What is an access point

An access point is the Wi-Fi point. It sits on the ceiling, the wall or a pole. Phones, laptops and PoC radio join that network without a cable to the desk. Behind it, a cable goes to the switch. Without that cable — or without PoE on the switch — the access point has no network and, often, no power.

Palo Security supplies access points in the Cisco, Juniper Networks, Ruijie, Ubiquiti, MikroTik, TP-Link, Linkbasic, VSOL, Fiberhome, Zyxel and ZTE lines. Quantity depends on the area. The line is set in the quote.

What it does

It covers a zone with Wi-Fi. A small office can sit with one. A warehouse, a condominium or several floors need several, so the signal does not die in the middle of the premises. It does not replace the cable to cameras that need a fixed link.

What it is not

• It is not the router. The router joins the network to the internet. The access point only delivers Wi-Fi on that network.
• It is not the switch. The switch sits in the technical room, with the cable ports.
• It is not the Starlink antenna. Starlink brings internet to the site; the access point — or the Starlink router Wi-Fi — is another box.

Where it sits in the request

Shops, common areas and open offices ask for an access point. Cameras and an NVR on the cable ask for a switch. Both show up on the same premises. Asking for “Wi-Fi” without the area leads to one short unit. Asking for a router when the corridor Wi-Fi fails leads to the wrong box.

What to say in the request

1. The area to cover and whether there are walls, floors or outdoors.
2. Whether a PoE switch already exists to power the access points.
3. Whether the request is Wi-Fi only, or includes a router and switch in the same set.

We do not invent the quantity. The area and the site close the set. Tell us the premises and we prepare the quote.