Understanding the components of a WiFi Network
Modem – The modem receives information from your ISP through the phone lines, optical fiber, or coaxial cable in your home (depending on your service provider) and converts it into a digital signal. The router’s job is to push this signal out to connected devices, either through wired Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi, so that all of your devices can hop on board and access the Internet. Your router and ISP can’t communicate directly because they speak different languages—or rather, they transmit different signal types—which is why the modem’s role as a translator is so important.
Router – Your router acts as the middleman between your modem and your internet-connected devices, such as laptops, smartphones and smart TVs. Ultimately, a router works as a dispatcher, di-recting traffic and choosing the most efficient route for information, in the form of data packets, to travel across a network. A router connects you to the world, protects information from security threats, and even decides which devices have priority over others.
Network Switch – Switches facilitate the sharing of resources by connecting together all the devices, including computers, printers, and servers, in a small business network. Thanks to the switch, these connected devices can share information and talk to each other, regardless of where they are in a building or on a campus. Building a small business network is not possible without switches to tie devices together.
Wireless Access Points (WAP) – A wireless access point (WAP) is a networking device that allows wireless-capable devices to connect to a wired network. Using a WAP lets you create a wireless network within your existing wired network, so you can accommodate wireless devices. You can also use a WAP to extend the signal range and strength of your wireless network to provide com-plete wireless coverage and get rid of “dead spots,” especially in larger office spaces or buildings. If more than one access point is connected to the LAN, users can roam from one area of a facility to another without losing their network connection. WAPs that meet the new Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard, for example, can help you build a reliable, scalable, and secure wireless network to handle the rapidly growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices—and the data that those devices will create.
Extender or Booster – As the name implies, a range extender lengthens the reach of an existing Wi-Fi network. Since range extenders connect wirelessly to Wi-Fi routers, they must be placed where the Wi-Fi router’s signal is already strong, not in the location of the actual dead spot. For instance, if your router is in the basement of a two-story building, installing a range extender on the ground floor (where coverage from the Wi-Fi router is still strong) will eliminate potential dead zones on the second floor.
While range extenders are great for home Wi-Fi networks, they’re not efficient for modern businesses. This is because they can only support a limited number of devices at one time, usually no more than 20. While range extenders do increase the coverage of a Wi-Fi router, they do not increase its available bandwidth. Depending on the number of devices you have connected simultaneously, a range extender could end up weighing down your connection.
