wireless router vs Acess point

I have a DSL setup which utilizes a Cayman DSL modem/ w 4 port router.
What I want to do is add a wireless connection for my laptop, would it
be better to use an Access point or a wireless router? Do the access
points provide the security like a router? I'm not that familiar with
wireless setups so thats why I'm asking.

Thanks ,

Gary

Gary

Gary wrote:
> I have a DSL setup which utilizes a Cayman DSL modem/ w 4 port
> router. What I want to do is add a wireless connection for my
> laptop, would it be better to use an Access point or a wireless
> router? Do the access points provide the security like a router?
> I'm not that familiar with wireless setups so thats why I'm asking.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary

Gary, I would go w/ a router, instead of a WAP. Also, Just in case you
might be thinking it, even with a wireless setup, you can still be hacked.

Christopher

Christopher Range

Hi

Have you thought about using
something like the Devolo MicroLink dLAN DUO HomePlug Ethernet & USB
Starter Kit
one plug goes by the router, and the other goes in the remote computer. This
creates a virtual Ethernet cable over your powerlines. So not wireless but
it means you can use your laptop anywhere in the house and ca still keep
your router. I have found them very good and easy to setup.

Lizzie

"Gary" <> wrote in message
news...
>I have a DSL setup which utilizes a Cayman DSL modem/ w 4 port router.
> What I want to do is add a wireless connection for my laptop, would it
> be better to use an Access point or a wireless router? Do the access
> points provide the security like a router? I'm not that familiar with
> wireless setups so thats why I'm asking.
>
> Thanks ,
>
> Gary

lizzieb

Hi

Have you thought about using
something like the Devolo MicroLink dLAN DUO HomePlug Ethernet & USB
Starter Kit
one plug goes by the router, and the other goes in the remote computer. This
creates a virtual Ethernet cable over your powerlines. So not wireless but
it means you can use your laptop anywhere in the house and ca still keep
your router. I have found them very good and easy to setup.

Lizzie

"Gary" <> wrote in message
news...
>I have a DSL setup which utilizes a Cayman DSL modem/ w 4 port router.
> What I want to do is add a wireless connection for my laptop, would it
> be better to use an Access point or a wireless router? Do the access
> points provide the security like a router? I'm not that familiar with
> wireless setups so thats why I'm asking.
>
> Thanks ,
>
> Gary

lizzieb

Great explanation. I just went through this very same decision process
recently and was amazed at the price difference between a WAP and the
wireless routers. Had me confused for a little bit thinking I didn't
understand as much as I really did. Glad you explained it in a simple and
clear manner

-Breedo_


"Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Logically, what you want to do is plug a wireless access point (WAP)
> into one port of the router. Since you already have a router, you
> really don't want a "wireless router", which is a router plus a wireless
> access point. The downside here is that while a WAP is far less than a
> wireless router, and the wireless router in fact contains a WAP, because
> of the way that the market has become structured, a WAP is going to cost
> more -- possibly a LOT more -- than a wireless router. The reason is
> that most people have cable or DLS modems that do not have built-in
> routers, and therefore use a wireless router, while relatively very few
> people need / want / use / buy stand-alone access points.
>
> The WAP will implement some form of wireless security. The later ones
> will implement the later and more secure forms of encryption (generally
> one or more variants of WPA), while if you buy a used older one, it
> might have only WEP, which is far less secure. [WEP can be broken by a
> knowledgeable hacker, but is "good enough" to prevent access by
> end-users and most casual hackers. While nothing is absolutely
> unbreakable, WPA is good enough to prevent access by even most advanced
> and knowledgeable hackers.]
>
> An alternative possibility that might be cheaper would be to swap out
> the DSL modem with a model that does not have an internal router and
> that does not do NAT (or on which NAT can be turned on or off). Also,
> in some instances there are products that do NAT but which are still
> less than full routers, and with only a single port. Then use a
> standard "wireless router" connected to the "router-less" DSL modem.
> Not necessarily truly better, but probably about $50 less expensive.
>
>
> [In fact, what we are calling a "router" is already a compound device
> consisting of a router and a switch. Thus these systems have 3 logical
> components:
>
> -Router (provides the NAT and non-wireless security functions)
> -Switch (provies expansion to multiple physical ports)
> -Access point (provides the wireless capability)
>
> However, the products sold as "routers" are actually "routers +
> switches", while the products sold as "wireless routers" are actually
> combination products consisting of "router + switch + access point", all
> in a single box.
>
>
>
> Gary wrote:
>
> > I have a DSL setup which utilizes a Cayman DSL modem/ w 4 port router.
> > What I want to do is add a wireless connection for my laptop, would it
> > be better to use an Access point or a wireless router? Do the access
> > points provide the security like a router? I'm not that familiar with
> > wireless setups so thats why I'm asking.
> >
> > Thanks ,
> >
> > Gary

Breedo