Wireless Access Points - Why should I care?

Edit: Please note that this is quite an old guide. I'd like to note that Linux wireless drivers have improved a lot recently, and a PCI wireless card might be a better bet these days unless you have multiple devices to connect (which is becoming less common, as modern consoles often include wireless cards, etc...). WAPs still have their place, but are not the all-in-one solution they used to be.

After once again recommending Wireless Access Points (Sometimes called Wireless Bridges) to people, I have made this.

Glossary:

Wireless Access Point:

A wireless access point connects to a wired network and creates a wireless network, allowing wireless devices to connect through it. They almost always support wireless bridging, which is the functionality I'm talking about in this post.

Hub:
A device that connects multiple devices together, it has a series of ports along it, and routes data to all devices. Generally for 10mbps connections. Older hardware, switches are cheap as chips these days, so I'd avoid hubs.

Switch:
The same as a hub, but generally faster. A Hub routes data to all devices, a Switch remembers what device is connected where and routes only to that device. Generally, Switches are used with 10/100mbps. Often the terms are used interchangeably because they do the same basic job.

Router:
A router routes data. Generally most consumer-grade products will contain some kind of modems, but they don't have to. In short, a router joins two networks together, normally your local area network and the internet. You'll often find that a router combines a switch and wireless access point, along with it's routing functionality, and is hence perfect for connecting multiple devices to a network.

Cat5 Cable:
Standard Ethernet cable for networking. Cat6 look the same, but are rated for faster speeds (gigabit ethernet and above).

WAPs are the best way, in my opinion, to set up a wireless network. They have two main uses.

1) To connect to a wired hub/router to add wireless capabilities to it.
2) To connect to a device to connect to a wireless network.

I use them in both ways. My current network is set up like so:

Edit: I actually have a WRT54GL Router in my room now instead of a switch and a WAP. It just combines both things in one unit, and also has a lot of different features. I throughly recommend the device. It works brilliantly.

Study:

Phone Line             -> 
PC                     -> Router
Printer                -> 
Wireless Access Point  ->

My Room:

Server                -> 
PC                    -> Switch
Xbox 360              -> 
Wireless Access Point ->

Now, the wireless network has four things talking on it:

1. The WAP in the Study.
2. The WAP in my room.
3. My sisters PC with a wireless PCI card.
4. Nintendo DS

This way, all of the devices in my room can talk to everything on the wireless network, as can everything in the study. This means I saved money as that is one wireless adapter for all of my devices. Now, I also get a far better connection than my sister (albeit hers is good anyway), despite being further away from the Study, because the WAP has a better range. My DS gets a good connection everywhere in the house, seeing as the WAPs together give a large coverage area. Also, All of my devices work instantly, no driver hassles, whatsoever.

You simply buy it, plug it into a PC, change your PC's IP to match the right range for the WAP (it'll tell you what the default IP is in the manual) - to connect to it to set it up - you just put in the IP address into your browser, then set it up via a web interface. You can change the IP to suit your network, set it all up, then change back your PC and boom, wireless. You can now plug that into any device and that device will be able to connect to your wireless network.

You can really benefit from a WAP if you have any of the following:

1. A PC running Linux - Wireless PCI Cards are a pain in the ass to set up with the wrong chipsets.
2. If you have multiple devices set up - you can connect them all to your wireless network with a WAP and a switch/hub.
3. If you want a wireless network, and have a wired router that works well. Why buy a new one? Just add a WAP to make it work.
4. You have thick walls or are a distance from your wireless source - The WAPs have good range, and you can even set one up halfway between you and the source to bounce the signal.

As to good WAPs, there are a wide variety. If like me, you are connecting a lot of devices, some routers actually function as a WAP and a router, meaning they can be perfect. Here are my suggestions.

WAPs only: Good for connecting to single devices, converting your router into a wireless router, or if you have a switch/hub group of devices.

Belkin F5D7132UK - I have two of these, been running for some time and are great. They are £30 - so not all that expensive. I would recommend them fully.

Edimax EW-7206APG - If you are looking for something really cheap, this is about the same price as a standard PCI Wireless Card. It's not the best thing in the world, but it'll do the job.

Routers with WAPs: Good as routers themselves, and also if you have a lot of close devices with wireless cards.

I would only recommend the WRT54GL - this baby can run a Linux-based firmware - meaning you can run applications on it - like Xlink Kai or the like. This gives it a lot of extra functions, add to that good hardware and at around £40 - it's a bargain. Note that this is a switch/WAP router - it does not contain an ADSL modem, you would need to connect it to a modem like this one for you to use it like that. Without one it functions as a router/WAP.

So, you can grab a WAP from £20 up, and £40 for a Router with the function built in (at that price, It might be worth using the WRT54GL if you can, even if you don't need to switch part - it allows for expandability and the running of stuff on it, which is nice to have if you can.)

I seriously recommend WAPs to anyone with a wireless network. They make everything plug and play and so much easier.