What’s the Difference? Which one should I use?
With the proliferation of wireless technologies and devices, wireless connectivity is now more common than hard-wired connections. While that has made connections easier and faster to implement, wireless connection users often have to deal with latency issues.
One way to mitigate this problem is by using wireless networking devices like access points, extenders, and boosters. They can be used to reliably extend and enhance the capacity of a router to deliver comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage throughout a home, office, or facility.
Although the terms wireless extender and wireless access point are often confused with each other, they aren’t the same.
To accomplish the identical goal of extending the range of Wi-Fi signals, access points and extenders (interchangeably referred to as boosters or repeaters) operate in slightly different ways.
While extenders increase the range of an existing Wi-Fi signal by “receiving” and extending it, access points establish a wireless local area network (WLAN) by connecting to an existing wired network via a network cable and act as a centralized hub for wireless devices to connect to the LAN.
Which one should I use?
Usage
Access points enable the sharing of a wired connection wirelessly. They’re ideal for larger spaces and can connect a considerable number of users and devices simultaneously while eliminating Wi-Fi dead spots around the area of coverage.
Access points are available in a wide range of models and specifications, allowing for flexibility in usage and deployment. For large applications, a large number of different users, devices, and applications can be able to connect to an access point without suffering degraded service. Access points can allow upwards of 50 simultaneous users, while range extenders typically cannot accommodate more than 20 users at a time.
It’s important to remember that access points replicate the internet speed of a router, so a poor connection will cause a wider but still slow Wi-Fi signal, and vice versa.
Wi-Fi extenders, on the other hand, expand the coverage of an existing Wi-Fi signal to areas with poor or no Wi-Fi signal. They basically rebroadcast the signal from the router or access point and are ideal for small homes or offices. Also important to note is that, while they help expand coverage, they’re not ideal for large spaces, and having multiple extenders can even degrade the signal.
Implementation and Setup
Since access points require a wired connection to the router, installation can be costly, time-consuming, and cumbersome, and in some cases might require the services of a professional, compared to extenders, which are usually plug-and-play.
For maximum and effective signal distribution, access points ought to be placed in a location where Wi-Fi coverage is most needed, free from obstruction, since the signal distribution and strength significantly depend on the device’s placement.
An extender, on the other hand, requires no cabling as long as a Wi-Fi signal exists. The device should be strategically positioned approximately halfway between the router (or access point) and the spot where the Wi-Fi signal is poor for optimal efficacy. It also helps to place it away from any obstacles that can interfere with Wi-Fi and where it can properly receive the router’s original signal. An extender receiving a weak and degraded signal will just rebroadcast the weak and degraded signal.
Unlike access points, it’s not recommended to daisy chain Wi-Fi extenders, i.e., connect one extender to another, as it will significantly degrade the overall Wi-Fi experience.
Access points can be configured between AP and repeater mode, which can allow an access point to connect to another access point instead of being hardwired all the way to the router (or internet source), though this can come at the cost of speed and bandwidth.
Other features like Access Control Lists, Guest portals, and clustering can be implemented on access points, particularly in large businesses. These are important security and management features that extenders may lack.
Speed
An access point emulates the similar internet performance and speed levels of the router to which it’s connected, assuming it’s correctly configured and therefore doesn’t impact bandwidth and speed. On the other hand, an extender will definitely reduce the bandwidth and slow down the Wi-Fi speed at which it is rebroadcasting.
The speeds and bandwidth gotten from an extender could be as low as half the speeds from an access point, so they essentially cut the performance by 50%. Important to note is that whether using an extender or access point, the internet speed depends on the Internet Service Provider’s internet plan and the connected device’s capacity.
Coverage
While obstructions within the area of deployment undoubtedly impact the coverage area, an access point can provide network coverage of between 1600 and 2200 square feet. In the event of unavoidable obstacles that decrease coverage, the use of multiple access points strategically deployed is one effective way of addressing the issue.
In contrast, depending on placement, obstacles, and model, an extender can provide coverage of between 400 and upwards of 1800 square feet. Short- and long-range models exist that can be explored depending on projected needs and budgets.
In Summary
Wi-Fi extenders essentially copy the Wi-Fi signals to locations beyond the range of the router, while access points serve as a bridge between wireless devices and the LAN.
Despite being less expensive and simpler to install than access points, multiple extenders actually worsen overall Wi-Fi performance, in contrast to access points. The speed of the extender decreases with distance from the router, however, the speed of the access point is unaffected by distance since it is cabled to the router.
Whether to use an extender or access point for a home or business depends on what needs to be accomplished, the general layout of the network, and the budget.
Extenders are ideal for small homes and spaces where strong, robust network connectivity is not a major concern, while access points are ideal for larger homes or business premises that might require more devices to connect simultaneously.
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