What is a wireless access point?Ī wireless access point (AP) allows wireless devices to connect to the wireless network. The standards operate on varying frequencies, deliver different bandwidth, and support different numbers of channels. Wireless access points support different IEEE standards.Įach standard is an amendment that was ratified over time. On the technical side, the IEEE 802.11 standard defines the protocols that enable communications with current Wi-Fi-enabled wireless devices, including wireless routers and wireless access points. Wi-Fi is not an acronym it is a brand name created by a marketing firm that’s meant to serve as an interoperability seal for marketing efforts.