While you are dealing with routers and extenders like stuff, you must have come across terms such as switch, client, and access point, etc. To your surprise, they work in an almost similar fashion. There are some differences though, in terms of network structure, and the kind of settings they use. But let’s not get that deep into the differences that exist, and focus on understanding what an access point is. If you have been intrigued by this thought at some point, this blog is all you need to read. You’ll also find information on how to configure your existing D-Link DAP series range extender to work in access point mode.
What is Access Point mode?
In networking, Access points are hardware devices that are used to connect internet enabled devices to a wired network. Older generations of access points involved an external device functioning as an access point. These access points used to have a wired connection with the main router. However, modern routers have this function integral to them. Therefore, it becomes easy to shift between different working modes easily.
Configuring The Access Point Mode On DAP Series Extender
A majority of DAP series range extenders are set to access point mode by default. This allows them to connect to wireless clients easily. Clients are devices that connect to the access point and facilitate internet access like your laptop, smartphone, desktop, tablet, etc.
Now, if you ever wish to change the operation mode of your DAP series range extender, you can follow a set of steps as under:
- Connect your DAP series extender device to the computer system using an ethernet cable. Plug one end of the cable to the LAN port on your access point and the other to the LAN port on your computer system.
- Launch a web browser on your computer and in the address bar, type the default IP address i.e. 192.168.0.50 and press Enter. This will redirect you to the D-Link extender login page.
- You will see a login form with username and password like text fields appear on the screen.
- In the username field, type admin and leave the password field blank. Click on the Login button once you have entered the details.
- You will now reach the web-based D-Link extender settings wizard.
- From the menu bar, select the Operation Mode tab. Here, click on the Access Point radio button and select “Change Mode” from the page.
- Select the Configuration tab from the top menu bar and click on the “Save and Active” button.
- FInally, click on the “Active” button.
The status of the settings application will also be shown on the screen. Your D-Link range extender may also restart during the time settings are being applied. Make sure you do not turn it off.