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.)