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General discussion

access point vs router

May 9, 2005 1:44AM PDT

What is the difference between an access point and a router. i have a home computer that has a cable modem. I recently received a laptop with built in WiFi. I want to access the internet wirelessly from my laptop and possible exchange files from my computers through some sort of network. Which product should i get to do this, an access point or a router?

Discussion is locked

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both or combination of it
May 9, 2005 2:35AM PDT

For detail definition .. google it..

In your case you need 'Both'.. this can be two device (an access point AND a router) or single device (an access point WITH a router or vice versa)

Connect your cable modem AND your PC's AND your Access Point to the router (If you get the combo.. accesspoint/router... then just connect everything to the router)

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Just internet
May 9, 2005 4:42AM PDT

If I wanted just internet on the computers, and to not network them together, does this mean all i have to get is a wireless router and hook it up to my cable modem?

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if...
May 9, 2005 5:08AM PDT

if you want both computers to be able to get on the internet, you need a router. The router will take the single public internet address your cable provider issues and subdivide it using special internal addresses to sort out which inside computer gets what web pages, all of which will come in through the same cable modem. The typical home broadband router will also have an integral 4-port network switch, which will allow 4 computers or other networking devices to be attached by ethernet cables.

if you want a computer to be able to reach the internet (and/or the rest of the inside network) via wireless, you will need an access point on the network and a wireless client device in the computer. You could obtain a plain access point as a separate device and connect it to one of the ports on the switch that is part of the broadband router described above.

OR!!!! you can solve the whole problem by obtaining a broadband router with built-in wireless. This will probably be cheaper than a separate router and access point.

Though you said networking the two computers is not a priority, you're going to get that functionality as a freebie with the wifi router.

dw