seanSF
join:2003-11-23
San Francisco, CA
| Why are wireless routers cheaper than APs?
There is a question that has always bothered me and I have yet to find a good answer (not that I've looked that hard but still): Why are wireless routers much cheaper than access points? Last night, my wireless router turned access point died and the question has been more interesting. I can buy a router for around $50 but most access points are twice that.
Why?
All I need is a way to access my hard-wired network from my laptop and a wireless music server. It would seem that an AP does less than a router, so why does it cost more?
Also, got any recommendations for a good, reliable, relatively inexpensive AP?  |
|
No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
All Things Unix
D-Link
| Volume is probably the simplest answer. Some APs have features not common in routers, but that's a small factor, I think. If you sell a million of something, chances are your manufacturing costs will be lower than if you sell three. The other factor is the market. Businesses are more often users of APs than consumers. That drives up the price.
Cheap AP is a router with DHCP turned off. A WRT54G that will accept third party firmware or one that will work as a client or bridge should also meet your needs. ZyXEL P330W. |
|
seanSF
join:2003-11-23
San Francisco, CA | Would there be any benefit of going with a WAP54G? |
|
No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC | Not in my view. If I understand what you want to do, just make sure the device is capable of acting as a client bridge - extending the wireless signal to the other wired segment. |
|
seanSF
join:2003-11-23
San Francisco, CA
| Ok, that's what I had up until last night. It was:
WAN -> Cable Modem -> D-Link DI-604 -> Wired LAN
|
--> D-Link DI-624 -> Wireless LAN
The DI-604 is just a wired router. The DI-624 is (er, was) a wireless router with the DHCP, firewall, etc., settings turned off.
I don't really need the wired LAN ports on the back of the DI-624 so I thought that an AP would be a better bet. But it sounds like I'd be paying more but not getting more.
(Actually, to be exact, the DI-624 and the wired LAN both hang off of a D-Link gigabit switch.) |
|
No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC | Ah, OK. Even simpler. Any old wireless router will suffice. |
|
seanSF
join:2003-11-23
San Francisco, CA | Brilliant. Thanks. You just saved me some cash.  |
|
