TP-Link routers are a popular choice for this home users who want to balance features with price and include decent security in the mix. Known more for their Wi-Fi performance than anything else, they are a great addition to one home network. If you have one and want to set it up as a wireless access point, this tutorial is for you.

This is a question that many people ask, and one that we see in the Compsmag mailbox. I will walk you through the entire process from start to finish and the result is a fully functioning entry point into your home.

What is the difference between a router and an access point?

A router is a device that connects two or more devices in order to provide internet access. An access point is a device that provides internet access to one or more devices.

A router is an intelligent device that uses its own firmware for firewall, port forwarding, NAT (Network Address Translation), DHCP, DNS and others features. It can also have wifi capabilities.

Your router uses routing tables to help decide where to route traffic. It detects which devices are on your home network and identifies them using MAC addresses. It will also check whether you are using a modem or connecting it directly to your broadband connection and will be able to route internet traffic accordingly. ..

A wireless access point (WAP) is a different matter. A router can contain a WAP, but there are also standalone WAP devices. These act as a wireless gateway to your network that can be used to extend the wireless network or provide wireless access if your router does not have WiFi.

A wireless access point cannot intelligently route traffic, only send it to the router.

A router is a node in the network and the wireless access point is a ramp that directs all traffic in one direction towards the junction. The job of the router is to direct all traffic to the destinations where they want to go.

In this tutorial, we will configure a TP-Link router as a wireless access point to act as a range extender and WAP.

To connect your TP-Link router to your main router, you will need to use an Ethernet cable. If you want to use Wi-Fi, it is possible but the setup is more difficult. And if your main router has WiFi, using another router purely as a range extender is like hitting a peanut with a sledgehammer. ..

IP addressing is important. If your main router uses a DHCP range from 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.1.100, you will want to configure the TP-Link router outside this range but within the same subnet. For example, assign it 192.168.1.210

The TP-Link router you just set up should be able to access the internet.

Faq

Final note

TP-Link routers are popular for their easy-to-use interfaces and range of features. This guide will show you how to set your TP-Link router as a wireless access point (WAP). ..

If you have any queries about the How To Set TP-Link Router as WAP, then please ask us through the comment section below or directly contact us.