access point
A base station in a wireless LAN, which is typically a wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi) LAN. Access points are typically stand-alone devices that plug into an Ethernet switch or hub. 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 and wireless router.
 |
| Access Points |
|---|
| Access points are similar to cell phone towers, but transmit shorter distances. Their coverage ranges from as little as 50 feet in diameter to, with extra amplification, as much as a thousand feet. Mobile users are automatically handed off from one access point cell to another as they meander. |
 |
| 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.) |