7.2.3  Wireless Access Points (WAP)

• You can send data directly between two devices using WiFi provided that the devices have compatible wireless NICs fitted. This is very useful if you wish create a temporary connection between the devices, but it can prove difficult to manage as you try to connect more devices.
• Using a wireless access point in your network provides a central WiFi connection point to which all WiFi capable devices must connect in order to exchange data. In effect, you have created a star topology without wires:

Figure 17

• While a single star topology WiFi network can be useful, you are more likely to meet WAPs connected to Ethernet switches, allowing the network to provide both wired and wireless network access:

Figure 18