Hi all,
Have you wondered about which mode is better? AP mode or Router Mode?
well, that depends on the application you use.
First, let's know what is the router and AP Mode?
Router Mode VS AP Mode
As a router and an AP (or WAP) serve different purposes, you have to choose what your network needs are before you choose which device is best for the job.
A home router typically links to just two network segments: the ISP/Internet on one connection and the private local area network (LAN) on the other.
Most home routers are WiFi-capable, which means the box contains not only the router itself but a built-in WiFi Access Point (WAP) as well as a LAN switch.
An Access Point is a device that normally links an Ethernet connection on one side (to the modem and Internet), and a radio WiFi network on the other side. A WiFI router can function as a WAP that connects via a wireless connection to the router and to other devices.
If you have one WiFi router, for example, then you will likely put the router in default Router Mode. If you have two WiFi routers and want to extend the network, one router will create the local network in router mode, and you will configure the second router as an additional Access Point, enabling more devices to access the network, placed away from the router.
The router acts as a hub that defines a local area network and manages (through assigned IP addresses) all of the devices and communication in it. An Access Point, on the other hand, is a sub-device within that local area network, and it functions as another WiFi location for devices to connect and enables more devices to connect to the network created by the router.
Without the routing and DHCP features, a WiFi router would simply be an AP. Conversely, if a WiFi router didn’t have an AP, it would just be a wired router.
Router Mode
If you just want to interconnect Ethernet devices and the Internet, then a non-wireless home router will do the job. If you have a non-WiFi-enabled router, then use “router mode” — the router would do nothing but link your home network to the Internet and route traffic to and from your devices that are physically wired to the router switch.
If you have a WiFi router, then “router mode” usually means you want to use that router as the main LAN, and any additional devices that connect to it (wired or wireless Access Points) would extend your main LAN.
A WiFi router:
provides the routing between clients and the Internet, and
has a DHCP server that assigns each client an IP address, which is required for network connectivity.
Router mode often includes additional functions in your router, so enable that mode if you need to:
Create a guest network.
Block specific websites and filter IP addresses.
Tunnel to a VPN Service.
AP Mode
If you want to have WiFi devices connecting to your network as well, then a wireless home router (most of today’s home routers are 802.11 WiFi-compatible) is the easiest and most appropriate option for a typical house.
If you have a non-wireless home router — or a very large space for which wired access isn’t feasible — and you want to make your network WiFi-capable, then you have a choice:
either replace the router with a wireless router, or
add an Access Point that connects to the existing router by Ethernet cable.
If your goal is a WiFi Network:
If your router is WiFi-enabled:
Make sure the WiFi signal strength and speed is enough for your space and number of devices.
If your router signal is great, then set it to Router Mode.
If your router is old or commercial-grade and does not have an integrated AP:
Buy an AP and connect it via Ethernet cable to your router.
If your modem is an integrated modem/router combo, and you have another WiFi-enabled router:
Your modem/router combo will be in Router Mode.
Configure your other router as AP Mode. It can either be wired or connected wirelessly to your combo modem/router.
When to use your router in AP Mode:
Usually, if you have one router, you would use Router Mode. If you have two routers, then setting up your second router in AP Mode extends the existing WiFi network of your main router, so that all the devices connected to your home network are within the same IP address range, and can connect and share files with each other too, if desired.
