What is an Access Point and how does it extend your WiFi?

With a WiFi Access Point, you can strengthen your WiFi signal and improve the internet at home. We explain what an Access Point is, how it differs from a repeater, and what to consider regarding functionality and setup.

What is an Access Point?

An Access Point (AP) is a device that can send and receive data. Through an Ethernet cable connection to the router, the Access Point receives an internet signal, which it converts into a separate WiFi network. This enables comfortable browsing even in remote living areas, and additional devices that the router network would not otherwise reach are equipped with fast WiFi.

When is an Access Point useful?

The classic scenario: Near the router – often in the hallway and living room area – you enjoy fast internet, but the router's signal doesn't reach the first floor or the other end of the apartment. By setting up an Access Point here, you can provide additional devices with fast WiFi. This is particularly useful for demanding applications such as home office, streaming, and gaming.

What is the difference between an Access Point and a Repeater?

Repeaters and Access Points generally pursue the same goal: to extend the home network and strengthen the WiFi signal in remote areas of the house. However, while the Access Point receives the router data via Ethernet cable, the Repeater does so wirelessly. This is generally more convenient and visually unobtrusive, but also less efficient, as the WiFi signal strength diminishes over long distances. For optimal WiFi performance, an Access Point is therefore preferred.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Access Points at a Glance

Expanding your home network with an access point offers clear benefits:

Strong WiFi for additional devices and users – everywhere the router signal does not reach
Optional LAN connection options for potentially data-intensive applications such as home office, streaming, and gaming
Full data utilization thanks to Ethernet connection to the router (as opposed to WiFi extension via repeaters)

If you opt for an access point instead of a repeater, you will have to accept some disadvantages, including a more complex setup, the need to run an Ethernet cable, and reduced flexibility. However, with the right access point solution, these disadvantages can be easily addressed.

What features should an access point have?

WiFi 6

The current WiFi standard 802.11ax is particularly fast, secure, and efficient. If you want to get the most out of your home network, you should opt for an access point that supports WiFi 6.

Dual Band

A dual-band access point can operate on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. The latter allows for higher data rates over short distances, benefiting demanding applications.

MU-MIMO

MU-MIMO allows the simultaneous transmission of parallel data streams to multiple connected devices and users in the home network. The WiFi capacity of your access point is utilized much more efficiently.

Ethernet Outputs

If your access point offers one or preferably several Ethernet outputs, you can connect your devices via LAN in parallel to WiFi – a significant advantage for data-intensive applications.

How to set up a WiFi access point

– Preliminary considerations and basic steps

A question you should definitely ask yourself: In which rooms that currently have little or no WiFi coverage do you absolutely need a better signal? Where are most of the devices located that depend on a strong WiFi connection?

Geht es Ihnen beispielsweise lediglich um einen Raum, der sich auf derselben Etage wie der Router befindet? Um ein Smart-Gerät, das gerade so zu wenig WLAN abbekommt, um ordnungsgemäß funktionieren zu können? Dann könnte bereits der Einsatz eines flexible WiFi repeater might already do the trick.

On the other hand, is it a complete home office or entertainment hub with numerous devices that rely on fast Wi-Fi and LAN connections — possibly even on a different floor? In that case, you should definitely consider getting an access point and placing it as centrally as possible within the area you want to extend coverage to.

If your goal is to provide Wi-Fi coverage for multiple rooms and devices, you should place your access point as centrally and as close as possible to the areas to be covered. This helps ensure a reasonably even signal distribution. Tip: If you use a PoE access point (Power over Ethernet), no external power supply is needed, which makes placement more flexible.

Things get a bit more complicated if you have one or more rooms with devices that benefit from a LAN connection. In our guide on Ethernet, you can learn which applications and devices these are.

So if you want to provide a smart TV, a home office PC, a game console, or other data-hungry devices with particularly stable, high-speed internet, you will need to run LAN cables from the access point to every room where this is required.

For both connecting the router to the access point and linking any devices, you should use an appropriate cable standard. In stores, you will come across network cables in categories CAT 5, CAT 6, CAT 7, and CAT 8.

These differ in various specifications, including transmission speed and distance. For home users, a CAT 5 network cable is usually sufficient. With data rates of up to 1 Gbit/s, it is more than fast enough and also offers a decent range of 100 meters.

You can lay LAN cables relatively discreetly along baseboards and door frames. Additional aids such as flat cables and cable ducts can help keep the unsightly wires as unobtrusive as possible.

Once you have positioned your access point and completed the cabling, you can finally proceed with the setup. The process varies depending on the device, but the following aspects can and should play a role.

If your access point supports dual-band operation—meaning it can use both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands—you should enable this option in the Wi-Fi settings of your device. You should also configure your SSID (Service Set Identifier), i.e., set the name under which this second Wi-Fi network will appear within your network environment.

With patience, money, and some handy skills, you can ideally place your access point and thus extend your router's WiFi. However, you can also make it easier for yourself by simply using the wiring that is already installed in the walls of your house.

The simple alternative:

Access Points at the socket – with Powerline

You can turn every single socket in your living area into its own Access Point for strong WiFi. The magic word is: Magic Powerline. This efficient home network extension from devolo uses your home's electrical wiring to transport the internet signal throughout your living space. Simply place one adapter near the router and another as an Access Point in your chosen room – and you're done.

The great advantage: You don't have to run a long cable from the router to the Access Point, and you are also much more flexible in designing your home network. Even outdoor Access Points are possible if you place an adapter in your garden shed. Additionally, each adapter offers two Gigabit Ethernet ports for particularly powerful LAN connections. This way, each of your devices can access the data volumes it needs.

With Mesh and Access Point Steering

If you want to set up multiple WiFi access points, it's incredibly simple. devolo Powerline adapters work together to create a large Mesh network, ensuring seamless WiFi coverage throughout your living area.

Thanks to the integrated Access Point Steering , each adapter ensures that all WiFi devices are always connected to the strongest available WiFi access point – uninterrupted and fully automated.