can someone elaborate on what an access point for wireless Internet is?

Question

I have four rooms in a concrete and rebar Casa {house} in Mexico, the wireless modem in one of the rooms works great in that room, but in the others I must be outside or next to a window to receive even a low {single bar} signal. I think I was lied to at the computer store here, as the salesman said I could get 15 meters of receiption. Are there signal boosters or some sort of relay station gadget I can add to my system. What are access points?

Answer 1

First, you're not using a wireless "modem", you're using a "router". And your router IS a Wireless Access Point (or WAP, see my sources) .

The problem is that you are out of range from the signal and there are obstacles obstructing the signal (such as walls).

Two possible solutions would be to just position your wireless router at a spot in your house where a strong signal can be found by all your computers (like a living room, or main hallway) OR you can just purchase a couple more WAPS and position them throughout your house at spots that allow the signal to reach your other computers.

The wireless signal will just bounce around from WAP-to-WAP until it reaches the computer that is trying to reach the internet.

Answer 2

It appears your biggest problem is your concrete and rebar house. The wireless signal will bounce back from concrete, and other thick walls, and not go through them like it would a regular sheet rock wall. The fact that you have to be outside or near a window is what's making me belief the signal is being blocked by the structure of your house. Since the signal could pass through the window that the wireless router is in and get outside. Amplifying the signal may help your problem though and you can get signal booster antennas at any computer shop. Even your local radio shack should have those.

To answer your question about access points, they are devices that expand your wireless network. They work like a cordless telephone works, but instead of using phone line, they use network cable. You put the access points throughout the various rooms of your house (like a cordless telephone base station) and run network cable that connects the access points to your main router (similarly for a cordless telephone you would connect the base station of the phone to a phone jack). Access points are usually worthless for home users as a wireless router has more than enough signal for a home. Access points are mainly used for business or other large buildings.

Answer 3

You are going to want a wireless ROUTER, especially if you want to use more than one device. Without getting to deep into the tech specs, here's why: Home-use wireless "routers" are actually access points with routing capability added to them. The access point simply acts as a bridge between the radio frequency signal from your wireless card, and the cabling it is attached to. That cable can be used to connect to your modem and the connection will work like you have a cable connecting your modem to your PC. Now, the routing functions, separate your "home network" from that of your ISP. It allows you to connect one or many PC's on the same connection. It also has additional security features and basically gives you more control. If you already have an ethernet router, you can get away with just purchasing an access point because the two combined do what a wireless router does by itself. Just be sure you have an ethernet ROUTER not a SWITCH (which is essentially the cabled version of an access point).

Answer 4

Well I think the rebar may be a problem...metal can interfere with signals. The problem appears to be your wireless modem not being able to get the signal to other rooms.

As far as boosters go, I don't know, but it would seem logical that there is such a thing.

As for access points, it would be any place in the range of the antennas with sufficient signal strength.

Answer 5

An access point is basically a wireless point to access your network using a wireless enabled computer or device.

In your case the concrete and steel in your walls is whats keepimg you from receiving a wireless signal in other rooms.

The only bad thing about using an Access Point is that you have to run a ethernet cable to it from your router. Depending on were you place the access point that could mean 20 or 30 feet of ethernet cable running through your house.

I would suggest using range extenders. They are cheaper the AP's and the only thing that needs to be plugged into them is the power cord.

Answer 6

The thickness of walls, especially concrete and worse with steel reinforced concrete reduces signal dramatically. The quoted distances are for open air and line of sight. An access point needs to be wired to the original wireless equipment and then allows reception from it's own location, the distances will be similar. Some can also bee set as range extenders, this does not need cabling, but does need to be able to connect to the signal from the original.

Answer 7

Yes, you can purchase a WAP (wireless access point). This is a device you plug into wireless router using a Ethernet cable that has been installed in the opposite end of your house. Of course the down side is you have to run a cable.

My wife is from Mexico and we ran into the same problem in her parents house. regrettably the concrete building materials used there will not allow much signal to penetrate it.

Answer 8

First access points are areas where wireless signals are high and you can boost your range with either a better wireless router or a new internet card in your computer or you can get a cingular, sprint ETC..... internet card that will pick up internet any where in the world but for a monthly fee and you wont need a router then or someone to put it in your computer it goes in slot provided for it.

Answer 9

Concrete is WiFi's nemesis. You'll have to run network cable and attach a Wireless Access Point for each room in your house.

A Wireless Access Point just provided access to your LAN for WiFi users. It does not act as a router or a firewall. They are generally less expensive than routers.

Here is the one that I use:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/WirelessAccessPoints/WirelessAccessPoints/WG602.aspx

Answer 10

. A wireless repeater might be the answer to your problem. It will pick up a weak signal and boost it to original strength. It can be placed in a room where a signal can be detected. Linksys makes a good one. Do search for "wireless repeater".