Access point vs. router vs. repeater: What’s the main difference?

Anyone who wants to expand their home network will sooner or later come across access points in online retail. How do routers and WiFi repeaters differ?

Whether cell phones, TVs or even refrigerators: Nowadays a large number of devices want to be connected to the Internet. Of course, this only works if pretty much every corner of your own four walls is networked as well as possible. However, since the router can rarely cover the entire living space with WiFi, you often need little helpers to expand your home network. In addition to repeaters, access points can be used for this. We explain what the differences are between access points and routers and repeaters and how an AVM FritzRepeater can be set up as an alternative access point.

How an Access Point works

An access point expands the home network by connecting it to the router using a LAN cable. In terms of its function, it is similar to repeaters, but they do not connect to the router with a cable, but rather via WLAN. The access point itself connects devices such as cell phones and laptops to the network via WLAN or LAN and thus to the Internet. In contrast to a router, an access point does not manage the home network – because a router assigns local IP addresses to all network devices, which are necessary for communication with each other. This task is not assigned to the access point.

Access Points: advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of access points are:

• Extend the range of your Wi-Fi network: Access points can be used to extend the range of your Wi-Fi network so that you can get a strong signal in all areas of your home or office.
• Create a separate Wi-Fi network for guests: Access points can be used to create a separate Wi-Fi network for guests or visitors. This can help to protect your privacy and security.
• Improve the performance of your Wi-Fi network: Access points can help to improve the performance of your Wi-Fi network by reducing congestion and providing a stronger signal.

Below are the some disadvantages of access points:

• Cost: Access points can be more expensive than routers, especially for high-end models.
• Complexity: Access points can be more complex to set up and configure than routers.
• Security: Access points can be more vulnerable to security attacks than routers. This is because they broadcast their SSID (network name) to all devices in range.
• Performance: Access points can sometimes experience performance issues, such as slow speeds and dropped connections. This is especially true if there are a lot of devices connected to the network or if there is interference from other Wi-Fi networks.
• Limited range: Access points have a limited range, so you may need to install multiple access points to cover a large area.

How to Set up FritzRepeater as an Access Point

Many WLAN repeaters have an access point mode – if you activate it, the repeater will then connect to the router via LAN cable. 

To switch on the access point mode on one of the widely used Fritz repeaters from AVM, first connect it to the FritzBox via WLAN (if you have not already done so) by pressing the WPS/Connect buttons on both devices for about a second. Then follow these steps:

• Call up the FritzBox menu by entering http://fritz.box/ in the address bar of a browser and confirming it.
• Sign in with the device password. On newer models, the default password is on the bottom of the router.
• Select Home Network and Mesh in the menu on the left and click on the name of the repeater in the graphical overview. The FritzRepeater menu now opens.
• Click on Home network access and Change access type.
• Select LAN Bridge and click Next.
• If desired, make changes to the repeater’s IP settings. Select Next.
• Leave the Wi-Fi settings unchanged and click Next .
• Finally, click Finish.
• Connect the repeater to the FritzBox using a LAN cable.
• Complete! The FritzRepeater is now set up as an access point.

Repeaters vs Routers: Differences

Repeaters and routers are both networking devices, but they have different functions. A repeater simply receives a signal and retransmits it, while a router can route traffic between different networks.

Repeaters are often used to extend the range of a Wi-Fi network. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to set up. However, they can reduce the overall speed of the network and can introduce latency.

Routers are more complex than repeaters, but they offer more features and functionality. Routers can route traffic between different networks, such as a home network and a guest network. They can also provide security features, such as firewalls and parental controls.

Below table shows the main differences between Repeater and Router:

If you need to extend the range of your Wi-Fi network, a repeater may be a good option. However, if you need more features, such as security features and parental controls, or if you need to route traffic between different networks, a router is a better choice.