What is Access Point Mode in wireless equipment and when should it be used?

Access Point Mode turns a router or a separate network device into a pure bridge between wireless clients and an existing wired network. In this mode, the device completely disables routing functions, including its own DHCP server, firewall, and Network Address Translation (NAT). The heavy lifting of traffic management is shifted to the main ISP internet router, while the additional device simply broadcasts the Wi-Fi signal.

The main advantage of using an access point is eliminating double NAT, which often occurs when cascading multiple routers. Double NAT has a detrimental effect on online games, torrent client performance, and remote access to home servers due to the creation of isolated subnets. By turning the second router into an access point, you combine all connected devices into a single local network address space.

Using this mode is recommended in several typical scenarios. First, when expanding coverage using a wired connection, where the additional router is connected to the main one via an Ethernet cable. Second, when your main ISP terminal has good routing capabilities but provides a weak Wi-Fi signal. Third, in offices to create guest wireless segments with minimal load on the central hardware.

Setting up this mode usually comes down to flipping a switch in the device's web interface, plugging the cable from the main router into the LAN ports instead of the WAN port, and assigning a free IP address from the main router's subnet for administration.