How to Choose an Access Point and Why You Need It
When the coverage of the Wi-Fi network in the home is not optimal and we need to improve it, we usually bet on adding a new antenna that provides us with better coverage. This antenna or wireless access point can replace, complement or expand the network that the operator’s router already offers us. In this article, we’ll find out how to choose a wireless access point for our home in the UK and what aspects must be taken into account so as not to make a mistake.
The first thing we must take into account is the connection standard offered by the new antenna. Wi-Fi N or Wi-Fi AC are the most common today. Wi-Fi AC is more modern and faster, but it can be wasted if the devices that are going to be connected in our home use Wi-Fi N.
Complimentary access point, repeater, or replacing the one we already have?
The wireless repeater
We must be clear about what we are looking for with the new antenna. If what we are looking for is simply a repeater, what it will do is collect the signal that reaches it at that point and extend it further, amplifying the distance it reaches but not the speed. This implies that, if what we want is to improve the speed in addition to the connection, it will not be the right choice for us. The great advantage is that the only thing it needs to work is a plug.
It would serve to bring Wi-Fi to a side of the house that now does not have it, but the speed of the connection would be quite regular. Suppose that the point where we place the Wi-Fi repeater reaches 50 Mbps, which will extend in a circular way from its location, increasing coverage in areas of the house that did not have, but as it is further away the speed decreases. It would serve to have coverage in the kitchen, for example, to check with the mobile, but if what we are looking for is to watch streaming series before going to sleep, it will not work properly.
Complimentary access point or substitute for the one provided by the router
If we are looking for a complimentary access point to the one we already have, we are going to need a network cable that connects both devices. We have to configure the same SSID of the Wi-Fi network that we already have, that is, the identical name of the wireless network that is published, with the same password and the same type of encryption. In this way, what we get is a single Wi-Fi network but with two wireless antennas that emit the signal. The devices will connect to one or the other depending on which one is stronger in each zone of the house.
In this case, for it to work optimally, it is important that both access points occupy separate transmission channels. For example, one must be on channel 2 and the other on channel 7, so that both signals do not overlap and compete for the same Wi-Fi spectrum. Better to configure it manually than to leave it in automatic mode on both devices.
Finally, there is the possibility that the Wi-Fi access point is located in a central area of the house which gives us optimal coverage in all rooms. In that case, what we can do is disable the Wi-Fi network of the router. This is a good idea especially if our antenna uses a higher standard, for example, Wi-Fi N compared to Wi-Fi G of the router, and we do not want to use the connection that will give us a lower speed.
And where are we going to install it?
To make the decision we also have to be clear about the necessary infrastructure for its installation. As we mentioned before, a repeater will only need a plug since it captures the Wi-Fi signal and extends it, while an access point will need an ethernet cable to arrive in addition to electrical power to the point where we want to place it. As most antennas are omnidirectional – meaning they spread the signal in a circular way – the more centered the plane of our house is, the better coverage we will have.
Sometimes it is easy to carry a network cable when we do not have a plug in the place where we want to locate the antenna. In these cases, we could use an antenna powered by PoE. With this technology, it is the network cable itself that would carry the electrical current as well as the data, so that the antenna works. This makes it easy to locate the antenna in the most suitable place to have optimal coverage throughout the home.
If we cannot carry a network cable, we can always use PLC devices. With these devices, the data is transmitted through the electric current and we need two of them. We place one near the router and it is connected by cable to it, the other at the point of the house that we want and it will be in charge of issuing the wireless network as we have configured it.
Finally, an important aspect must be the ease of configuring the devices, especially if we are not expert network users. It is necessary to investigate a little to know the management possibilities that it offers us and if we will be able to do it ourselves following the instructions. Sometimes the complicated thing is to access the router since sometimes it is the users themselves who have never touched said configuration.
Conclusion
Wireless access points are important if you want to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of your home or business. Use the tips mentioned throughout this article to select the best wireless access point device.
