a lot of knowledge or skill, but in any case, it takes time.

Conclusion

It may be difficult at first to decide on the choice of the mode of operation of the router. But after weighing your circumstances and needs, as well as taking into account the requirements of the provider, you can make the right decision and choose the mode that suits you best.

Nowadays, the Internet has become so accustomed to the life of ordinary people that the first thing when moving to a new home is the question of running an Internet cable there. But if earlier most people had only one computer in their apartment, now each family member has a separate personal gadget with Internet access, and all of them are connected not via a cable, but via a WI-Fi interface, so the problem arises of buying equipment, that can meet these needs. When you come to the store you will see great amount different types of devices (routers, access points, repeaters) that are similar in functionality, and how to buy exactly what you really need from all the presented?

Network equipment, although it performs similar tasks, differs in its functionality and capabilities.

When choosing equipment for wireless communication in their home, many users do not see the difference between Acess Point and Router and often do not buy what they need. It would seem that both equipment distributes a Wi-Fi signal, but the difference between them is colossal.

What is an access point?

An access point is a common wireless interface splitter that allows you to cover a certain area of your apartment with a radio signal, most often the device is used to:

Receive Internet traffic and broadcast it to other gadgets via Wi-Fi. That is, we connect our AP to existing network equipment (to a router that does not have a wireless interface or to a computer) and it, in turn, transmits a radio frequency signal to your gadgets.

Receive a radio signal from your gadgets and transmit them further through a cable (feedback).
Acess Point is also used in repeater (repeater) mode to increase the coverage area of an existing Wi-Fi. That is, if you already have a Router and you need to transmit the signal further to client machines, then installing an AP will help solve this problem.

What is a router?

Routers, or as they are also called routers, are a much more complex device. Among other things, they differ in that they can be used to organize a new network, and the AP is already built in there. Router Features:

Distribution of Internet data packets between devices.

Assigning and distributing IP addresses for gadgets connected to it.
Protection against hacker attacks from an external network (built-in firewall).
Internet speed limit for various devices your network, as well as filtering MAC addresses, IP addresses, and other parameters to limit the penetration of other clients into your network.

From this we can conclude that a Wi-Fi router is a router with a built-in access point, and the AP itself can do nothing but distribute Wi-Fi. That is, if we need to provide ourselves with a wireless interface to the apartment, then we need to buy a router. You can limit yourself to buying an AP only if you already have a router without Wi-Fi function.

Let's start with the fact that the router itself, which you want to make an access point, is the access point, only more functional. A server works in it, which distributes IP, there is most likely a firewall, and roughly speaking, it builds routes between connected devices, which is why it is a router. So, in order to turn the router into an access point, it is enough to disable some functions in it and connect it via cable to another router.

Let's use an example to find out for what purposes this mode of operation can be suitable. You bought an apartment in "Krona Park" and "Forest Quarter": where to buy an apartment for living in Brovary? Let's say you have a modem or router installed on the first floor, or at one end of the house. Which is possible. distributes, or maybe not, it doesn’t matter ... So, at the other end of the house, or on another floor, we need to set up an access point to distribute Wi-Fi. In this case, the connection between the router and the access point will be via a network cable.

connection scheme: Internet - router - access point

If we put an access point at the second end, then the main router will distribute IP addresses, and the devices will be on the same network, which is often very important. Also, the access point mode can be useful for distributing Wi-Fi from a modem that does not have such an option. In fact, there are many applications. Otherwise, access points would simply not be sold as separate devices. Because they wouldn't make sense.

Please note that most routers can work in other modes that may suit you better:

Repeater mode- suitable if your goal is simply to expand an existing Wi-Fi network with another router. We have instructions on the site for setting up the repeater mode on ASUS routers, we also set up the repeater mode on Zyxel Keenetic devices, and on. After setting up, there will be one Wi-Fi network, just reinforced. Internet via cable from the "repeater" will also be.
WDS Wireless Bridge Mode- this is almost the same as the access point mode, but here the connection between routers is not via cable, but via WiFi networks. In more detail, I wrote about setting up such a connection in the article: setting up two routers on the same network. We connect 2 routers via Wi-Fi and cable. It is shown in detail on the example of popular routers:,. There is more detailed.

As for the “access point” mode of operation, it is also AP (Access Point), then on routers from different manufacturers, this mode is configured differently. For example, on routers from ASUS and Zyxel, it is enough to enable the Access Point mode in the control panel, connect the devices with a network cable, and you're done. But on devices from, you need to manually change the IP address of the router and disable the DHCP server.

How to connect access points to a router?

We connect both devices with a network cable. On the main router, we connect the cable to the LAN port (Home network), and on the access point router, also to the LAN port.