Access Point (AP) What is an access point (AP)?
A Wi-Fi access point (AP) is a networking device that provides wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity to Wi-Fi-capable devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and IoT devices. Advanced APs also provide Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Zigbee wireless connectivity.
- Access points explained
- What are key components of access points?
- What is the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless access points?
- Benefits of access points
- Types of access points
- What is the difference between an access point and a router?
- HPE Aruba Networking access points
Access points explained
Wi-Fi access points provide network access connectivity using radio technology rather than wired network cabling. This eliminates the cost and complexity of installing dedicated wired network cabling to users and devices and allows users and devices to remain wirelessly connected when mobile. Line of business technologies that are increasingly IP-based can also utilize the network as a transport technology—further reducing or eliminating physical overlays.
To address the ubiquitous need for wireless connectivity, APs have been designed to provide Wi-Fi for users and IoT devices across a range of environments and locations: indoors, remote, outdoors, and hazardous environments. Advances in Wi-Fi standards (802.11) have evolved to address the growth in mobility and IoT, bandwidth demands of applications, and business requirements for high-performance, always-on, and secure wireless.
What are key components of access points?
Wi-Fi access points provide wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity and can be characterized as indoor, outdoor, hazardous location, or hospitality/remote work APs.
Components of an AP
- CPU and chipset: The ‘engine’ of the AP.
- Memory/Flash: The storage for the AP. Flash stores the OS and it runs in memory.
- Trusted platform modules: Contain and store security credentials (recommended).
- Wired network interfaces: How the APs physically connect themselves to the wired network and optional downlink wired ports for access devices.
- Radios: Wireless transmitters and receivers of the AP.
- Antennas: ‘Shape’ the RF energy from the radios to the clients, as well as allow the AP to ‘hear’ clients. Can be internal or external.
- Bluetooth and Zigbee radios, USB ports: Used to connect a range of IoT devices for video monitoring, temperature and humidity sensing, asset tracking, and more.
What is the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless access points?
IEEE 802.11 is the wireless standard defined by IEEE and includes amendments to support technology advancements. Wi-Fi technology, based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) wireless communication standard 802.11, has continually improved, with each generation bringing faster speeds, lower latency, and better user experiences in a multitude of environments and with a variety of device types. Please refer to the table below for details.
What is Wi-Fi certification for access points?
Completing the certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance, an independent industry organization, signifies that the AP has been thoroughly tested and meets all the requirements associated with a specific Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi certification ensures that devices and APs from different vendors interoperate reliably, securely, and according to the standard, such as Wi-Fi 6.
Benefits of access points
- Mobility: Access points allow for greater mobility across client devices such as laptops and cellular devices. In the past, many campus users relied on wired connections which tether users to their desk and limit the mobility needed for effective collaboration.
- IoT connectivity: Access points can be used as an IoT onramp, supporting connectivity with a variety of options (i.e. Bluetooth and Zigbee radios, USB ports), eliminating the need for overlay gateways. APs are typically located on the ceiling, providing an ideal vantage point for IoT communication whether it is via Bluetooth (BLE) or 802.15.4 (Zigbee).
- Offload cellular: With growing data demands accelerated by 5G adoption, using wireless APs as a cost-effective way to offload cellular communications is increasingly attractive. This use case is increasingly important as increasing amounts of enterprise cellular traffic is offloaded to Wi-Fi.
- Go where wired can’t: Access points provide network connectivity to places where wired connectivity is not possible or not cost-effective. APs can be deployed in outdoor spaces like stadiums and parking lots, as well as hazardous environments such as industrial facilities.
Types of access points
Access points are designed to provide Wi-Fi for users and IoT everywhere businesses and people are, and they support a wide range of use cases and price points.
- Campus APs–Ideal for most enterprise and consumer deployments, these APs are typically wall or ceiling mounted, and used indoors.
- Outdoor APs–Used in parking lots, stadiums, and warehouses, these APs are designed to withstand extreme variations in temperature, moisture, and precipitation.
- Ruggedized APs–Ready to withstand outdoor, hazardous locations, and extreme-weather environments, these hardened APs are manufactured to meet Class 1 Division 2 or ATEX Zone 2 requirements.
- Remote APs–Provide remote access to corporate applications and are ideal for remote workers, temporary workspaces, or pop-up locations. These APs are often deployed with a desktop stand and may include additional PoE wired ports to support devices like printers.
- Hospitality APs–Ideal for hotel guest and employee Wi-Fi access. These APs may be used as a Remote AP with an optional desktop stand.
What is the difference between an access point and a router?
An access point is a network device that connects wireless devices such as cell phones to the local area network via an Ethernet connection.
A router is a network device that connects Ethernet wired devices (including APs) and provides internet access. Routers can serve either wired or wireless connectivity for users and devices, while an AP mainly serves wireless devices, such as phones, laptops and other IoT devices. Often routers designed for home use are ‘wireless routers’ which means they connect to the intranet and provide wireless connectivity. Due to limited scalability and performance, routers are typically used in small or home offices, whereas hundreds of APs can be connected using enterprise switches to support thousands of users.
HPE Aruba Networking access points
HPE Aruba Networking offers a complete portfolio of indoor, outdoor, ruggedized, and remote access points — Wi-Fi CERTIFIED and backed by a limited lifetime guarantee for investment protection. Recognized as a leader in WLAN, HPE Aruba Networking continues to innovate with indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi 6E APs.
- Indoor access points
- Outdoor and ruggedized access points
- Remote and hospitality access points
IEEE classification and names
802.11 Amendment | IEEE Classification for 802.11 | Wi-Fi Alliance Name |
a, g | Non-HT (Non-High Throughput) | None |
n | HT (High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 4 |
ac | VHT (Very High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 5 |
ax | HE (High Efficiency) | Wi-Fi 6 |
ax in 6 GHz | HE (High Efficiency) | Wi-Fi 6E |
be | EHT (Extreme High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 7 |