Buying guide for best wireless access points
WiFi has become an essential part of life: It brings our social networks, our jobs, as well as movies and TV to our mobile devices. As we live more of our lives online, having stable, dependable WiFi at home has become a necessity – so what can you do about dead spots where you get no signal?
Wireless access points are the perfect solution for any home that has a few problem areas where better WiFi is needed. A single wireless access point, when connected to your primary wireless router, acts as a secondary broadcast location for your same network. With a wireless access point installed, you get more of the network your devices need without the need for configuration changes to any of them.
How wireless access points work
There are a variety of ways to establish or improve a WiFi signal in your home, and there are many different devices that approach wireless networking differently. Before you pick out a wireless access point, make sure you understand the competing technologies and what your connectivity options are.
Wireless access points, or WAPs, work in partnership with a wireless router – their primary function is to extend the reach and speed of an existing WiFi network. They connect to a wireless network through either a wired Ethernet connection or by joining it wirelessly. Wireless access points are particularly effective in situations where you need to increase WiFi coverage in multiple areas: they’re completely scalable, so increasing your WiFi network’s reach and speed is simply a matter of adding more WAPs. Wireless access points are also ideal for people who have WiFi “dead spots” in their home.
"If you’re not sure how many wireless devices you have, download a network analysis app to your smartphone. Many apps are able to show you a complete list of all the devices connected to your network."
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Mesh networking devices represent an entirely different method of boosting a WiFi network’s speed and range that is often confused with wireless access points. A mesh network is one in which multiple identical broadcast nodes work together to provide WiFi coverage – every node is involved in every data relay, providing it to your devices as quickly as possible. Mesh networks are considered more resilient than networks using wireless access points (if one node has a problem, the others self-correct), but because most mesh networking kits include multiple nodes, they’re significantly more expensive than a single wireless access point. Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or homes with multiple low-coverage areas.
While all routers can serve as wireless access points, we search carefully for the most streamlined WAPs that require little in the way of electricity or bandwidth overhead.
Our in-depth research shows that security is one of the primary needs when it comes to selecting wireless access points for an entire office building.
We carefully note the size and weight of each wireless access point, as this information impacts where it can be installed and how easy it is to put in.
A streamlined and easy-to-use operating interface is one of the first things we look for when considering wireless access points for recommendation.
When evaluating the top wireless access points, we pay close attention to basic features, such as peak bandwidth and the maximum number of connected clients.
We appreciate wireless access points that deliver peak speeds and minimal latency to every connected device. Beamforming and quality of service (QoS) optimization are among the lesser-known aspects of wireless access points that we research.
In our research, we carefully investigate the range and bandwidth of various wireless access points.
We spend time mapping out which product families work the best together to implement advanced connectivity and security features.
We appreciate wireless access points with low profiles because they are quite unobtrusive once installed.
We take into consideration how easy each wireless access point is to configure within an existing network.
Location, location, location
Wireless access points are only as effective as where they’re placed – and in general, the higher the better. Most wireless access points are designed to be set up in one of three locations:
Ceiling- and wall-mounted wireless access points are typically the size of a smoke detector, and ideal for covering entire rooms. Keep in mind that wherever you mount your wireless access point, it will need both power and, ideally, a wired internet connection.
- Standalone wireless access points sit on any surface and look just like a typical wireless router. These offer the most flexibility, as you can place and move them as often as needed.
- Outdoor wireless access points are designed to withstand the elements and are ideal for situations where web access is necessary outside the walls of your home.
Expert Tip
You can test the WiFi coverage in your home by downloading a speed-testing app to your phone and running speed tests at various locations. As you identify areas of particularly low signal, keep a list and plan on placing one or more wireless access points accordingly.
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Wireless access point pricing
When it comes to the cost of wireless access points, there are two price ranges to be aware of.
- In the $50 to $100 range, you’ll find options best suited for small apartments or dorm rooms. If you’re only trying to deliver WiFi to one area (like a specific room), there’s no need to spend more than this. Also, be wary of knock-offs. Instead, go with trusted brands and models that have more than just a few hundred reviews.
- In the $100 to $200 range, expect high-end features (like a wall-mounting kit) and long-term durability. Get a wireless access point in this price range if you expect it to be a high-traffic area for WiFi. WAPs in this price range are ideal for use in a shared office environment.
Expert Tip
Not all homes are ideal for wireless access points. If you find that a wireless access point isn’t the right solution for your space, consider a powerline networking kit, which transmits data over your home’s electrical power lines.
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Tips
As you’re looking for a wireless access point, consider these tips.
Some wireless access points only support older, outdated wireless protocol standards. Make sure the wireless access point you choose supports the 802.11ac wireless protocol (the fastest standard currently). If it doesn’t support 802.11ac, don’t get it.
Once you’ve set up your WiFi network, use your wireless access point software to set up a separate guest network. Using a guest network allows you to provide WiFi to friends and family when they visit without granting them unsecured access to your entire network.
- Although you can connect a wireless access point to your existing network wirelessly, it will provide much faster access to other devices if connected to your network via a wired Ethernet connection.
FAQ
Q. Should I get a wireless access point that’s made by the same manufacturer as my existing router? Will it still work if they’re not the same brand?
A. Wireless access points are agnostic for the most part, and brands and product lines can be mixed and matched based on your needs. However, there are some significant advantages to using complementary products from the same brand – for example, if you get a wireless access point made by the same manufacturer as your wireless router, you may be able to manage both devices from a single interface.
Q. Can I use a wireless access point with the wireless router I rent from my internet provider (ISP)?
A. It depends on the specific model of wireless router provided to you by your ISP. Most ISP-provided wireless routers support third-party wireless access points, but it’s worth a call to confirm. If your rented wireless router doesn’t support adding a WAP, you might consider getting a wireless access point that does – and save yourself those pesky rental fees while you’re at it!
Q. Do I have to be a technical person to set up a wireless access point? How complicated is it?
A. If you’ve already been through setting up your WiFi network, adding a wireless access point isn’t much more difficult – it’s typically a matter of connecting the WAP to your network and configuring the included software. If you’re not comfortable with technology, you may need to ask a friend for help, or consider a mesh networking setup, which will be much easier to set up and administer.
