How wireless access points work.

Learn how wireless access points work and how to configure your wireless access point.

What the access point does is to send data requests on behalf of the wireless devices that are connected to it. By doing this, their task is similar to that of a wireless router: essentially, what a wireless access point represents to a wired LAN is what a wireless router is to the Internet.

However, the difference lies in the fact that the devices connected through an access point become in reality part of the LAN (as a matter of fact, other computers on the LAN don't make a distinction between the wired computers and those that are wireless).

This is something really great, as it means that you can dynamically expand your wired LAN, without having to use wires. Theoretically, there's nothing you can now do over your wired network that you won't be able to do over the wireless extension to it.

Configure Your Wireless Access Point

Generally, you should be able to configure wireless access points by simply plugging it into a connection to your network making use of the cable that is included. In fact, your network is designed to recognize the access point and automatically give it a networking (IP) address.

If there is anything else you have to do on your access point at this stage, such as turning on wireless encryption, just go to your access point's settings.




This can be done by finding the router's IP address in your browser. Whenever in doubt, go back to the access point's manual or find its online version, which should be updated with the latest issues people may face.

When you're going through the access point settings, it might be a good idea to disable DHCP (dynamic network addressing) and give your access point a fixed address instead so that your wired network can be more stable.

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