WiFi Access Points vs WiFi Extenders: What's the Difference?
In this video, I explain the differences between WiFi extenders and WiFi access points, as well as when you should implement each device to extend your WiFi signal.
Check out some of my previous videos that are related to this one:
Wireless Access Points: What Are They and How Do They Work?: • Wireless Access Points: What Are They and ...
WiFi Extenders Explained: Do You Really Need One?: • WiFi Extenders Explained: Do You Really Ne...
WiFi Extender vs Mesh WiFi: Which Solution is Right for You?: • WiFi Extender vs Mesh WiFi: Which Solution...
To learn about Power Over Ethernet (PoE) and decide if you want to implement PoE for your access point, check out these videos: • Power over Ethernet (PoE)
For more content on similar topics, check out my YouTube channel: / @network-from-home
If you would like to read about other ways to improve your home network, check out my blog:
https://www.network-from-home.com
0:34 What are WiFi extenders and access points?
3:27 The difference between extenders and access points
6:49 The benefits of newer WiFi extenders
8:58 When you should use WiFi extenders and access points
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link.
Here is the TP-Link AX3000 WiFi extender I referred to in this video (and would recommend):
•Amazon: https://amzn.to/43wvSTr
Here is the TP-Link EA650 wireless access point that I have and referred to in this video (and would recommend):
•Amazon: https://amzn.to/4qeRqwM
•TP-Link (wireless access point without the power adapter): https://tplinksystemsinc.sjv.io/9L7nx5
Equipment I used in this video:
🎥: https://amzn.to/43POu01
🎙️: https://amzn.to/4kU1SXU
What is the difference between WiFi access points and WiFi extenders
When it comes to WiFi access points and WiFi extenders, they both achieve the same goal: they extend the WiFi signal in your home to provide your devices with wireless connections to the internet.
With that said, these devices go about extending your WiFi signal differently.
WiFi extenders wirelessly extend the WiFi signal in your home by taking your router’s WiFi signal and rebroadcasting it to the dead zone in your home. Because extenders take the existing WiFi signal in your home and rebroadcast it, your extender will have a different wireless network name and password than the WiFi networks your router is broadcasting.
On the other hand, WiFi access points extend the WiFi signal in your home with a wired connection to your router. What’s nice about this option is that wireless access points broadcast the same WiFi network name and password that your router broadcasts.
Although WiFi extenders are more convenient to implement because they extend a WiFi signal wirelessly, they don’t offer the same performance that connecting to a wireless access point does.
There is a catch here, however; newer WiFi extenders compensate for this limitation by offering multiple modes of operation:
•Extender mode: this is the “standard” mode of operation for WiFi extenders that wirelessly extends the WiFi signal of your router (albeit with limited performance)
•Access point mode: this mode allows you to connect your extender to your router with an ethernet cable. This provides much better performance when compared to using your extender in extender mode and operates just like an access point does
•Mesh mode: if your router and WiFi extender are made by the same manufacturer and they both support mesh mode, this operation mode is an option for you. With mesh mode, your extender can be used to wirelessly extend your WiFi signal without the performance limitations of operating in extender mode
In summary, WiFi extenders (especially new ones) offer more flexibility than access points, while access points offer better performance when compared to extenders that are used in extender mode.
Conclusion
If you have any questions about the difference between WiFi access points or WiFi extenders and when to use them, please leave a comment below.