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access point

A base station in a wireless LAN. Although there are other wireless technologies that use access points, the term generally refers to a Wi-Fi network. Access points are stand-alone devices that...

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Definition: access point

A base station in a wireless LAN. Although there are other wireless technologies that use access points, the term generally refers to a Wi-Fi network. Access points are stand-alone devices that plug into an Ethernet switch or hub; however, access point functionality is also built into a router (see wireless router).

If more than one access point is used, like a cellular phone system, users can roam with their mobile devices and be handed off from one cell to another. See wireless LAN.


access point

Access Points
Access points are similar to cellphone towers, but transmit shorter distances. Their coverage ranges from as little as 50 feet in diameter to as far as 1,000 feet with amplification. Mobile users are automatically handed off from one access point to another as they meander.



access point

First 802.11 Access Point
The InTalk WR1200 was the first access point (AP) to conform to the IEEE 802.11 standard. Introduced in 1998, the unit supported a maximum rate of 2 Mbps. (Image courtesy of Jod Edney.)





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