Wireless Networking Standalone WAP vs. Router configured as WAP

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Subject Author Date
Standalone WAP vs. Router configured as WAP Bill 06-20-08
Posted by Bill on June 20, 2008, 6:07 pm
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Thanks in advance for any information.

Several companies offer both wireless routers that can be configured
as access pionts and standalone wireless access points. In the
examples I've seen, the comparable standalone is more expensive than
the router.

If one is looking only for the function of a WAP (and regardless of
the price differential), is there any advantage to using a standalone
rather than a router?

Why are standalones more expensive than routers? From my ignorant
perspective, it seems like routers "do more" and I don't understand
why they're less expensive.

Thanks again.

Posted by Bill Kearney on June 20, 2008, 8:59 pm
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> Why are standalones more expensive than routers? From my ignorant
> perspective, it seems like routers "do more" and I don't understand
> why they're less expensive.

Market forces. Supply and demand. More people want routers, thus driving
up the unit sales and decreasing the price (along with competition from
other vendors). Access points, however, aren't sold in nearly the same
numbers. A smart customer would know to get a router that can 'dummy down'
and save a few bucks in the process.


Posted by Bill on June 20, 2008, 9:16 pm
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Thanks. I thought as much, but wanted to double-check.

On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:59:52 -0400, "Bill Kearney"

>> Why are standalones more expensive than routers? From my ignorant
>> perspective, it seems like routers "do more" and I don't understand
>> why they're less expensive.
>
>Market forces. Supply and demand. More people want routers, thus driving
>up the unit sales and decreasing the price (along with competition from
>other vendors). Access points, however, aren't sold in nearly the same
>numbers. A smart customer would know to get a router that can 'dummy down'
>and save a few bucks in the process.

Posted by Charles Arnett on June 21, 2008, 8:30 am
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I found that standalone WAP put into a regular router increases range.
charles
> Thanks. I thought as much, but wanted to double-check.
>
> On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:59:52 -0400, "Bill Kearney"
>
>>> Why are standalones more expensive than routers? From my ignorant
>>> perspective, it seems like routers "do more" and I don't understand
>>> why they're less expensive.
>>
>>Market forces. Supply and demand. More people want routers, thus driving
>>up the unit sales and decreasing the price (along with competition from
>>other vendors). Access points, however, aren't sold in nearly the same
>>numbers. A smart customer would know to get a router that can 'dummy
>>down'
>>and save a few bucks in the process.



Posted by Bill on June 21, 2008, 9:03 am
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That's interesting. I have a standalone WAP connected to a wired
router. I thought the range should be better (for range) than a
wireless router configured as a WAP, but I wasn't sure. The other
reponse implies (I think) that they are the same relative to range.

The choices I'm considering are a Linksys WAP54G (with SES, whatever
that does - probably nothing) and WRT54GL. I don't need the router
function, but I've read good things about the WRT54GL.

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:30:01 -0400, "Charles Arnett"

>I found that standalone WAP put into a regular router increases range.
>charles
>> Thanks. I thought as much, but wanted to double-check.
>>
>> On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:59:52 -0400, "Bill Kearney"
>>
>>>> Why are standalones more expensive than routers? From my ignorant
>>>> perspective, it seems like routers "do more" and I don't understand
>>>> why they're less expensive.
>>>
>>>Market forces. Supply and demand. More people want routers, thus driving
>>>up the unit sales and decreasing the price (along with competition from
>>>other vendors). Access points, however, aren't sold in nearly the same
>>>numbers. A smart customer would know to get a router that can 'dummy
>>>down'
>>>and save a few bucks in the process.
>

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