Access point or router?
A router connects your network to the internet. An access point only provides WiFi; it plugs into the router or a switch with a network cable. Business access points are mounted on the ceiling or high on a wall, so the signal spreads evenly, and several of them share one WiFi name so phones move between them as people walk around.
For a 1-2 BHK flat a single router is usually enough. Once you have several floors, thick walls, or more than a couple of dozen people online at once, access points (or, for homes, a mesh system) are the better answer.
WiFi 6 or WiFi 5?
For anything new, choose WiFi 6 (802.11ax). It shares airtime between many devices more efficiently than WiFi 5, so speeds hold up when a lobby, classroom or office is full. Most phones and laptops sold in the last few years support it, and older devices still connect.
WiFi 5 Wave-2 access points such as the Grandstream GWN7605 and GWN7615 still make sense where the budget is tight and the number of users per access point is modest, for example individual hotel floors with an access point every few rooms.
Pick one ecosystem, then the model
All the access points of a brand are managed together from that brand's controller. Mixing brands on one site works, but roaming and management are much better with one brand throughout. So decide the ecosystem first.
| Brand | Managed from | Good fit | Models listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubiquiti UniFi | UniFi Network app on a UniFi gateway or console (e.g. Cloud Gateway Ultra, Dream Machine Pro) | Offices and hotels that want a polished single dashboard | U6+, U6 Pro |
| TP-Link Omada | Omada app, software controller or hardware controller | Offices and hotels on a tighter budget | EAP650 |
| Grandstream | GWN.Cloud, GWN Manager, or a GWN7002/GWN7003 router | Hotels and offices that want low running cost | GWN7660E, GWN7605, GWN7615 |
| MikroTik | CAPsMAN on a MikroTik router | Sites already running RouterOS | cAP ax |
Product pages: UniFi U6+, UniFi U6 Pro, Omada EAP650, Grandstream GWN7660E, MikroTik cAP ax. Prices are on each page, or see all indoor access points.
Which access point for which room
| Space | What matters | Look at |
|---|---|---|
| Home, villa | Coverage on every floor, easy app | U6+ or EAP650, or a mesh system instead |
| Office floor | Many laptops, video calls, roaming | WiFi 6: EAP650, U6+, GWN7660E |
| Hotel rooms and corridors | Walls between guests and the access point, many phones | WiFi 6 value models such as GWN7660E or EAP650; one per 2-4 rooms |
| Lobby, banquet hall, restaurant | Lots of people in one open space | Higher-capacity models: U6 Pro, GWN7615 |
How many access points do you need?
As a rough guide: one ceiling access point for every 2-4 hotel rooms, or one per 1,500-2,500 sq ft of open office. Brick and concrete walls, bathrooms between the corridor and the bed, and lift shafts all cut the signal, so older buildings need more. Count people as well as area: a 40-seat conference room needs its own access point even if it is small.
Our free WiFi planner gives a first estimate from three questions. For larger hotels and offices we do a site survey before quoting.
Placement tips that save money
- Mount on the ceiling, in the open. Above a metal false ceiling or inside a cupboard, much of the signal is lost.
- In hotels, access points inside rooms (or every second room) work far better than a few in the corridor trying to reach through bathroom walls.
- Run a network cable to every access point. Wireless links between access points (mesh) halve the speed and are best kept for spots where a cable is impossible.
- Keep channel widths narrow (20 or 40 MHz on 5 GHz) when many access points are close together; it reduces interference between them.
- Power them with a PoE switch: one cable per access point carries both data and power. See the PoE switch buying guide.
Guest WiFi and login pages
Every brand here can run a separate guest network. If you need a proper login page (room number, mobile OTP or vouchers) and usage logs, that is usually run on the router. See our hotel WiFi hotspot service, which works with UniFi, Omada, Grandstream and MikroTik networks.
Questions
+Can I connect an access point directly to my broadband router?
Yes. Plug it into a LAN port of the router and power it with a PoE switch or PoE injector. Turn off the router's own WiFi or give it the same name only if both are from a system designed to roam together.
+Do access points need a controller?
Not always. Grandstream and Omada access points can be managed from a phone app or the cloud; UniFi access points need the UniFi Network app running on a UniFi gateway, console or a computer. MikroTik access points can be managed from a MikroTik router.
+Are WiFi 6 access points backward compatible?
Yes. WiFi 5 and older phones and laptops connect normally; they just do not get the WiFi 6 efficiency gains.
+How many users can one access point handle?
It depends on the model, the internet speed and what people are doing. Plan by room and area as above rather than the maximum client figure on the box.
Prices change often, so this guide does not quote them. Each product page shows the current price including GST. Specifications are from the manufacturers' listings; check the product page or datasheet before you order.